Anaemia is no laughing matter: it’s a serious issue affecting the health of many people all around the globe. Due to menstrual bleeding, pregnancy, and breastfeeding, women are especially at risk of this condition. WHO estimated that in 2019, almost 30% of women of childbearing age suffered from anaemia. 

When you have anaemia, you have fewer red blood cells than normal or they can misshapen. Your haemoglobin can also be lower than the healthy levels. Haemoglobin in the red blood cells is what carries oxygen to your tissues, so low levels of healthy red blood cells or haemoglobin means your body tissues don’t get enough oxygen. This can leave you easily fatigued, pale, or short of breath. It can also make your immune system weak. Severe cases of anaemia overwork your heart and thus can lead to heart enlargement or heart failure. 

What causes anaemia?

The most common cause of this condition is the deficiency of iron in your body. Iron is needed to make haemoglobin and not enough of this element in the body means not enough haemoglobin. This condition is known as iron deficiency anaemia.

Certain diseases that destroy red blood cells or reduce their production can also cause anaemia, such as endometriosis.

In women, menstrual blood loss can lead to low red blood cell levels, so women of reproductive age are especially prone to this state.

You need to take anaemia more seriously if you’re pregnant.

WHO reported that more than 36% of pregnant women fell victim to anaemia in 2019. 

When you’re pregnant, your body makes sure that your baby has enough iron to develop in the womb. This means it’s extracted from your body, and transferred to the baby, even when you have low reserves. This can put you in a deficiency state and can even trigger anaemia.

Anaemia in pregnancy can make you unusually fatigued, reduce your quality of life, and increase your likelihood of baby blues or even postpartum depression.

At the risk of sounding like a scaremonger, anaemia in expectant mothers can even result in serious outcomes such as preterm birth, stillbirth, and low birth weight. It can also put your life in danger during the delivery. Babies born to anaemic moms can also have brain defects and developmental issues. 

The situation can worsen if you don’t take enough iron in your diet. You need to eat iron-rich foods such as red meat and legumes, but we know not all pregnant women can do this. Pregnancy sickness (toxicosis) can be very real for some—if not most—women and can make them feel sick at the mere thought of food. This probably means pregnant women suffering from toxicosis are not always eating as healthy as they should be. 

Iron it out!

If for whatever reason you’re struggling to meet your daily iron needs, iron supplements can come to your rescue.These supplements come in many forms. There are pills, syrups, and gummies that contain a variety of preparations. However, if you feel like vomiting at the mention of iron supplements, we get you. Not all these supplements taste very good. In fact, they can leave a horrible metallic taste in your mouth which can make even a non-pregnant woman gag!

If this has been a problem for you in the past, you must try out Novomins Iron Gummies. They are specially designed with you in the mind and taste like strawberries and nothing else! 

However, the unpleasant metallic taste isn’t the only thing we’ve fixed! Conventional iron supplements can also bring about a host of unwanted side effects including nausea, diarrhoea, and in some, constipation. Mouth ulcers have also been reported due to tablets containing ferrous sulphate. 

Novomins Iron Gummies contain a new formulation named ferric sodium EDTA— approved by the European Food Safety Authority (ESFA) for use in foods and food supplements. These Fe sodium EDTA formulations have been found to raise haemoglobin levels faster than ferrous sulphate and at lower doses than ferrous fumarate in pregnant women with iron deficiency anaemia. There were also almost no undesired side effects reported with these preparations. 

Novomins Iron Gummies also contain added Vitamin C

Ascorbic acid, what is commonly known as Vitamin C, significantly increases iron absorption from your diet and supplements. Novomins Iron Gummies come fortified with vitamin C to enhance iron bioavailability—which is its ability to be absorbed by the body and be used for haemoglobin generation.  

A word of caution

The daily iron intake recommendation during pregnancy varies in different countries and different authoritative organisations. The ESFA recommends 16mg/day of iron for pregnant women but this amount significantly increases if you’re anaemic. UK guidelines for iron deficiency management of pregnant women for 2020 recommend the intake of 40-80mg of the element daily if you have anaemia. 

However, it is important that you never self-medicate with iron supplements as too much of it can cause toxicity. It is always a good idea to get your haemoglobin levels checked by your doctor if you suspect that you have anaemia or iron deficiency symptoms. 

In fact, the UK guidelines for the management of iron deficiency in pregnant women emphasise that your haemoglobin levels should be periodically checked and your supplement dosage should be adjusted accordingly in order to avoid such outcomes. 

Try out Novomins Iron Gummies. You’ll love them!

If your haemoglobin levels indicate signs of anaemia, try out squishy and delicious Novomins Strawberry-Flavoured Iron Gummies with added vitamin C and experience the difference.