Daily Dose: Iron

Iron Chef, Iron Man, Iron Maiden, Iron Mike Tyson - the monikers of these pop culture heroes glorify the immense power of the strength-building mineral pumping through their veins. But ordinary mortals need their iron, too. A deficiency of this essential nutrient can put you at risk for serious conditions such as iron-deficient anemia, which causes fatigue and weakens the immune system.

Iron is critical to several body functions including:

• Creating hemoglobin in red blood cells
• Transporting oxygen to cells
• Regulating cell growth and development
• Maintaining a healthy immune system
• Promoting healthy brain function