Why Does My Body Need Iron?

Posted on May 20, 2008 by Aimee Amodio

Iron is one of the most abundant metals on the planet. Good thing, too — iron is essential to most life forms, including humans. Iron is important to many of the proteins and enzymes that help maintain good health. What does iron do for the body? Iron is an essential component in the proteins that carry oxygen through the body. An iron deficiency can reduce oxygen delivery to the cells, leaving a person fatigued and with a compromised immune system. Iron is used by the body to help regulate cell growth and cell differentiation. The majority of the iron in … Continue reading →

Breast Cancer Awareness: Surgery & Fitness

Posted on October 12, 2006 by Heather Long

For women who have undergone a lumpectomy or mastectomy and must follow it up with radiation therapy, a walking program of moderate intensity can help to improve fitness and maintain hemoglobin levels. Doctors and fitness experts have known that aerobic exercise helps women undergoing chemotherapy to preserve their red blood cells. A recent study involved twenty-one patients who were surgically treated for breast cancer and undergoing radiation therapy 5 days per week for 7 weeks. The patients were randomly assigned to aerobic exercise and to flexibility training. Thirteen were in the first group and eight in the second. The protocol … Continue reading →