The deficiency can lead to anaemia, whose symptoms include fatigue and irritability. However, a number of studies have found that using iron utensils can increase the iron content in the body. Foods cooked in iron pots or pans (excluding enamelled ones) contain far more iron than those made in aluminium or stainless steel pots.
A study by the American Dietetic Association found that cooking with cast iron can increase the iron content in food, meanwhile a report in the medical journal. Stated that children fed food from iron pots had lower rates of anaemia and better growth than children whose food was cooked in aluminium pots.