Low iron...hair loss

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Permalink Reply by Chicory on October 7, 2009 at 5:20pm

If you are supplementing with iron, and have absorption issues, your best bet is with liquid drops. I took tablets/ capsules for 6 months and has zero change in my levels. I would try juicing some of the veggies.. that has helped me tremendously. I also believe that if your zinc levels are high it can also prevent some of the iron absorption (pumpkin seeds) I would avoid eating them at the same time as the iron supp. Eggs don't work for me. I'm not vegan and eat 3 or 4 raw eggs a week. Hasn't done a thing for my levels.

You can have poor absorption from chronic damage to the intestinal lining (leaky gut) or from having low hydrochloric acid. Greens with help with that. :). You can have damage from years ago.. antibiotics, unknown food allergies/ intolerance/ trauma/ stress.

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Permalink Reply by laura Coxeter on October 7, 2009 at 5:23pm

Thanks Chicory, will ook into getting liquid supplement. I wont eat eggs.......Crikey, the pumpkin seed thing is annoying! So many factors to consider!
Hope you are on the right track yourself now....?!

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Permalink Reply by Chicory on October 7, 2009 at 5:32pm

I've been on the liquid supps for a few weeks now and am starting to feel an increase in energy... hair is still falling out, but I know it takes a few months for the levels to come up :). remember, that you only absorb around 8 % of the iron you consume. I'm taking around 4x the daily dosage, but I would check with your doc on how much you should take. It is almost impossible for someone with absorption issues/ any type of iron deficiency ever to get levels that are too high... That is only reserved to those with genetic predisposition to hemochromatosis.

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Permalink Reply by Nick Sirpo on October 7, 2009 at 5:43pm

All stimulants (cacao) cause mineral loss and use up your b-vitamins. That stuff is like a toxic drug. Lose the cacao.

Was your ferritin level normal? Doctors have shown that with adequate ferritin levels (essentially your body's stored iron) anemic patients will recover with adequate sleep. Try to get used to going to bed earlier and earlier until you are fully rested upon waking.

If you are eating properly, you will not need either supplement.

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Permalink Reply by Nick Sirpo on October 7, 2009 at 5:51pm

I would really stop the iron supplements. Iron is the key component to free radical damage and too much iron is thought to be a spark that can set off both heart disease and cancer, in addition to aggravating the aging process. Taking extra iron simply speeds this up. You are far better off not messing with your body's delicate chemistry with pills potions and powders. (taken from "Food For Life" by Dr. Neal Barnard.)

Baldness can be a hormone issue more often than not. Caffeine (cacao) has been shown to adversely effect this area too.

Are you at a healthy weight?

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Permalink Reply by Chicory on October 7, 2009 at 6:48pm

well, if your ferritin level hits 6 you'll need a blood transfusion!

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Permalink Reply by Nick Sirpo on October 7, 2009 at 7:14pm

Obviously that is an extreme emergency situation which this obviously isn't.

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Permalink Reply by laura Coxeter on October 8, 2009 at 5:19am

Thank you guys. I will go to the doctor for a thyroid check. I feel i need to take the supplements (food source) for a couple more weeks, just to see if it helps. I used to be an early riser, but since the hair loss started, i have ben lying in! Wierd! Also, im 7 stone 11. 5"7. I guess im underwheight, however, a month ago i was just 7 stone!
Will look into thyroid and maybe start eating some cooked grains and lentils.
Thanks guys!

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Permalink Reply by Chicory on October 8, 2009 at 7:44am

whoops.... i thought that you were anemic... see... anemia does that to a person, makes them forgetful lol!

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Permalink Reply by Travis on October 8, 2009 at 7:22am

cacao is high in minerals YET!!!!! it can inhibit absorption. for more on this see kevin gianni from renegade health. coco is high in magnesium and yet he found that cacao lowered his magnesium levels because of the other chemicals in it. very high cacao is not good for anyone in my opinion. use it as a treat not everyday.

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Permalink Reply by Johnny on October 8, 2009 at 11:46am

I just did a bunch of research on iron last night. Found out a few important things, some of which have been touched on in this thread already.

First, when eating foods for iron, always include high levels of vitamin C to assist absorption.
Also, good levels of stomach acid are needed.

Some foods rich in iron are mung bean and lentil sprouts, which contain about 90% RDA in 100 grams, also of great benefit is that the sprouting increases their vitamin C content to fairly high levels. (I don't know if that is RDA for men or women, as women's needs are about 50% greater.)

Baby lettuces are a good source, and don't contain the oxalates(an absorption inhibitor) that spinach and other greens might have.

So, make a salad of baby lettuces, any other goodies like tomatoes and peppers (for increased vitamin C), the aforementioned sprouts, and a homemade dressing of fresh lemon juice and olive/flax seed oil as a base. The lemon juice adds more vitamin C and helps to assist the acidification of the stomach. Bingo! You have your iron needs met in that one salad.

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