10 Iron-Packed Foods to Help Fight Fatigue

Iron is essential for helping the body produce the protein hemoglobin. If your red blood cells don’t have enough hemoglobin, they won’t be able to carry as much oxygen from the lungs throughout the body, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Without that oxygen to fuel you, you’ll be left feeling weak and lethargic.

Men ages 19 to 50 need 8 milligrams of iron daily, and women need 18 (some iron is lost during your period). Women who are pregnant should get a whopping 27 milligrams of iron. After age 50 (or after menopausal), 8 milligrams of iron a day is adequate for everyone.

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.

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