The gadgets and tools that fill your kitchen can do more than help you get meals on the table — they can help you and your loved ones eat more healthfully.
Black cast-iron skillets and pots can do everything their metal counterparts can, and they’re known for their durability and ability to maintain heat evenly. But there’s a bigger benefit of owning an iron pan especially if you are anaemic and have been diagnosed by your doctor.
Top signs that you are anemic
Iron deficiency anemia signs and symptoms may include:
Extreme fatigue
Weakness
Pale skin
Chest pain, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath
Headache, dizziness or lightheadedness
Cold hands and feet
Inflammation or soreness of your tongue
Brittle nails
Unusual cravings for non-nutritive substances, such as ice, dirt or starch
Poor appetite, especially in infants and children with iron deficiency anemia.
But the above symptoms are just indications so consult your doctor to be sure.
So, why a pan?
Research has recommended that people prone to iron-deficiency anemia (low red blood cell count due to low iron levels) cook with cast iron. That’s because the food safely absorbs iron in the cookware — especially acidic foods like tomatoes and tomato sauces — thus adding iron to the diet.
WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA. NINE PERCENT OF 20- TO 49-YEAR-OLD WOMEN AND 19 PERCENT OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS HAVE ANEMIA. FATIGUE IS ONE OF THE CLASSIC EARLY SYMPTOMS THAT PEOPLE NOTICE, OFTEN ALONG WITH PALE SKIN, HEADACHES, MUSCLE WEAKNESS, AND DIZZINESS.
Note: Enamel-coated cast iron (such as Le Creuset or Le Chasseur) doesn’t provide an iron boost. Look for the heavy, black cast-iron kind.
What to do?
Only a doctor can diagnose iron deficiency — it’s not something you can detect on your own, and if diagnosed, you’ll need a further work-up to figure out why you are low on iron. Also, low iron isn’t the only cause of fatigue. If you find that you’re tired a lot, and there’s no clear reason why, be sure to explore what feeling tired might mean. But incase you are anemic, invest in a solid iron pan. It can’t hurt and if nothing else, you will have a fancy new cooking gear. Did you know that beetroot is really good for beat anemia? Try this smoothie to feel better quickly!