The 4th Arly Cîmes Trail takes place on Sunday 23 June. For the occasion, the Fémini Trail Duo puts women in the spotlight on a 13 km course with 650 m of elevation gain. Algorigin will be giving the participants IRON-enriched spirulina, a natural health solution to make up for iron deficiency.
IRON DEFICIENCY IN SPORTSWOMEN
High-impact sports such as trail running can increase the body’s use and loss of iron. Over time, losing this essential mineral can lead to anaemia. This is all the more true for women, who also have higher iron needs, mainly because of menstrual losses.
IRON LOSSES CAUSED BY SPORT
Sport directly destroys red blood cells through repeated impacts, and also causes micro-injuries that lead to bleeding. Even though these usually go unnoticed, they deplete the body’s circulating iron. Since most of the body’s iron is stored in the blood, iron stores are directly affected.
In addition, if you do not fuel properly during exercise, there is a risk of ischaemia-reperfusion syndrome in the intestine.
During exercise, most of the blood is sent to the muscles to meet their oxygen needs. Ischaemia-reperfusion occurs when this “muscle” blood returns to the intestines for digestion. It causes lesions in the digestive tract, which also lead to bleeding.
IRON LOSSES CAUSED BY MENSTRUATION
Menstruation accounts for iron losses of around 30 to 70 mg per month. On average, women therefore lose twice as much iron per day as men.
Intake should be increased accordingly, to 15 mg/day for women. This figure is calculated based on the absorption rate of the different types of iron (animal or plant) and is enough to cover requirements.
CONSEQUENCES OF IRON DEFICIENCY OR ANAEMIA
Iron deficiency or anaemia shows up as breathlessness, pallor, increased tiredness or even dizziness. In athletes – and therefore sportswomen – reduced oxygen supply to the tissues can also lead to a drop in sporting performance.
A NEW SOLUTION FOR SPORTSWOMEN: SPIRULINA IRON
In 2016, the WHO stated that “Daily iron supplementation in menstruating women increases haemoglobin concentrations and iron stores and reduces the risk of anaemia and iron deficiency. In addition, iron supplementation improves exercise performance […] and may improve fatigue.”
Algorigin Spirulina IRON, spirulina enriched with iron, provides an optimal iron intake (93% of the recommended daily intake) without the digestive side effects often associated with conventional iron salt supplements (constipation, nausea, vomiting). It is absorbed by the body as well as iron from animal sources, with no increased risk of oxidation. This makes it a valuable source of plant-based iron.
For specific advice tailored to your situation, feel free to contact our micronutrition specialists, who will help you choose the 100% natural food supplements that best suit you.
Discover our full collection of artisanal organic spirulina!
Read also:
