People who are anemic may lack this in their diet.

• A. Iron
• B. Calcium
• C. Vitamin C
• D. Potassium

Answer: (A)

Iron is the nutrient most closely linked to anemia because it forms hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying part of red blood cells. When the diet lacks enough iron, the body can’t make enough healthy red blood cells, leading to iron-deficiency anemia, the most common type. To help prevent this, include iron-rich foods such as red meat, poultry, fish, beans, fortified cereals, and leafy greens; pairing plant-based iron with vitamin C-rich foods can improve absorption. Calcium and potassium aren’t directly involved in making hemoglobin, so deficiencies in those minerals don’t cause this type of anemia. Vitamin C aids iron absorption, but a deficiency of it alone isn’t the primary cause of anemia.