Iron from medications or food helps microbes multiply faster. This makes the infection even stronger!

That’s why, during an infection, the body locks up all the iron it has in cells so it isn't accessible to the microbes. Let us explain.

Iron in red blood cells binds with oxygen. That is how we oxygenate our bodies. All the iron captures carbon dioxide and eliminates it. We live with the help of this mineral.

A red blood cell lives for three months. The iron it contains is so important that it will be reclaimed by the body. But not destroyed along with the aging cell. The bone marrow produces new red blood cells.

And it will use recycled iron. We need 25 mg of iron daily. Which is very little. We only get 2 mg per day from what we eat, especially from red meat. The rest is recycled iron.

This mineral is valuable not only to us. But also to microbes.

Prof. Dr. Veronica Lazăr, Microbiology-Immunology: "There is a competition for iron, and infectious agents, all microorganisms, have mechanisms to capture iron. And infectious agents are more efficient! That’s why iron supplements are not recommended during an infection. Even the intake of iron-containing foods is reduced during an infection through a natural mechanism".

Microbes grow and multiply faster with iron. Therefore, during an infection, it is not recommended to consume meat because it has the highest amount of easily absorbable iron.

During infections, the defense system tells the liver to produce a hormone. Its mission is to retain the body’s iron so as not to feed the microbes.

Water with electrolytes is the best

Prof. Dr. Veronica Lazăr, Microbiology-Immunology: "Iron is trapped in cells, which explains why, just a few hours after an infection begins, all the iron is locked away in cells and none is released. It’s as if the gates of the fortresses are shut tight".

A few hours after the onset of an infection, the body’s iron levels drop significantly. This can be seen in blood tests. This is the immune system’s intention. Avoid meat, meat products and mineral supplements when your nose starts to run. Or when you have a fever. But do not limit water with electrolytes.

Prof. Dr. Coriolan Ulmeanu, Grigore Alexandrescu Hospital: "In situations of water and electrolyte loss, the child should be given water with electrolytes, not just plain water. This refers to the oral rehydration salts available on the market. We are mandated by the European Society of Pediatrics to educate the public on administering oral rehydration salts when water and electrolytes are lost".