Experts believe that diet is essential for managing iron levels in the body.

• Iron-deficiency anaemia in India is 10% to 20% higher than globally, with 53% of Indian women and children suffering from it.

• India also has a high prevalence of thalassemia, a major cause of iron overload in children.

• Diet is crucial for maintaining balanced iron levels in the body, as highlighted by haematologists at a webinar.

• Iron is crucial for maintaining maternal health, healthy muscles, bone marrow, and immune system, and regulating growth and development in children.

• Early signs of iron-deficiency anaemia include fatigue, exercise intolerance, headache, apathy, difficulty in focussing, brittle nails, bald smooth tongue, pale conjuctiva and skin, and loss of hair.

• Basic lab tests are necessary for those on weight loss diets, young adults on taxing jobs, multi-tasking women, children with unusual food cravings, and those unable to focus.

• Non-vegetarians can supplement their iron requirements with fortified cereals, spinach, broccoli, millets, pumpkin seeds, tofu, cashews, oats, quinoa, lentils.

• Overuse of iron can adversely impact the body’s organs, with thalassemia being a major concern.

• India has 40 million carriers of thalassemia, with 50% of whom will not survive beyond the age of 25.