How to naturally deal with iron deficiency
A deficiency in iron typically causes feelings of fatigue, low mood, and mental sluggishness. These symptoms don’t always indicate low iron and it is a good idea to have a blood test to confirm your ferritin and serum iron levels.
It is important to test for a deficiency first because iron is an oxidising agent within the body and excess iron increases the risk of heart disease. There is also a metabolic disorder called haemochromatosis, where iron accumulates in the body and is deposited in the organs leading to issues such as heart abnormalities, diabetes, and cirrhosis of the liver.
The commonly prescribed form of iron (ferrous sulphate tablets) is known for causing constipation, particularly when taken in doses over 100mg daily. There are things you can do to help your body absorb iron, and to reduce the likelihood of gastrointestinal distress. The first step is to increase your consumption of foods high in iron — red meats, shellfish and seafood, dried fruits, and leafy greens.
Vitamin C helps with absorption — you will need to take around 500mg with your iron supplement.
Natural supplements with supportive herbs, like the Floradix and Floravital products, work well for most people without causing constipation. Spatone is another natural iron supplement I recommend. It is highly bioavailable and gentle on the intestinal tract. By adding it to a glass of freshly pressed orange juice, you will further increase its effectiveness.
Other symptoms indicating iron deficiency include itching skin, thinning hair, and concavity in the fingernails. Women who are pregnant, or experience heavy or frequent menstruation, individuals taking long-term painkillers (especially NSAIDs), and vegetarians or vegans are at increased risk of iron deficiency or anaemia.
Stomach acid is crucial for the absorption of vitamins and minerals, and a lack of stomach acid secretion is often at the root of chronic digestive and malabsorption issues.
Betaine HCl with pepsin is a supplement that can be used to improve stomach acid levels.If you know or suspect this is an issue, then take one capsule (containing around 648mg of Betaine HCl) halfway through a protein-rich meal, increasing by one capsule at each subsequent protein-rich meal until you notice a slight burning in the throat, indicating you need to reduce the dosage by one capsule.
Digestive enzymes and probiotics may also be a useful addition to help with nutrient extraction and absorption.
Hiatus hernia occurs when part of the stomach is pulled up through the diaphragm, which leads to the acidic stomach contents leaking into the oesophagus. Heartburn, acid reflux, and digestive discomfort are the usual symptoms with this condition.
This is another condition where hypochlorhydria is typically a root cause. Lack of stomach acid leads to impaired digestion and fermentation of food, plus the gastro-oesophageal valve between the oesophagus and the stomach is not stimulated by stomach acid to close off properly. With this valve remaining open, reflux and heartburn are very common.
Slippery elm will help to soothe inflamed membranes, however it is important to take steps to improve his condition rather than simply masking the symptoms. With hiatus hernia, or any digestive disorder, chewing your food thoroughly is a crucial first step.
If he tends to bolt his food, then partially or completely blended foods, such as soups, smoothies, and slow- cooked casseroles and stews are an option. He would do well to avoid food or drink after 7pm, along with controlling portion size — smaller, more frequent meals, and utilising food-combining principles, such as avoiding protein and starches at the same meal.
