What are the physiological and metabolic advantages conferred by maintaining optimal iron levels in the body?

Iron is a nutrient needed for several reasons. These include feeding good and bad bacteria. Iron helps to maintain many vital functions in the body, like general energy and focus, gastrointestinal processes, the immune system, and the regulation of body temperature.

The benefits of iron often go unnoticed until a person is not getting enough of it. Iron deficiency can cause fatigue, heart palpitations, pale skin and breathlessness.

Benefits

• Increases energy

• Increases focus

• Treats anemia

• Helps to maintain gastrointestinal processes

• Helps to maintain the immune system

• Supports the regulation of body temperature

Symptoms of deficiency

• Fatigue

• Paleness

• Brittle nails

• Breathing problems

• Grooved nails

• Hair loss / hair thinning

• Twitching

• Irritation

• PICA

• Dirt, chalk, ice cravings

• Restless leg syndrome

Causes of deficiency

• Excessive menstruation

• Ulcers

• Hemorrhoids

• Colon cancer

• Vegan diet

• Antibiotics

• Low stomach acidity

• Malabsorption

• Inflammation (the more chronic inflammation you have - the less iron in your body)

Problems with too much iron

Too much iron in the body is very dangerous to the mitochondria of the cells. It can create a lot of problems. When you combine free iron with oxygen, it forms a very powerful free radical that can damage the fat layer that surrounds the nervous system, called the myelin.

In the body, iron must be formed with protein. Too much Iron can also cause destruction to specific parts of the brain, specifically the hippocampus—which then can lead to dementia.

Here is some additional information on the negative effects of too much iron.

• Iron is attracted to damaged tissues in the body (brain, nerve, eye, liver and heart) and oxidizes them

• Oxidizes tissues (creates a rusting effect), including the fat layer around the nervous system cells, and the brain

• Accumulates in the body

• Body can’t get rid of it efficiently

• All bacteria need iron to survive (including bad ones)

Where to get it

• Seafood

• Red meat

• Poultry

• Eggs

• Insects

• Clams

• Liver

• Kidney and other organ meats

• Oysters

• Octopus

• Fish

• Eggs