What you need:
A strong magnet (the stronger the better), a Ziploc bag, any breakfast cereal that claims to have iron in it, water
What to do:
1. Put one cup of cereal in the Ziploc bag.
2. Pour warm water over it. The water should only fill about half the bag so there is an air pocket inside.
3. Seal the bag and mix its contents by shaking it around for a minute.
4. Let the mixture sit for an hour so that the cereal becomes soggy and dissolves in the water.
5. Place the magnet in one palm and place the bag over it. Put your other hand on top of the bag. Now, swivel the bag around for a minute.
6. Turn the bag over so that the magnet is now on top. The liquid falls to the base of the bag and in the air pocket, you can see what the magnet is holding up.
What happens:
Small shavings are stuck to the magnet through the bag.
If this doesn’t happen for you, look for a stronger magnet or a different brand of cereal.
Why?
Many breakfast cereals are fortified which means they contain added vitamins and minerals that our body needs. These minerals include iron. Our body needs iron but cannot produce it. So it absorbs what it needs from the food we eat. Natural foods such as legumes, nuts, eggs and meat contain iron. To make cereals nutritious, manufacturers add food-grade iron to them. The quantity of this iron is very small which is why you need such a strong magnet to find it!
Picture Credit : Google
