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Your body needs iron for many reasons-
•It’s essential for making the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to other cells
•It’s an important component of collagen (which helps our skin stay soft and supple) and many enzymes
•It helps you maintain a healthy immune system

And during pregnancy, you need a lot more iron because-
•During pregnancy you have almost 50 percent more blood than usual, so you need more iron to make more blood
•You need extra iron for your growing baby and placenta
•Iron-deficiency anemia during pregnancy is associated with preterm delivery and low birth weight.

There are multiple ways to alter foods to meet iron intake, or get more iron in your diet.

Here are two really great ways.

One of the best ways to increase iron intake is by cooking and baking in cast iron pans. When you cook food in cast iron pans, the food absorbs iron from the pan.

Another good tip is to consume foods high in vitamin C such as oranges, bell peppers and strawberries at the same time that you consume foods high in iron such as dried apricots, egg yolks and lentils.

The vitamin C helps your body absorb the iron.