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If your iron or ferritin levels are chronically low, even though you're taking iron supplements, eating red meat, and doing everything you've been told to do, it's time to dig deeper.
In this episode, I'm breaking down why low iron isn't always an iron problem. Your body has to be able to digest, absorb, transport, recycle, store, and actually use the iron you're consuming. I'm walking you through the four major categories I look at when someone has chronically low iron: losing too much iron, not absorbing enough, inflammation restricting access to stored iron, and difficulty transporting or utilizing iron properly.
I'm also sharing why ferritin alone doesn't give us the whole picture and which labs can provide a much more comprehensive look at what's actually happening. If you've been supplementing with iron for months without your levels ever budging, this episode will help get you the answers you've been looking for.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE:
- Most of the iron your body uses each day comes from internal recycling, not directly from dietary iron.
- Ferritin is an important marker of iron storage, but ferritin alone cannot tell you the full story of your iron status.
- There are four major areas to investigate when iron won't improve: loss, absorption, inflammation, and transport/utilization.
- Low stomach acid, H. pylori, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, restrictive diets, and certain medications can interfere with iron absorption.
- H. pylori is particularly important because it can alter the stomach environment, impair iron absorption, and contribute to inflammation.
- Chronic inflammation can increase hepcidin, which restricts the release and absorption of iron and can contribute to functional iron deficiency.
- Normal or elevated ferritin doesn't necessarily mean iron is readily available for your body to use, particularly when inflammation is present.
- Copper, vitamin A, B12, and folate are among the nutrients involved in healthy iron transport, red blood cell production, and iron metabolism.
- Gut dysfunction can create multiple problems simultaneously: poor absorption, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, and potentially altered iron utilization.
- Iron and thyroid health have a bidirectional relationship: iron is important for normal thyroid function, while thyroid dysfunction can contribute to patterns that increase iron-deficiency risk.
- Instead of endlessly supplementing iron, the goal should be to determine where the breakdown in the chain is occurring.
LINKS:
- Book a strategy call with Hannah HERE
- Apply for HAN's 1:1 Coaching Program!
- Take the Gut Health Root Cause Quiz for free!
- Equip Protein: use the code hannahaylwardhhc for 15% off
- Listen to Episode 79 - 5 Signs Your Gut Issues are Actually H. Pylori
- Listen to Episode 24 - Low Stomach Acid: A Hidden Cause of Chronic Bloating & Digestive Issues
- Listen to Episode 28 - How Your Gut Is Messing With Your Hormones: The Estrogen & Thyroid Connection
- Listen to Episode 38 - Diving into Hashimoto's & Hypothyroidism with Board-Certified ENT and Thyroid Specialist Dr. Dana Gibbs
CONNECT WITH HANNAH:
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