Is Your Iron Really Low? What You Need to Know

Taking Iron Supplements: A Closer Look

You’ve been told your iron is low, and you've been advised to take supplements. Here’s what no one is telling you: more iron might not be the answer.

Yes, I said it. I'm not trying to be controversial; I'm here to share important insights. Your body is smarter than you’ve been led to believe. Too many women suffer through unnecessary iron supplements without anyone looking deeper into their health.

I’m Hayley Down, a Registered Nutritional Therapist with over nine years of clinical experience, specializing in women’s hormonal health. If you’re feeling foggy, flat, and fed up with being fobbed off, you’re not alone. You’re definitely not imagining it.

⚠️ The Iron Trap – Is Your Iron REALLY Low?

Let me share a story about one of my clients, Jess. She came to me feeling utterly exhausted. She was napping in the afternoon, struggling to focus at work, and noticing more hair clogging the shower drain each week. Her GP told her, “Your iron is fine.”

But Jess didn’t feel fine at all.

She had been taking iron tablets for months, with little to no improvement. They only made her constipated and turned her stool black! After we ran a full iron panel and checked her gut health, we discovered the root of her issues was not low iron levels. Instead, it stemmed from absorption issues and inflammation. Additionally, her periods were exceedingly heavy, which didn’t help the situation. With the right personalized support, her ferritin levels began to rise naturally. She soon felt like herself again.

🧩 Iron Metabolism – It’s Not That Simple

Iron metabolism is complex. The idea that “low iron equals take a supplement” simplifies a much more complicated issue.

🔍 First Up: What Is Ferritin?

Ferritin is a protein that stores iron and releases it when your body needs a top-up. If your ferritin levels are low, it could indicate that your iron stores are dwindling. But here's the catch: ferritin alone doesn’t tell the whole story.

To truly understand what’s happening inside your body, we must consider:

• ✔️ Serum iron

• ✔️ Transferrin saturation

• ✔️ Total iron-binding capacity

• ✔️ CRP (C-reactive protein – a marker of inflammation)

  
  

🚩 Why Ferritin Alone Can Be Misleading

Standard ranges for ferritin (15–150 ng/mL) are designed to catch severe deficiencies. However, these ranges are not optimal for women experiencing hormonal symptoms. I prefer my clients to aim for the optimal zone of 70–90 ng/mL—especially if they are dealing with:

• Fatigue

• Hair shedding

• Brain fog

• PMS

• Period problems

  
  

🤔 Is Your Iron Actually the Problem?

Do any of these sound familiar?

• You’re exhausted no matter how early you go to bed.

• Your hair is shedding, and it’s causing you stress.

• You feel foggy or forgetful regularly.

• Your doctor says your iron is “fine,” yet you still feel terrible.

• You’ve been taking iron supplements but see no difference.

• Your periods are heavy and clotty.

  
  

👉 If you answered “yes” to two or more, it’s time to dig deeper. You’re not being overly dramatic. It’s clear that something is being overlooked.

What’s Really Causing Low Ferritin Levels?

True iron deficiency is relatively rare. Your body is efficient at recycling—most iron is reused rather than lost. However, if something disrupts absorption or increases inflammation, ferritin levels can drop. Alternatively, iron can get trapped in cells, creating falsely high levels. Common culprits include:

• ❌ Candida

• ❌ SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)

• ❌ H. pylori

• ❌ Ulcerative colitis

• ❌ Coeliac disease

• ❌ Low stomach acid

• ❌ High dairy intake

• ❌ Excessive turmeric supplementation

  
  

What to Do Instead

This isn’t about avoiding iron altogether; it's about using it wisely.

✅ Your Game Plan:

• Obtain a full iron panel, not solely ferritin.

• Combine iron-rich foods (like lentils or spinach) with vitamin C for better absorption.

• Support your gut health to enhance nutrient uptake.

• Consult your GP to rule out any serious conditions, especially if you are uncertain about the cause of your low levels.

• Work with a qualified practitioner (like me!) to explore inflammation, digestion, and hormone imbalances.

  
  

Let’s Be Real...

You don’t need to be on the brink of hospital-level anemia to deserve support. You shouldn’t wait until you’re burnt out or crying in the GP’s parking lot to finally feel heard. Sometimes, you simply know that something isn't right, and that instinct is worth listening to.

🔥 Ready to Get Answers?

I work with women who are tired of second-guessing their symptoms, wasting time on ineffective supplements, and being told “everything’s normal” when it clearly isn't the case.

I take on a limited number of new clients each month to ensure I can provide my full attention and uncover what’s really going on.

Want expert eyes on your iron and hormone health? Click below to book your free 30-minute discovery call—no pressure, just genuine answers and a plan that actually works for you.

👉 Book your free call now