Iron Deficiency Symptoms
and Too Much Iron

Iron deficiency symptoms are one of the most common health issues in the world. Anemia symptoms seem to appear more often in growing children and child bearing women.

What is Anemia?

The word Anemia is Greek and means "without blood". Anemia is a condition in which you have a lower than normal amount of red blood cells.

Anemia symptoms and iron deficiency symptoms can be confused with having too much iron, so you need to get a blood test in order to know for sure that you suffer from this disorder.

There are people that have a genetic condition called Hemochromatosis and absorb more iron than the average person. This condition appears to be much more prevalent in people of Northern European Descent.

Excessive amounts of iron and low amounts of iron can contribute to health problems that can actually turn into chronic health issues.

What is Anemia?

Anemia Symptoms

• Fatigue & Weakness
• Rapid Heart Beat
• Abdominal or Chest Pain
• Low Blood Pressure
• Dizziness or Fainting
• Pale & Cold Skin
• Weight Loss
• Headaches & Cognitive Problems

Types of anemia caused by a decrease in red blood cell production include iron deficiency anemia and vitamin deficient anemia.

You need iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 to produce your red blood cells. A deficiency of any one of these can result in Anemia.

Severe Anemia can damage your heart and your brain along with other important organ systems.

Red blood cells not only carry oxygen to your cells, but remove carbon dioxide which is a waste product from your body.

A person whose diet contains ample amounts of iron and other important co-factor nutrients should be able to produce enough new blood to prevent Anemia.

Although, there may be other reasons for Anemia which could include not having enough "good bacteria" and having too much "bad bacteria".

Iron Deficiency Symptoms

• Fatigue and Lacking Energy
• Ringing in Your Ears
• Pale Skin or Dry Skin
• Spoon Shaped and Brittle Nails
• Brittle and Dull Hair
• Sore and Reddened Tongue
• Rapid and Fast Heart Beat
• Decreased Appetite
• Unable to Sleep Soundly
• Shortness of Breath from Walking
• Increased Incidences of Infection
• Abdominal Pain & Flatulence
• Abnormal Menstruation
• Low Blood Pressure
• Dizziness and Lightheaded
• Strong Desire to Eat Ice or Dirt
• Irritability & Frontal Headaches
• Sores at Corners of Mouth
• Cold Hands and Feet
• Tingling and Crawling Sensations
• Slowed Growth and Hair Loss
• Frequent Colds and Poor Digestion

Reasons for an Iron Deficiency

Inadequate Intake and Absorption of Iron

Too much Fiber in Diet

Phytic Acid in Whole Grains, Nuts, and Seeds

Toxins like Lead and Copper

Pasteurized Dairy Products and Calcium Supplements

High Oxalate Foods such as Chocolate, Rhubarb, and Spinach

Celiac Disease or Intestinal Disorders

Excessive Amounts Exercising or Work

High Intake of Aspirin or Antacids

Pregnancy & Lactation

Growth Spurts or Menstruation

Internal bleeding and Ulcers

Cancer or Parasites

Candida Overgrowth

Low Lactoferrin Levels

High Intake of Fat

In reality, less than half of the people who suffer from an iron deficiency may actually be lacking iron in their diets.

This type of iron deficiency is caused by metabolic issues such as low levels of lactoferrin which is a protein that binds to non heme iron.

People or Vegetarians that get adequate amounts of iron may just need to increase their levels of lactoferrin, so that the iron consumed can be absorbed and utilized by the body.

Lactoferrin attaches to iron and takes it to where it is needed thus stopping iron deficiency symptoms.

Lactoferrin can also behave like an iron scavenger and attaches with free iron that would otherwise cause problems.

Mother's milk, organic raw milk, yogurt, kefir, colostrum, and raw cheese are good sources of lactoferrin.

Lactoferrin can also be produced by having enough good bacteria in your gut.

Tips to Increase Iron Absorption

Soaking and sprouting grains, beans, nuts, and seeds will help to enhance better absorption of iron.

Leavening as well as fermentation especially of soy will help with absorption of this mineral.

Eat foods high in zinc apart from iron rich foods for better iron absorption.

Cooking can result in a dramatic loss in heme iron depending on the animal food and cooking method used.

To retain more iron in your foods, cook foods in a minimal amount of water and for the shortest possible cooking time.

Symptoms of Too Much Iron

• Fatigue & Weakness
• Weight Loss or Hair Loss
• Joint Pain and Arthritis
• Abdominal Pain
• Bacterial Infections
• Shortness of Breath
• Abnormal Liver Function
• Elevated Liver Enzymes
• Glucose Intolerance & Diabetes
• Grey or Bronze Skin Pigmentation
• Visual and Hearing Problems
• Loss of Sex Drive & Impotence
• Damaged Adrenal Glands
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Diarrhea or Constipation

Causes of Too Much Iron

Excessive amounts of Iron Supplements

High consumption of Alcohol

High intake of Vitamin C Supplements

Frequently receiving Blood Transfusions

High amounts of Fructose

Use of Tobacco or inhaling Tobacco Smoke

Living in Highly Polluted Places

People with Hemochromatosis

Too much iron can be just as dangerous as too little. Excess iron in your bloodstream is called unbound iron or free iron. This type of iron is not bound to a protein or lactoferrin.

Increased amounts of this type of iron actually stimulates free radicals to form in your body which can lead to chronic diseases.

Excessive amounts of iron can damage or oxidize cholesterol in your blood and oxidized cholesterol can clog up vital arteries.

Unless this iron is released or utilized by your body it continues to accumulate and gets stored in places like your muscles, liver, heart, and pancreas.

Harmful parasites, bad bacteria, cancer, and candida all thrive in an iron rich environment as they also have a continuous need for iron in order to survive.

Lactoferrin can bind to this type of iron and then it can be used by your body to help prevent iron deficiency symptoms. At the same time, lactoferrin takes iron away from the pathogens which makes it harder for them to survive.

Men are much more likely to suffer from excess iron than iron deficiency symptoms because they do not menstruate like women. Iron is more likely to accumulate in their bodies - especially the older they get.

Studies have revealed that blood donors seem to exhibit better than average health as blood removal also helps to control circulating iron levels.

It would probably be a good idea for middle aged and older men to get a couple of blood tests to find out the amount of iron that is actually in their body.

Go to Supplemental Sources of Iron

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