Our body is a huge structure of trillions of cells. We can say that cell is the structural and functional unit of a living body. Every cell depends on oxygen to keep itself alive. No any cell directly exchanges gases as we do, but these gases in turn are ultimately used by the whole body cells. Every cell needs to respire in order to produce energy. Respiration takes place in the mitochondria of every cell in our body. It is the process of converting glucose and oxygen into energy. Glucose is transported across cell membrane of a cell with the help of a carrier. Oxygen requires an iron complex for carrying itself from lungs to the rest of the cells. Heamoglobin is the major part of Red blood corpuscle; it is an iron containing protein. Heam is the central part of the Heamoglobin and it is the part which contains iron is an iron complex. During exchange of gases O2 and CO2 it makes a bond with the molecules of these gases for transportation.
This oxygen is released in the whole of the cells of the body which is their required for respiration. In reverse carbon dioxide is taken from the cells and this is also carried by the hemoglobin to the lungs for exhalation. In lack of iron the transportation of the gases becomes weak. It causes degradation of cells due to poor nourishment. So the deficiency of iron which is called as anaemia (lack of heamoglobin in body) may be fatal in severe condition. During pregnancy much effort is required for the nourishment of both mother and foetus; chances of becoming anemic are very high in such conditions. An extra intake of iron supplement is prescribed to combat this problem. Carrot, banana, spinach, and apple are some of iron rich sources.