Iron fish cure anemia for Cambodians

Dr. Charles invented a fish made of iron to cook anemia for Cambodians.

Six years ago, Canadian doctor Christopher Charles came to Cambodia and was surprised to find that almost all children suffer from iron deficiency due to inadequate diet.The adults are also not better, they have headaches, dizziness and cannot work.

According to the BBC, anemia is a common nutritional problem in the world, mainly affecting women of reproductive age, teenagers and children.In developing countries like Cambodia, this rate is very high, nearly 50% of women and children are anemic, mainly due to iron deficiency.

Dr. Charles came up with the idea of ​​cooking iron fish with food to provide up to 75% of the iron needs of an adult's daily needs.This idea comes from studies that show that cooking with cast iron pot helps increase iron content in food.He decided to try a piece of iron in the cooking pot.Iron fish is expected as a miracle that can improve the iron deficiency in people's diets.

Two billion people worldwide suffer from anemia and iron deficiency, severe cases can lead to death.This nutritional problem can be easily solved by taking supplemental iron pills, but unfortunately, the drug is quite expensive for some people and the side effects of drugs make people afraid.

Dr. Charles figured out how to boil iron fish for 10 minutes or cook it with soup for iron to be released, adding essential iron to the meal.

After cooking the iron fish, add some lemon juice.This is a very important step, which helps iron absorption better, according to the Canadian doctor.A small fish provides 75% of the daily iron needs for an adult.

A special feature is that this fish can be used for several years.Half of Cambodians who use iron fish in cooking no longer have iron deficiency in their blood after 12 months.

Professor Imelda Bates, director of the international public health agency at the Liverpool Institute of Tropical Medicine, says iron fish is a useful invention."This method is much better than taking iron supplements. It's suitable for the local culture, it's inexpensive, but it improves anemia and brings great benefits."

Currently, about 2,500 Cambodian families use iron fish.Iron Fish Company has distributed nearly 9,000 fish to hospitals and NGOs in Cambodia.

Dr. Charles believes that bringing iron fish to developing countries will improve people's health and nutrition.