1. It’s really hard to catch your breath while exercising
When you don’t have enough iron, your body can’t produce the adequate amounts of the protein named hemoglobin. This type of protein is essential to the functioning of red blood cells, allowing oxygen to bond to the cells so they can carry it in the bloodstream throughout your body.
So, when your body doesn’t have the proper amounts of iron in order to make adequate amounts of hemoglobin, some parts of your body will not get the oxygen they need. That’s why you can’t exercise the way you used to, says Dr. Kahn. “So you might say, ‘I used to be able to run three miles and now when I run two blocks, it’s hard to catch my breath.’”
