Iron Deficiency Symptoms
and Anemia Symptoms

Iron deficiency symptoms are more common than you think and when left unchecked will progress to Anemia symptoms.

The word Anemia is a Greek word and means "without blood".

Anemia symptoms would be similar to this sleeping bat turning into Dracula and getting hold of you to suck you dry!  Not a fun experience and I do not recommend letting iron deficiency symptoms progress that far.

Iron Deficiency Symptoms

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

What is Anemia?

Anemia is a condition in which you have a lower than normal amount of red blood cells.  And if you don't have enough red blood cells to effectively transport oxygen throughout your body, you are said to have Anemia.

Anemia symptoms and iron deficiency symptoms are usually related to one another as a cause and effect type of situation.  Types of Anemia caused by a decrease in red blood cell production include Iron Deficiency Anemia and Vitamin Deficient Anemia.

What is Anemia Symptoms:

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

The Different Types of Anemia

You will 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.

Another reason for Anemia could be not having enough of "good bacteria" (E. coli, etc.) and having too much "bad bacteria".  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 and iron deficiency symptoms.

Reasons for Iron Deficiency Symptoms

  • Polyphenols and Tannins in Coffee, Red Wine, Tea, Turmeric, Cocoa, Berries, Leafy Greens, Peppermint, Chamomile, etc.
  • High Intake of Competing Minerals like Calcium, Zinc, Copper, and Magnesium
  • Food Additives like EDTA
  • Glyphosate which is Found in the Herbicide Roundup
  • GMO's
  • Foods Sprayed with Roundup (used to dry many foods)
  • Excessive Amounts of Exercising
  • Working Long Hours at Job
  • Inadequate Intake and Absorption of Iron
  • Growth Spurts or Menstruation
  • Pregnancy and Lactation
  • Not Enough Rest or Off Time
  • High Oxalate Foods such as Spinach, Beets, Buckwheat, Rhubarb, Almonds, Cocoa Powder, etc.
  • Heavy Metals like Lead
  • Lack of Good Bacteria or Vitamins
  • Phytic Acid in Whole Grains, Nuts, Seeds, and Legumes
  • Whole Grain Breads that Have Not been Fermented or Sprouted
  • Too much Fiber in Diet
  • Celiac Disease or Intestinal Disorders
  • High Intake of Egg Protein that binds iron molecules together from both Egg Whites and Egg Yolks (prevents body from absorbing iron from foods)
  • High Intake of Salicylates like Aspirin, Peppers, Coconut Oil, Tomato Sauce, etc.
  • Internal Bleeding and Ulcers
  • Candida Overgrowth from Sugar Consumption
  • Cancer or Parasites
  • High Intake of Antacids and other Medications
  • Vegan Diets & Vegetarian Diets
  • Too Much Fat with Iron Rich Meals

Tips to Avoid Iron Deficiency Symptoms

Cooking can sometimes result in a loss of heme iron depending on the animal food and cooking method used.  Cook your steaks to medium-rare or rare! 

Also, to retain more iron in cooked foods - cook foods in a minimal amount of water to avoid iron deficiency symptoms.

Leavening as well as the fermentation of grains and especially of soy will also remove anti-nutrients which helps with the absorption of iron.

Soaking and sprouting grains, beans, nuts, and seeds will also help to enhance better absorption of iron by removing anti-nutrients like phytic acid that blocks iron.

If you have iron deficiency symptoms, do not eat an excess of calcium, zinc, or magnesium with iron rich foods as they will compete for absorption.  For example, limit the amount of calcium to about 50 mg. when consuming red meat meals to avoid iron deficiency symptoms.  Or wait an hour or two after your meat meal before drinking that tall glass of milk which contains about 300 mg. of calcium.

Keep Iron away from the Pathogens!

Low levels of lactoferrin - which is a glycoprotein that binds to iron could help keep iron away from pathogens.  Mother's milk, grass fed raw milk, yogurt, kefir, colostrum, and raw cheese are good sources of lactoferrin.

Lactoferrin can behave like an iron scavenger and attaches with free iron that would otherwise cause problems like feed bad bacteria or pathogens which also need iron to survive.  Lactoferrin is a prebiotic which also stimulates the production of probiotics which are the good bacteria.  This also makes it much harder for pathogens to survive.

People that have iron deficiency symptoms may just need to increase their levels of lactoferrin (which your body also produces), so that the iron consumed can be absorbed and utilized by the body without unnecessary interference by harmful microbes.  Lactoferrin attaches to iron and takes it to where it is needed thus helping to stop iron deficiency symptoms.

What About Too Much Iron?

Sometimes people end up with too much iron.  This can occur from either a failure in their body's ability to regulate iron or a genetic condition called Hemochromatosis in which you will absorb more iron than the average person. This genetic condition appears to be much more prevalent in people of Northern European Descent. 

Consuming the iron bound to protein found in raw meats is usually not the cause of too much iron or an iron overload.  However, consuming large amounts of over-cooked or processed meats may create free iron.

Basically, the problem occurs when an excess of "unbound iron" or "free iron" builds up in your bloodstream.  This type of iron is not bound to a protein like lactoferrin, etc.  Increased amounts of this type of iron can actually stimulate free radicals to form in your body which can lead to chronic diseases.

Excessive amounts of free iron can damage or oxidize cholesterol in your blood and oxidized cholesterol clogs up vital arteries.  Too much free iron can be very dangerous to your health.  And unless this iron is released or utilized by your body it gets stored in places like your liver.

What Causes Too Much Iron?

  • Living in Highly Polluted Places
  • Use of Tobacco or Inhaling Tobacco Smoke or "Other" Smoke
  • Exposure to Glyphosate in Roundup
  • Premature Red Cell Aging or Destruction
  • High Consumption of Alcohol especially with Meals
  • Alcoholic Cirrhosis and Liver Diseases
  • Frequently Receiving Blood Transfusions
  • Cooking Acidic Foods in Cast Iron Pots, Cookware, and Frying Pans
  • Excessive Amounts of Iron Supplements
  • High Intake of Iron Fortified Foods like Fortified Cereals
  • Drinking Well Water High in Iron
  • High Amounts of Fructose from Soda, Fruits, and Sweeteners
  • Over Cooking or Over Processing Iron Rich Foods
  • High Intake of Vitamin C Supplements

Symptoms of Too Much Iron

  • Fatigue and 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 and Diabetes
  • Grey or Bronze Skin Pigmentation
  • Visual and Hearing Problems
  • Loss of Sex Drive and Impotence
  • Damaged Adrenal Glands
  • Nausea and Vomiting
  • Diarrhea or Constipation

Are You More at Risk?

Men are much more likely to suffer from excess iron than iron deficiency symptoms because they do not menstruate like women.  As studies have revealed, blood donors seem to exhibit better than average health as blood removal seems to help control iron levels.

For the most part - menstruating women, growing children, and people on restrictive diets will probably lean more towards iron deficiency symptoms than having too much iron.

Remember, too much iron or not enough iron can both contribute to health problems that can actually turn into chronic health issues.  And you will need to get a blood test in order to know for sure if you are suffering from iron deficiency symptoms or symptoms of too much iron.

Go to Supplemental Sources of Iron

Return to Iron Rich Foods 

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Contact Kathryn if you have suggestions, questions, or comments.