Iron Supplements End Persistent Coughing In Women
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Published - Jun 4, 2008
Chronic unexplained cough in otherwise apparently healthy nonsmokers are more common in women than men. While the cause for this chronic cough remained undiagnosed, the women in this study had no signs of asthma, respiratory disease, or stomach reflux.
All women had red, inflamed mucus membranes and swelling in the back of their mouth and sensitive vocal cords. The women were given a daily iron supplement for two months and then reexamined. After this period of time, all signs of chronic cough had disappeared.
Iron is an essential nutrient found in high quantities in legumes such as lentils and beans, potato skins, whole grains, molasses, and tofu. Iron absorption can be promoted by eating broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cantaloupe, oranges, potatoes, strawberries, and tomatoes. It is inhibited by certain foods such as coffee, tea, and sweet potatoes. In addition using cast iron cookware can increase the iron content of food.