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FU1. drinking coffee around iron rich meals (tannins reduce iron absorption)
2. assuming supplements alone will fix an iron deficiency and relying on synthetic iron
3. ignoring gut issues that affect iron absorption like low stomach acid
4. eating when i’m stressed or dysregulated (this reduces stomach acid needed for mineral absorption)
5. eating on the go or barely chewing my food
6. relying on iron fortified foods instead of bioavailable iron sources
7. ignoring important iron cofactors like vitamin A, copper and adequate protein
8. assuming low iron is always an intake problem rather than an absorption issue
9. constantly under-eating or staying in an aggressive calorie deficit
10. ignoring signs my body was giving me like fatigue, poor recovery and brain fog
i was deficient in iron for almost a decade. when i tracked my food, my intake often hit the RDI and at times i even took iron supplements.
so what was causing it?
i was vegan for many of those years, meaning i wasn’t eating the most bioavailable iron sources. even though i ate “iron rich” foods, they weren’t well absorbed.
i also had chronic gut issues, which meant my nutrient absorption in general was compromised. iron tablets often made my symptoms worse so i could never stay on them long.
i was likely also missing important cofactors for iron like vitamin A and copper, and my blood work showed multiple nutrient deficiencies.
on top of that i was chronically stressed, which can increase gut permeability and reduce stomach acid production. combined with low zinc, this meant my body likely wasn’t producing enough stomach acid to properly break down iron.
when i supported my gut and began eating bioavailable iron sources daily, everything changed.
my deficiency disappeared and my iron levels skyrocketed.
sometimes the issue isn’t how much iron you’re consuming.
it’s how well your body can absorb it.
if you’re dealing with gut issues, fatigue or stubborn nutrient deficiencies, this is exactly what i look at in my once-off gut protocols.
we review symptoms, functional blood work and nutrition to identify what may actually be driving the issue.
link in bio to learn more.
@functionalyogi
