Could it be Low Iron?

Iron deficiency is one of the most common and overlooked nutrient deficiencies in the world. 

I’ve had some level of iron deficiency since I was 15 years old, my ferritin levels (ferritin = your bodies iron storage and is the key marker for anemia. Throughout this article and to avoid getting in the weeds of an iron panel, I will only speak of ferritin for the purposes of this blog) have never been above 32. 

Last week, my ferritin was back down to a 14. My gynecologist said ‘it’s a little low but everything is normal’.

NORMAL?!

This is happening to so many of us! Every menstruating person in the world needs to hear this: If your ferritin is below 50, *IT IS NOT OPTIMAL*! 

Here’s the deal, standard medical labs are a reference range, not an optimal range and they are based on the *entire* population. So, the ‘normal’ range for ferritin can be anywhere from 11 to 300 depending on the lab company. When it comes to ferritin, you want the Goldilocks approach, not too high, not too low, rather finding your ‘just right’.

7 of the most common symptoms of low iron:

1. Fatigue and weakness

2. Pale skin and nail changes

3. Shortness of breath

4. Headaches and dizziness

5. Cold hands and feet

6. Restless legs syndrome

7. Weakened immune function

Recognizing the symptoms, early detection, and intervention are crucial for all people, especially for people menstruating. Raising your ferritin levels can improve energy levels, overall health and quality of life. 

It’s time to feel empowered when it comes to your health!

Just because the allopathic doctor tells you things are normal, does not mean things are optimal for your bodies needs. 

There’s a lot you can do through nutrition, improving gut health by improving absorption, and reducing duration and heaviness of menstrual flow to support iron absorption and improve ferritin levels. 

If you’re curious about where nutrient deficiencies could be showing up in your labs or want to optimize your nutrition for your bodies needs, I would love to support you!

This is not intended to be medical advice. While I am an acupuncturist and nutritionist, I’m not your acupuncturist and nutritionist!