Best Iron Supplements for Anemia, Women, & Vegans
Besides travel, one of my biggest passions is natural health, & all things related to feeling vital & well ~ whether at home or traveling. And when traveling, I only bring the best-of-the-best, supplements I really feel affect me for the better, & promote my overall well-being & energy levels on the road. Iron (combined with Vitamin B) is one of those select few supplements I keep in my travel arsenal. Low iron (& low Vitamin B levels) can lead to fatigue, & that’s something I don’t need or want when traveling. Because both women & vegetarians, in particular, are more prone to having low iron levels, here are the “Best Iron Supplements for Anemia, Women, & Vegans.” Â
How to Know If You Need Iron?
There’s only one way to know if you need an iron supplement or not: & that is to take a blood test. Testing for iron is quite inexpensive, whether you want to order it as a stand-alone blood test, or as part of your complete blood count (CBC). Make sure to tell your doctor to check your “Stored Ferritin” levels as well, which gives a more complete picture of your body’s iron levels (in addition to your red blood cell count).Â
When I originally had my blood tested several years ago, my doctor told me I was “borderline-anemic,” & this is how I came to discover the best iron supplements for anemia. In every blood test since then, my iron levels have been in the normal range ~ so for people who think supplements are ineffective, clearly, this isn’t always the case!Â
(Now that my iron levels are normal, I take iron supplements 1-2X/week, instead of 3-4X, as recommended by my doctor.)
Symptoms of Low Iron Levels
- Extreme fatigue
- Weakness
- Chest pain, fast heartbeat, or shortness of breath
- Headache, dizziness, or being light-headed
- Pale skin
- Cold hands & feet
- Inflammation or soreness of the tongue
- Brittle nails
- Unusual cravings for things such as ice, dirt, or starch
- Poor appetite
According to the Mayo Clinic, any of the above can be symptoms of low iron ~ & the first four I’d much rather avoid while traveling. Having cold hands & feet was an odd thing that affected me for years; it certainly wasn’t life-threatening, but it was of concern, especially while in colder climates.Â
I tried several iron supplements before finding one that did NOT cause constipation (an unfortunate side effect of many iron supplements): Vitanica’s Iron Extra. Dr. Tori Hudson, a naturopathic doctor in Portland, created the Vitanica line of supplements specifically for women ~ & I’m a huge fan of them because they don’t have any filler “crap” ingredients in them, instead favoring nourishing botanicals that are highly effective. Take a look at the ingredients in Iron Extra:
Best Iron Supplements for Anemia, Women, & Vegans
That concludes our search for the best iron supplements for anemia, women, & vegans. As Tim Ferriss says, “I’m not a doctor ~ & I don’t play one on the Internet!” However, I am passionate about helping people find more natural ways to remedy common ailments, & this is what has worked for me. Seek out a doctor to test your iron levels, & to obtain the proper dosage for iron supplementation, if in fact you are anemic.Â
In Good Health!
xoxo Noelia
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