eli5: Why do we need iron as a nutrient? I understand iron as a metal. Why do we need to consume it?

Question

eli5: Why do we need iron as a nutrient? I understand iron as a metal. Why do we need to consume it?

In: 7

Answer 1

Iron is the stuff that bonds oxygen in hour red blood cells and helps blood carry said oxygen around our body. And it carries carbon dioxide to our lungs where we can exhale it out of our system. Without enough iron that process becomes less effective, which is bad.