Your Body Contains Enough Iron to Make a Small Nail

The metallic element that forges our world's structures is the very same one that gives our blood its life-sustaining power. Iron is the essential core of hemoglobin, the protein packed within our red blood cells. In the lungs, this iron acts like a magnet for oxygen, binding to it so it can be transported to every single cell in the body. Without this crucial delivery system, our tissues would be starved of the oxygen they need to produce energy, making iron one of the most critical minerals for human survival.

The body treats this small but vital supply of iron as an incredibly precious resource. Because it is so important, our system has become a master of recycling. When a red blood cell completes its roughly 120-day lifespan, it is broken down by the spleen, and its iron is meticulously salvaged. This reclaimed iron is then sent back to the bone marrow to be built into new hemoglobin for a new generation of red blood cells. This remarkably efficient process ensures that the 3 to 4 grams of iron—enough to form a small but sturdy nail—is constantly reused to fuel our lives.