5 Signs You Might Have an Iron Deficiency (And What to Do About It)

Iron deficiency affects approximately 50% of Indian women and is one of the most common nutritional gaps globally — yet it often goes undiagnosed for years because its symptoms are easy to attribute to other causes.

Sign 1 — Persistent fatigue that sleep doesn't fix. Iron is essential for haemoglobin, which carries oxygen to your cells. Low haemoglobin means your cells are running on less oxygen, even when you've had 8 hours of sleep.

Sign 2 — Pale inner eyelids or skin. Pull down your lower eyelid. The inner surface should be deep pink or red. If it's pale or white, that's a classic clinical indicator of low haemoglobin.

Sign 3 — Shortness of breath on mild exertion. Climbing one flight of stairs shouldn't wind you. If it does, your blood may not be carrying enough oxygen for even moderate activity.

Sign 4 — Brittle nails with ridges, or spoon-shaped nails (koilonychia). This is a specific, less-known iron deficiency sign that's easy to self-check.

Sign 5 — Unusual cravings for ice, dirt, or starch (pica). This is the body's confused attempt to get a missing mineral and should be taken seriously.

What to do: Get a CBC (Complete Blood Count) and serum ferritin test from any diagnostic lab — they cost under ₹500 combined. Don't self-diagnose; get confirmed. Moringa powder is a clinically supported dietary iron source — pair it with Vitamin C (which Moringa also contains) to maximise non-heme iron absorption.