REAL vitamin c is essential for iron absorption, so I now have a “lemon habit” of squeezing a full lemon on my meals or in my beverages. It fixed my absorption problem and the carbs did not slow my keto progress a bit! (Vitamin C supplements did not fix my absorption at all, so synthetic c-ascorbic acid- cannot replace the real thing.) Or bell peppers in any form will do it, as well! (I just can’t have nightshade veggies because of my autoimmunity/inflammation.) Great info!! I’m excited about my blood work scheduled for tomorrow, as well, the first since I switched to ketovore from omnivore 18 months ago. Your videos are always so encouraging!
Yes, vitamin c helps absorption of non-heme iron. Interestingly, the only thing that seems to hinder absorption of heme iron is large doses of calcium. Also, apparently collagen does just as good of a job helping non-heme absorption as vitamin c! So much interesting stuff! I'm excited to get to the bottom of this!
@@IndigoNili Ooo, I didn’t know that! I’ve been taking Types 1&3 bovine collagen for a few months, so any idea which type helps? It’s so confusing (to me 😵💫). Thanks so much!
I don't know if there's a specific type that helps. I'm just going to be more diligent about sipping on one of my collagen drinks (besides coffee!) after eating!
I haven't seen a video of yours, or know anything about you, but seeing your thumb nail, my immediate thought was "Oh no! Is this dear woman vegan??😖). Looking over your show notes, I felt immediate relief. Interestingly, after decades of declining health, my latest bloods as a carnivore are SUPERB. Except the LDL. My GP said my chol numbers were picture perfect for decades, but I responded that all others were terrible. He hates that I am on carnivore and will push the LDL over and beyond all other markers. I went from an autoimmune disease riddled, metabolically broken middle aged peri woman, to a depressionless, anxietyless healthy woman. He misses all that. All over the LDL.
I was iron deficient until 23 yrs ago I started taking 1-2tbs of blackstrap molasses along with half an orange everyday. It fixed my absorption issues and also increased all of my iron levels.
Because of your video I went back and looked at my ferritin levels from last year and it’s 15. I have all those symptoms plus sugar issues…I’m so grateful for your channel.
Here's the thing with labs. They are a snapshot of one moment in time. Sooo many things can cause fluctuations in our labs. For example: you were recently ill. Where are you at in your cycle? If your CBC is normal blood loss is not probable. Not saying that you don't have valid concern. I just hope you're not super worried. Hope your doc will help you figure it out. Great info! Thanks!
I'm not super worried about the ANA but I think it's wise to look into possibilities causing it. My chronically low ferritin is what I'm most concerned about and what I want to correct asap
I will be following this closely! First, I have struggled with iron deficiency for years. Second my daughter just recently also tested positive for markers of auto immune and is currently undergoing more testing. Thanks for sharing all this so we can all learn more.
So I had a gastric bypass to reverse my T2D and it worked for about 2 years. I lost 100lbs but slowly reverted to a SAD diet. Have known I’m iron deficient but until I tried another doctor for other issues (so I thought) she pegged it. I was a 5! My endocrinologist said I was a little low. Humph. New doctor got me iron infusions stat, added thyroid meds and I am down 25lbs now. I had all the classic symptoms that I had been telling endo about for years. But the best part is my BS is low, my A1C went from a 9 to a 6 in 3 months and is better everyday. I know we as women muster through it. But it is a disservice to ourselves. And I educate myself through UT videos like yours. Truth is that is how I found the new doctor! You will get better but if like me it will be so natural you forget that you felt bad. Watching and praying for your recovery. Thank You!
ANA test really doesn't mean much, I have had MS and celiac for 25 years and never had a positive ana test. Some people have no symptoms and a positive test result. Keep doing what you are doing to feel your best!
I worry alot about thi because mine was not positive but i have so many signs and symptoms if auto immunes. They checked for ms but said my mri didnt show that. I have alot of signs of lupus but i dont know if they have checked for that. I dont know what celiac is and i hope tou feel better
@@swilsonsmyname my daughter also has been diagnosed with probable MS, MRI didn't show anything significant but her spinal tap showed mirroring and she had a positive VEP test. Also clinically she has difficulty walking, her speech and motor skills. A ketovore diet has helped all our symptoms, so whether you have a diagnosis or not, low carb can significantly improve your health. I also wish you good health 😊
Thank you soooo much for this series and for sharing your symptoms and resources. Your description hit home for me so I got the iron repair manual and took the suggested tests. There it was, ferritin: 13! Thank you!!!
You are pretty young, so you may have plenty of betaine hydrochloric acid, but maybe you could research that. I know that if you don't have enough when you eat, you don't absorb nutrients nearly as well. Just a thought! Love your exceptional videos and your intelligence. You explain yourself so well (and your grammar is excellent!) Thank you for everything!
While getting results like this is definitely not ideal, I think this video is brilliant. This is going to help so many other people that have the same issue while eating a keto diet. Thank you for being so open and sharing your journey with us!
I hope so! I want to get across that we all need to find what our bodies need in order to thrive. Instead of blanket statements like "keto doesn't work" or "high protein is bad", etc. ☺️❤️
My husband is also iron deficient and started taking the same iron supplements from Krystal Moore this week. He’s mostly ketovore but has been eating lots of greens. This week started carnivore.
Thank you so much for this! That empty feeling. I've never been able to explain it. I tell my husband that I feel like I'm lacking something. Like I eat and am full but not getting my nutrients! A great starting point for me to explore.
I have to say after watching this I immediately called my doctor to make an appointment. I've had low ferritin for a long time. My last check over a year ago it was 34. I had it flagged on my copy but was told it was fine. I'm going to revisit this conversation with her and insist on trying to get it up. When looking at the symptoms of low ferritin I can say I have all but one. I look forward to seeing your plan of action. Thank you
You might be getting too much Calcium too. Calcium affects the absorption of iron. I had been taking a daily vitamin, and my doctor had me stop and added a digestive enzyme. I had my gallbladder removed so the enzymes helped with the stomach problems, but my iron levels are rising! Side note: Cook everything in cast iron! Toss a jar of apple sauce into a cast iron skillet and let it simmer. Pour it back in the jar, and save for later. Iron-packed apple sauce!
I love your channel and admire your attitude. You, like me, want answers and understanding, and will likely get to the bottom of this. I've been working with my wife's iron absorption problem ( a result of intestinal surgery ), and you will no doubt have many suggestions, but I'll offer one that maybe you won't hear. I've come across a study in my research for my wife's problem, and that is that vitamin C, when consumed during a meal high in iron improves iron absorption significantly. Obviously fruit isn't the best choice for vitamin C because of the sugar, but yellow bell peppers have over 6 times the vitamin C of an orange. So we'll often have a few slices of bell pepper with our steak. Wishing you all the best.
Isn’t it so funny how things come to you in life when you really need them? I mean you were so resistant to taking those greens, and yet look how much you needed them. I am so glad you are on a path to this big piece of the puzzle. I really hope it solves some big issues for you. ♥️♥️♥️
An ANA if 1:80 is very common in women. A Rheumatologist will not consider that positive. I've been down that road with ANA as high as 1:1280 and the Rheumatologist wasn't concerned. I have chronic anemia and have most of my life. A lot of mine is absorption issue related to Celiac disease that went undiagnosed for much of my life. I have a very hard time absorbing any plant form of iron. My body can't break it down to a usable form. When mine gets low I have to get iron infusions. When I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease I had multiple vitamin and mineral deficiencies. It has improved but I am on vitamin B12, Folic acid, and Vitamin D3 suplements.
First off I’m sorry that you have this on your plate to deal with but on the other hand I’m thankful for you being so intuitive with your body to know something’s not quite right. Also for sharing. We need to listen to our bodies and not ignore the signals. It’s job is survival. My favorite quote” If you don’t take care of your body, where are you going to live?” Your journey wherever it takes you is going to help so many people revisit their own health. Thanks for sharing!🍀🍀🍀🍀I have know doubt that you’ll figure this out in no time.
Fasting can heal, and so can eating. You are exactly correct, listen to your body, and it will guide you through the healing process of when to fast and when to heal. Good luck in your journey seeking improvements to your health.
Very interesting video. I really appreciate your message of listening to our own bodies. I ordered the Athletic Greens, and I received them yesterday. I can tell you they have excellent customer service. I ordered the starter kit, and among other things, it was supposed to contain a canister and scoop. Those items were missing. I went to the web site and used live chat to let them know of the issue. The rep who responded apologized, and said she would ship the missing items immediately, which she did. Excellent customer service! 🥰😀🥰
Sorry you are going through this. Praying you get your health back on track. I find your labs interesting. These were my numbers the day I had a heart attack. You- Total Chol - 214 | HDL - 62 | LDL - 138 | Trig 52 | Me - Total Chol - 228 | HDL - 61 | LDL - 139 | Trig 140 | Chol/HDL Ratio - 3.7 (range is 0.0-5.0) I think the mainstream media and LOTS of doctors are focused way too much on LDL. I think if your HDL is high enough and your triglycerides are low enough, your heart & circulatory system are in good shape. We're hearing more & more about this. Lucky for me my heart attack was very, very mild with no damage to my heard (only one symptom - mildly achy left arm that wouldn't go away). But, now I have 4 stents. :( Lucky for me I have since found keto & my triglycerides are 63.
Thank goodness you listen and understand your body! And that you know enough that you can be your own advocate. Sounds like you have a great Dr. too. Hugs and looking forward to your follow up on this.
My alkaline phosphatase is always low. My kidney transplant nephrologist is not concerned, as I do not have symptoms. He said he'd be concerned if it was high. As for my iron and ferritin levels, I experienced the same thing. I even had iron and ferritin infusions. My iron levels dropped to 7, which is dangerously low. The iron infusions increased my levels, but it was temporary. It was finally decided that I should have an endoscopy. We'll, I had three tiny bleeds that were causing my issue. I was prescribed Omeprazole to heal the bleeds. In less than one month the bleeds healed. Today, my iron levels is 13, and I feel human again! Hopefully, you're doctor is having you get a simple endoscopy to rule out what I had. I wish you all the best.
Good luck figuring this out--I know you will. Thank you for sharing, and well done on your triglycerides and A1C-amazeballs. I started incorporating powdered greens recently (not the Athletic ones, though…) in what I call a sherbet; greens, coconut cream, scoop of Mango Relyte, an egg, water and ice. Tart, refreshing and delicious. I crave it every day and my energy has perked right up (correlation not causation, I know, but still good). Also, I know you eat tons of iron, but I must add that Dr. Ken Berry was absolutely right in recommending tinned cod-liver as a very mild and delicious way to incorporate iron-it is soft and acts like mayo in your tuna salad. Found it at a Russian deli.
Had iron deficiency without other symptoms. Turned out to be celiac disease. Getting off gluten brought all levels back to normal. I hope your issue is as easy to address as mine was.
I too had low ferritin for a number of years and the Doctors had no clue. Finally, I changed Doctors and he had me take a Celiac blood test. Sure enough, it was positive. I was not absorbing the nutrients in my system which was causing my low ferritin. I was basically starving myself. After a year my ferritin levels tripled. This might not apply in your situation but I thought I would share because your story sounds so familiar.
I hope you get all your questions answered and are able to improve your health. I'm sure you will feel calmer after you talk to your doctor and get things in order.
Wowza!!! Thank you so much for sharing your results. I’ll be watching for your journey to healing! Now, I must check my own results. I’m due for my yearly physical.
Great video and I think it will get a lot of people thinking about their health and why they feel the way they do. A lot of things don't get checked nowadays on bloodwork. My Vitamin D used to be very low and I had to supplement, even if I was out in the sun. But unless I demand it, the doctor doesn't order it. I think I need to test my ferritin also though I have not been really concerned. I used to bruise really easily before keto and now that I have upped the protein even more over the course of the year, I am not bruising every time I touch something. You are doing what you should be doing and taking care of yourself and checking out things that are not normal. Good luck.
I think your diet is allowing you to continue with normal functions. It is awesome that you had this blood test & found out now allowing you & your Dr to work on this. I wish Dr’s would do insulin level testing as well. This is much more precise test for sugar issues than blood glucose levels. Our Dr’s are trained for attacking problems instead of preventing problems 😡
For your iron absorbtion, it might be something you eat that blocks the absorbtion (egg whites, dairy, ect..) I have issues with it too but supplements never worked, it got alot better when I stopped wheat. Hope you get a solution 🤗
Thanks as always for sharing, I need to get my blood checked, it's been about 2 years since I've had it done! Love your videos, you help me to know what to look out for! Thanks for all that you do! Always a friend!🥰
Really interesting.. Thank you. Looking forward to hearing why iron isn't' being absorbed. Yes! We all need to listen to our bodies--we are all so different.
Good Morning, I had very low B12 on blood testing, while on a high meat food plan. Found out on elimination diet (Meat, salt, water) that my tummy trouble was related to food sensitivities. It took 5 weeks for my tummy to flatten and quit having random nausea and fatigue and brain fog. Oddball items like olives, cherry, msg, gums like guar and xantham all distressed my digestion and caused permeability in my intestines. Taking away items turned out to be what I needed, not adding supplements. Middle of the range B12 now. I had not had my ferritin tested. I didn't know better in 2019. I remain on 'dirty carnivore' woe. Wonderful mental health bonus from avoiding most plants. I eat berries from the back yard and condiment amounts of avocado, onion, cilantro added back one item at at time. No more than one plant item a week. I thank you for sharing your story!
Thanks for sharing your lab results, Nili. - I struggled with low ferritin for years - and was following a LC diet at the time. It must’ve been low even before that but hadn’t been checked. The lowest I had was 7 and I struggled to even get out of bed! I’m glad that you was working on it already.
I know what you are saying about body not storing iron. My body did that. My Dr had me go get iron infusions for several treatment. When not handled early enough as I wasn't. I had to get blood transfusions several times first. I don't remember the mechanism in our body that wasn't working right. That's why iron tablets weren't working nor all iron strong meat wasn't working. Couldn't get ferriten in line either. Good luck and God bless you from grandma Katie in Oregon
I’ve heard that egg whites can aggravate autoimmune issues and I know you eat a ton of egg white bread so I wonder if it could be skewing the results on that test…I also read that calcium can inhibit iron absorption. I have several autoimmune disorders and since starting keto, most of my symptoms have all but disappeared and I couldn’t be happier. Good luck with finding your answers and make sure to do your own research on all these.
Low alk phos can be caused by adrenal insufficiency and zinc can help. Great cholesterol and HA1c! I also have a positive ANA. The doc referred me to a rheumatologist and I was negative for rheumatoid arthritis. There may be a connection between low iron and positive ANA. Omega 3 fatty acids and methylated B complex can help for iron deficiency. MTHFR can also exacerbate iron deficiency. The doc may want to refer you to a hematologist. Thanks for sharing these results with us as we can learn from your experience!💜
I’m anxious to see what your doc says. My anemia was caused by kidney failure (kidneys tell the bone marrow to make blood cells and mine didn’t so I take a med to increase blood production). I don’t understand low ferritin very well but I do know that the more knowledge you get about any condition, the better. What little I googled, it seems your Ana result and iron stores might be related. Let us know when you know. Hope you don’t stress too much about your results. Stressing isn’t good for your body. Been there done that. Good luck solving these medical mysteries.
I’m also iron deficient anemic and have been so most of my life. I’m also ketovore which has improved my iron but I’m still in the deficient levels. I also feel better high protein.I was taking iron supplements but not the heme kind. My Dr wants me to see a Hematologist if I can’t get it up some by my next appointment, I’m going to order the ancestral supplements and hope it helps and look into Krystal’s information as well! Please keep us posted! Iron deficiency Warrior here as well!💪🏽❤️
This is where you want your labs to be: Iron: ~110 % Sat: ‘close’ to 34 or 35% (or .34 / .35) TIBC: ~low 300’s Ferritin: 50’s or higher (optimal 70-90) High numbers can relate to inflammation. *Having SIBO/Malabsorption will cause you to have lower iron levels.
So glad you are getting some answers/clues on your journey to better health. Where did you get an idea of what blood tests you wanted? Thanks for sharing your walk and experiences :-)
I’d see a hematologist, I have similar blood test results. I had to get IV infusions . I have Hashimoto’s. I did have MALT lymphoma, but it was eradicated.
I use to get monthly iron infusions for 8 years because my ferritin was low. They believe due to intestinal damage from years of undiagnosed celiac disease. Anything under 90 and I could feel the affects (tired, constipation, stomach issues...). I tried ancestral supplement's beef spleen (Amazon) and it is the only thing that keeps my ferritin optimal (100 - 200) and I haven't needed an infusion for over a year. I only need to take 1 every other day to maintain but you'll need to experiment with that.
My mother had a positive ana test as well after her C19 vaccine. Did you get the vaccine? She’ll be 80 and it’s unusual at her age to suddenly have an autoimmune diagnosis. I suspect the vaccine caused this, but we’ll probably never know.
Yes , after my shots, I was told I had to much iron in my blood. Then the search went on to figure it out. I was told to stop all meds and vitamins for 2 weeks and did another test. Everything was normal again.
Indigo,love your channel and love your research. If you have had the Covid vaccine, some folks have had autoimmune markers flare from that. Hope you figure it out! We will Stay posted!
I would guard against getting too much in the weeds about iron because it fluctuates so much in women especially. I donate blood regularly because I have a rare type. I recently got turned away because of low iron. So I made a clam chowder and ate a rare steak and went back the next week, and my Iron was fine. Foods that help boost iron are • Black strap Molasses • Clams • Rare Steak • Chlorophyll • Sardines • Mackerel • Beets There’s more I’m sure, but the point is to incorporate them weekly, so find the ones you like add them to your diet. If you still find low iron after adding these foods, then think about how much zinc is in your diet. Zinc antagonizes iron absorption because zinc competes with iron for the same blood receptors.
Wow, tons of good information, thanks! My AGreens have been ordered, and I am looking forward to see how my body reacts. This motivates me to get a thorough blood work up done. Thanks!! I can’t wait to hear more about the follow up with your doctor.
My diet is also very meat based and last I checked my ferritin was 8. I’ve been trying to increase it for the last 2 ish months. I’ve felt improvements with fatigue and hair loss with the ancestry supps (I got the spleen but will try blood vitality next). I’ve also played around with Betaine hcl and increasing acv and lemon intake, I have suspicions that I have trouble breaking down proteins. You’re not alone! Can’t wait to hear what your game plan is.
I've been dealing with this the last 6 months. Also puzzling for me because I eat mostly carnivore. How the heck did this happen? Finally got more energy from thyroid and then this hits me. I know that feeling of muscles weakness. For a while I felt like I had no muscles whatsoever. I'd blame this all on Covid, RSV and sinus infection which I had back-to-back for 6 weeks in winter but my iron was already low last fall. Besides the low energy/muscle, the biggest thing I noticed was I could see my scalp. I wasn't losing gobs of hair. My doc told me I just wasn't growing new hair. It has filled back in but still no curl so I know it's not back to normal. Think I'll go for some of the heme iron supplements rather than the stuff I have been taking. Thank you so much for sharing all this info.
Vit C needs to be consumed at the same time as iron, either by food sources or suppliments. The Vitamin C helps with the absorption. Calcium within 2 hours of consuming iron and Vitamin C will hinder the absorption.
If your ana is positive, then they do a serious of other tests (probably already done with those labs~where they look at the patterns. If those tests are normal, then no disease)to further determine if something is going on. I'll look at my labs and tell you which ones.... They are the ana pattern/titer tests following the ana. Like "Smith antibodies" Ribosomal, etc there's a bunch of them...
Have you been checked for Pernicious Anemia? Pernicious Anemia means you are lacking an Intrinsic Factor in your gut, which means you do not absorb B12. So you will have to supplement with B12 for the rest of your life. That will also affect your iron levels.
Thank you for the update and the excellent info on iron and ferritin. I have had low ferritin my whole life. Even on carnivore it was 11 when I donated blood. I will be checking out the info on the UA-cam channel you referenced.
My sister and I always test positive Ana, but negative for every autoimmune they can think to test for. We also have very low iron levels. As horrible as this is going to sound to the keto police, we both take flinstones chewables with iron. No idea why, but it helps! Also, boiling water with an iron fish. It is in my kettle. I second the vitamin c with your iron.
I was told that the Covid vaccine can cause antibody levels to be elevated for a period of several weeks and that I should wait for at least 3 months before having any lab work done for my thyroid issues. So, if you had a recent vaccine that might be the reason.
I have discovered recently that sugar substitutes are huge disruptors of our gut microbiome and can inhibit the absorption of many nutrients, including iron. Hate it, bc I love avoiding the sugar and calories, but great to know!
I was anemic myself back in 11th grade. I found I had a duodenal ulcer! Got rid of it in 94. My last two blood tests which cover 12 months since I see my doctor twice a year I was told were "good" but my doctor doesn't usually give me any numbers. The only time she did was when my A1C went from 5.8 to 6.0. Since it's now in the normal range, I'll assume it's less. I wish you the very very best with your working on the iron deficiency! I'd never heard of it until a short time ago when I saw your video! Take care, all! Later!
I HAVE TO GO EACH MONTH TO MY BLOOD DOCTOR. I HAVE A B-12 SHOT EACH MONTH AND MY BLOOD DRAWN. EVERY 3 MONTHS I SEE THE DOCTOR TO KEEP THINGS CHECKED. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IRON INFUSIONS THREE TIMES, AND BECAUSE OF HAVING AN BLEEDING ULCER, I HAD TO HAVE TWO BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS. I ALSO HAVE TO TAKE FOLIC ACID EACH DAY. BLESSINGS UPON YOU.
I had low iron levels and anemia. The cause was a very heavy monthly period due to fibroids. Hope you get some good information from your MD visit. God bless you!
Wishing you the best! 🙏 to you that this gets under control. I recently found out I have a heart issue-have normal A1C, cholesterol is good, blood sugar is good, have lost almost 100 lbs, 30 to go.
I was iron deficient like you till I did an ablation of the uterus and finally it was gone when I went through menopaus. I also have 4 children. I also am genetically low, but was way low like you till I did the things mentioned.
I used to be very low in iron too, especially after 3 babies in 6 years. One thing I did was use cast iron pans because the iron will leach into your food, helping to raise your iron levels. It seems to have worked, because when I started using them I have not had the problem since. This is an "Old wives tale", but I really think it does work!
Vitamin C and lemons both trigger migraines for me. I grew up reading how good for you vitamin C is. My mother bought tons of citrus fruits when we were young because she believed in vitamin C. I love all citrus! I believe all citrus is very cleansing for the body and the liver! I can get away with the squeeze here and there of lemon juice bad anymore than that and I will get a migraine! It is very frustrating! When I need something to be tart, I open up a capsule of malic acid and sprinkle it on like a salad, I use that for my lemon substitute!
Vitamin C does help absorption of non-heme iron. It's possible that that was causing my cravings... Funny thing though, oxalates I'm greens hinder absorption... Can't win! 😅 Heme iron is is different and absorption isn't hindered by much so I'm excited to supplement with that and see what happens.
I’m in the same boat, I was iron deficient anemia, had a blood transfusion I’m no longer Anemic, but still low iron, I take an iron supplement & vitamin c on an empty stomach, I will see what happens my next blood work🤞🏻
My last bloodwork showed all my categories were in the range except cholesterol - it was 160! Not high but she wanted me to come back in 6 months. Haven’t been back yet because she isn’t a keto friendly doc.
I've also always had low alk phos, my doctor says they only worry about it if your numbers are high. They say that just may be my personal normal. Interestingly, my mom tests low also. Wishing you well getting the ANA and ferritin issues figured out.
Anemic all my life. It almost killed me to.. my iron was completely undetectable in my lab work. Had to get Vennifer treatments to function. What fixed me was my hysterectomy.
For help with ANA look into having your doc prescribe Low Dose Naltrexone. Look it up, it is useful for MS and Rheumatoid Arthritis, and hypothyroidism. As far as iron deficiency, no matter how much beef you eat, supposedly vitamin C helps you to actually absorb the iron, so a good idea is to eat something like bell peppers with your beef. You can also be deficient in certain enzymes in your stomach to help you absorb your nutrients.
I have the ferritin issue also. I used to also be severely anemic. But, my serum iron and hemoglobin are normal now. I still have the ferritin issue. The only thing that has helped me more than iron is adding folic acid. My youngest child and myself both responded to this. But there is also a possible plus. People with COVID who hang hjvh ferritin levels did not do well.
REAL vitamin c is essential for iron absorption, so I now have a “lemon habit” of squeezing a full lemon on my meals or in my beverages. It fixed my absorption problem and the carbs did not slow my keto progress a bit! (Vitamin C supplements did not fix my absorption at all, so synthetic c-ascorbic acid- cannot replace the real thing.) Or bell peppers in any form will do it, as well! (I just can’t have nightshade veggies because of my autoimmunity/inflammation.) Great info!! I’m excited about my blood work scheduled for tomorrow, as well, the first since I switched to ketovore from omnivore 18 months ago. Your videos are always so encouraging!
Yes, vitamin c helps absorption of non-heme iron. Interestingly, the only thing that seems to hinder absorption of heme iron is large doses of calcium. Also, apparently collagen does just as good of a job helping non-heme absorption as vitamin c! So much interesting stuff! I'm excited to get to the bottom of this!
Liposomal vit c works for many people, but not all
Just be careful if you are sensitive to night shade as peppers are night shade as well. Blessings
@@IndigoNili Ooo, I didn’t know that! I’ve been taking Types 1&3 bovine collagen for a few months, so any idea which type helps? It’s so confusing (to me 😵💫). Thanks so much!
I don't know if there's a specific type that helps. I'm just going to be more diligent about sipping on one of my collagen drinks (besides coffee!) after eating!
I haven't seen a video of yours, or know anything about you, but seeing your thumb nail, my immediate thought was "Oh no! Is this dear woman vegan??😖).
Looking over your show notes, I felt immediate relief.
Interestingly, after decades of declining health, my latest bloods as a carnivore are SUPERB. Except the LDL. My GP said my chol numbers were picture perfect for decades, but I responded that all others were terrible. He hates that I am on carnivore and will push the LDL over and beyond all other markers. I went from an autoimmune disease riddled, metabolically broken middle aged peri woman, to a depressionless, anxietyless healthy woman. He misses all that. All over the LDL.
I was iron deficient until 23 yrs ago I started taking 1-2tbs of blackstrap molasses along with half an orange everyday.
It fixed my absorption issues and also increased all of my iron levels.
I love your attitude in the adversity. Your taking control of what you can and gaining knowledge over the rest!! YOU GOT THIS 💛
Totally agree.
Because of your video I went back and looked at my ferritin levels from last year and it’s 15. I have all those symptoms plus sugar issues…I’m so grateful for your channel.
Here's the thing with labs. They are a snapshot of one moment in time. Sooo many things can cause fluctuations in our labs. For example: you were recently ill. Where are you at in your cycle? If your CBC is normal blood loss is not probable. Not saying that you don't have valid concern. I just hope you're not super worried. Hope your doc will help you figure it out. Great info! Thanks!
I'm not super worried about the ANA but I think it's wise to look into possibilities causing it. My chronically low ferritin is what I'm most concerned about and what I want to correct asap
@@IndigoNili Oh, totally agree. I'm thankful you are on the path to figuring it out! Thanks for sharing it with us.
I will be following this closely! First, I have struggled with iron deficiency for years. Second my daughter just recently also tested positive for markers of auto immune and is currently undergoing more testing. Thanks for sharing all this so we can all learn more.
🤗🤗🤗
So I had a gastric bypass to reverse my T2D and it worked for about 2 years. I lost 100lbs but slowly reverted to a SAD diet. Have known I’m iron deficient but until I tried another doctor for other issues (so I thought) she pegged it. I was a 5! My endocrinologist said I was a little low. Humph. New doctor got me iron infusions stat, added thyroid meds and I am down 25lbs now. I had all the classic symptoms that I had been telling endo about for years. But the best part is my BS is low, my A1C went from a 9 to a 6 in 3 months and is better everyday. I know we as women muster through it. But it is a disservice to ourselves. And I educate myself through UT videos like yours. Truth is that is how I found the new doctor! You will get better but if like me it will be so natural you forget that you felt bad. Watching and praying for your recovery. Thank You!
ANA test really doesn't mean much, I have had MS and celiac for 25 years and never had a positive ana test. Some people have no symptoms and a positive test result. Keep doing what you are doing to feel your best!
I worry alot about thi because mine was not positive but i have so many signs and symptoms if auto immunes. They checked for ms but said my mri didnt show that. I have alot of signs of lupus but i dont know if they have checked for that. I dont know what celiac is and i hope tou feel better
@@swilsonsmyname my daughter also has been diagnosed with probable MS, MRI didn't show anything significant but her spinal tap showed mirroring and she had a positive VEP test. Also clinically she has difficulty walking, her speech and motor skills. A ketovore diet has helped all our symptoms, so whether you have a diagnosis or not, low carb can significantly improve your health. I also wish you good health 😊
My daughter got a high ANA level . She doesn’t show any signs of anything
Just what I need to hear, just when I needed it!!! Thanks for sharing!!@
Thank you soooo much for this series and for sharing your symptoms and resources. Your description hit home for me so I got the iron repair manual and took the suggested tests. There it was, ferritin: 13! Thank you!!!
You are pretty young, so you may have plenty of betaine hydrochloric acid, but maybe you could research that. I know that if you don't have enough when you eat, you don't absorb nutrients nearly as well. Just a thought! Love your exceptional videos and your intelligence. You explain yourself so well (and your grammar is excellent!) Thank you for everything!
While getting results like this is definitely not ideal, I think this video is brilliant. This is going to help so many other people that have the same issue while eating a keto diet. Thank you for being so open and sharing your journey with us!
I hope so! I want to get across that we all need to find what our bodies need in order to thrive. Instead of blanket statements like "keto doesn't work" or "high protein is bad", etc. ☺️❤️
We just have to be difficult don’t we!! I can’t wait to watch your healing journey!! ❤️🩹
SO extra!! 😅😩
@@IndigoNili but now you know WHY IT WOULDN’T HAVE WORKED ABS DIDN’T WORK BEFORE!!! That’s SO AMAZING!!
My husband is also iron deficient and started taking the same iron supplements from Krystal Moore this week. He’s mostly ketovore but has been eating lots of greens. This week started carnivore.
Thank you so much for this! That empty feeling. I've never been able to explain it. I tell my husband that I feel like I'm lacking something. Like I eat and am full but not getting my nutrients! A great starting point for me to explore.
I have to say after watching this I immediately called my doctor to make an appointment. I've had low ferritin for a long time. My last check over a year ago it was 34. I had it flagged on my copy but was told it was fine. I'm going to revisit this conversation with her and insist on trying to get it up. When looking at the symptoms of low ferritin I can say I have all but one. I look forward to seeing your plan of action. Thank you
You might be getting too much Calcium too. Calcium affects the absorption of iron. I had been taking a daily vitamin, and my doctor had me stop and added a digestive enzyme. I had my gallbladder removed so the enzymes helped with the stomach problems, but my iron levels are rising! Side note: Cook everything in cast iron! Toss a jar of apple sauce into a cast iron skillet and let it simmer. Pour it back in the jar, and save for later. Iron-packed apple sauce!
My daughters ferritin is 4. We’re working with a doctor, hoping things change. Excited to watch your journey.
I love your channel and admire your attitude. You, like me, want answers and understanding, and will likely get to the bottom of this. I've been working with my wife's iron absorption problem ( a result of intestinal surgery ), and you will no doubt have many suggestions, but I'll offer one that maybe you won't hear. I've come across a study in my research for my wife's problem, and that is that vitamin C, when consumed during a meal high in iron improves iron absorption significantly. Obviously fruit isn't the best choice for vitamin C because of the sugar, but yellow bell peppers have over 6 times the vitamin C of an orange. So we'll often have a few slices of bell pepper with our steak. Wishing you all the best.
Isn’t it so funny how things come to you in life when you really need them? I mean you were so resistant to taking those greens, and yet look how much you needed them. I am so glad you are on a path to this big piece of the puzzle. I really hope it solves some big issues for you. ♥️♥️♥️
How scary but at least you found good information that helps. Good luck with your doctor tomorrow. I hope you find out all the pieces.
An ANA if 1:80 is very common in women. A Rheumatologist will not consider that positive. I've been down that road with ANA as high as 1:1280 and the Rheumatologist wasn't concerned.
I have chronic anemia and have most of my life. A lot of mine is absorption issue related to Celiac disease that went undiagnosed for much of my life. I have a very hard time absorbing any plant form of iron. My body can't break it down to a usable form. When mine gets low I have to get iron infusions. When I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease I had multiple vitamin and mineral deficiencies. It has improved but I am on vitamin B12, Folic acid, and Vitamin D3 suplements.
First off I’m sorry that you have this on your plate to deal with but on the other hand I’m thankful for you being so intuitive with your body to know something’s not quite right. Also for sharing. We need to listen to our bodies and not ignore the signals. It’s job is survival. My favorite quote” If you don’t take care of your body, where are you going to live?” Your journey wherever it takes you is going to help so many people revisit their own health. Thanks for sharing!🍀🍀🍀🍀I have know doubt that you’ll figure this out in no time.
Fasting can heal, and so can eating. You are exactly correct, listen to your body, and it will guide you through the healing process of when to fast and when to heal. Good luck in your journey seeking improvements to your health.
Very interesting video. I really appreciate your message of listening to our own bodies. I ordered the Athletic Greens, and I received them yesterday. I can tell you they have excellent customer service. I ordered the starter kit, and among other things, it was supposed to contain a canister and scoop. Those items were missing. I went to the web site and used live chat to let them know of the issue. The rep who responded apologized, and said she would ship the missing items immediately, which she did. Excellent customer service! 🥰😀🥰
That is great to hear! 💚
Sorry you are going through this. Praying you get your health back on track. I find your labs interesting. These were my numbers the day I had a heart attack.
You- Total Chol - 214 | HDL - 62 | LDL - 138 | Trig 52 |
Me - Total Chol - 228 | HDL - 61 | LDL - 139 | Trig 140 | Chol/HDL Ratio - 3.7 (range is 0.0-5.0)
I think the mainstream media and LOTS of doctors are focused way too much on LDL. I think if your HDL is high enough and your triglycerides are low enough, your heart & circulatory system are in good shape. We're hearing more & more about this. Lucky for me my heart attack was very, very mild with no damage to my heard (only one symptom - mildly achy left arm that wouldn't go away). But, now I have 4 stents. :( Lucky for me I have since found keto & my triglycerides are 63.
So interesting. Thank you for sharing your research/issues.
Definitely your digestion is a very real issue.
Thank goodness you listen and understand your body! And that you know enough that you can be your own advocate. Sounds like you have a great Dr. too. Hugs and looking forward to your follow up on this.
Great work Nili! You doing better work than doctors!
My alkaline phosphatase is always low. My kidney transplant nephrologist is not concerned, as I do not have symptoms. He said he'd be concerned if it was high.
As for my iron and ferritin levels, I experienced the same thing. I even had iron and ferritin infusions. My iron levels dropped to 7, which is dangerously low. The iron infusions increased my levels, but it was temporary.
It was finally decided that I should have an endoscopy.
We'll, I had three tiny bleeds that were causing my issue. I was prescribed Omeprazole to heal the bleeds. In less than one month the bleeds healed. Today, my iron levels is 13, and I feel human again! Hopefully, you're doctor is having you get a simple endoscopy to rule out what I had. I wish you all the best.
It's not only absorption with iron. It can also be where your red cells are being destroyed. It could be the reason for high antibody results.
I get a B12 shot from my doc once a month in addition to 2 Vitron pills a day, in addition to a keto diet. I was at a 7 and now I’m normal.
Good luck figuring this out--I know you will. Thank you for sharing, and well done on your triglycerides and A1C-amazeballs. I started incorporating powdered greens recently (not the Athletic ones, though…) in what I call a sherbet; greens, coconut cream, scoop of Mango Relyte, an egg, water and ice. Tart, refreshing and delicious. I crave it every day and my energy has perked right up (correlation not causation, I know, but still good).
Also, I know you eat tons of iron, but I must add that Dr. Ken Berry was absolutely right in recommending tinned cod-liver as a very mild and delicious way to incorporate iron-it is soft and acts like mayo in your tuna salad. Found it at a Russian deli.
This video is a big eye opener for me
Yes on the cholesterol!!!! I hope more people, including doctors come around. Had to do a CAC test to make my doctor hush up. I got a zero.
Had iron deficiency without other symptoms. Turned out to be celiac disease. Getting off gluten brought all levels back to normal. I hope your issue is as easy to address as mine was.
I too had low ferritin for a number of years and the Doctors had no clue. Finally, I changed Doctors and he had me take a Celiac blood test. Sure enough, it was positive. I was not absorbing the nutrients in my system which was causing my low ferritin. I was basically starving myself. After a year my ferritin levels tripled. This might not apply in your situation but I thought I would share because your story sounds so familiar.
Very interesting information, thank you.
Did you cut out gluten?
I hope you get all your questions answered and are able to improve your health. I'm sure you will feel calmer after you talk to your doctor and get things in order.
Wow, that is very interesting info! Thanks for sharing.
This was a great Wellness Wednesday. You are on a great path to wellness. Much luck to you
So glad you are finding some answers.
Wowza!!! Thank you so much for sharing your results. I’ll be watching for your journey to healing! Now, I must check my own results. I’m due for my yearly physical.
Great video and I think it will get a lot of people thinking about their health and why they feel the way they do. A lot of things don't get checked nowadays on bloodwork. My Vitamin D used to be very low and I had to supplement, even if I was out in the sun. But unless I demand it, the doctor doesn't order it. I think I need to test my ferritin also though I have not been really concerned. I used to bruise really easily before keto and now that I have upped the protein even more over the course of the year, I am not bruising every time I touch something. You are doing what you should be doing and taking care of yourself and checking out things that are not normal. Good luck.
I think your diet is allowing you to continue with normal functions. It is awesome that you had this blood test & found out now allowing you & your Dr to work on this.
I wish Dr’s would do insulin level testing as well. This is much more precise test for sugar issues than blood glucose levels. Our Dr’s are trained for attacking problems instead of preventing problems 😡
I just got a 7 level back. Thank you so much for all this information.
For your iron absorbtion, it might be something you eat that blocks the absorbtion (egg whites, dairy, ect..) I have issues with it too but supplements never worked, it got alot better when I stopped wheat. Hope you get a solution 🤗
Thanks as always for sharing, I need to get my blood checked, it's been about 2 years since I've had it done! Love your videos, you help me to know what to look out for! Thanks for all that you do! Always a friend!🥰
Very interesting. I have to look at my lab results and my wife's as well
Really interesting.. Thank you. Looking forward to hearing why iron isn't' being absorbed. Yes! We all need to listen to our bodies--we are all so different.
Good Morning, I had very low B12 on blood testing, while on a high meat food plan. Found out on elimination diet (Meat, salt, water) that my tummy trouble was related to food sensitivities. It took 5 weeks for my tummy to flatten and quit having random nausea and fatigue and brain fog. Oddball items like olives, cherry, msg, gums like guar and xantham all distressed my digestion and caused permeability in my intestines. Taking away items turned out to be what I needed, not adding supplements. Middle of the range B12 now. I had not had my ferritin tested. I didn't know better in 2019. I remain on 'dirty carnivore' woe. Wonderful mental health bonus from avoiding most plants. I eat berries from the back yard and condiment amounts of avocado, onion, cilantro added back one item at at time. No more than one plant item a week. I thank you for sharing your story!
Thanks for sharing your lab results, Nili. - I struggled with low ferritin for years - and was following a LC diet at the time. It must’ve been low even before that but hadn’t been checked. The lowest I had was 7 and I struggled to even get out of bed! I’m glad that you was working on it already.
I know what you are saying about body not storing iron. My body did that. My Dr had me go get iron infusions for several treatment. When not handled early enough as I wasn't. I had to get blood transfusions several times first. I don't remember the mechanism in our body that wasn't working right. That's why iron tablets weren't working nor all iron strong meat wasn't working. Couldn't get ferriten in line either. Good luck and God bless you from grandma Katie in Oregon
I’ve heard that egg whites can aggravate autoimmune issues and I know you eat a ton of egg white bread so I wonder if it could be skewing the results on that test…I also read that calcium can inhibit iron absorption. I have several autoimmune disorders and since starting keto, most of my symptoms have all but disappeared and I couldn’t be happier. Good luck with finding your answers and make sure to do your own research on all these.
Low alk phos can be caused by adrenal insufficiency and zinc can help. Great cholesterol and HA1c! I also have a positive ANA. The doc referred me to a rheumatologist and I was negative for rheumatoid arthritis. There may be a connection between low iron and positive ANA. Omega 3 fatty acids and methylated B complex can help for iron deficiency. MTHFR can also exacerbate iron deficiency. The doc may want to refer you to a hematologist. Thanks for sharing these results with us as we can learn from your experience!💜
I’m anxious to see what your doc says. My anemia was caused by kidney failure (kidneys tell the bone marrow to make blood cells and mine didn’t so I take a med to increase blood production). I don’t understand low ferritin very well but I do know that the more knowledge you get about any condition, the better. What little I googled, it seems your Ana result and iron stores might be related. Let us know when you know. Hope you don’t stress too much about your results. Stressing isn’t good for your body. Been there done that. Good luck solving these medical mysteries.
I’m also iron deficient anemic and have been so most of my life. I’m also ketovore which has improved my iron but I’m still in the deficient levels. I also feel better high protein.I was taking iron supplements but not the heme kind. My Dr wants me to see a Hematologist if I can’t get it up some by my next appointment, I’m going to order the ancestral supplements and hope it helps and look into Krystal’s information as well! Please keep us posted! Iron deficiency Warrior here as well!💪🏽❤️
This is where you want your labs to be:
Iron: ~110
% Sat: ‘close’ to 34 or 35% (or .34 / .35)
TIBC: ~low 300’s
Ferritin: 50’s or higher (optimal 70-90) High numbers can relate to inflammation.
*Having SIBO/Malabsorption will cause you to have lower iron levels.
Congratulations! You will never be attacked by Magneto!!!
So glad you are getting some answers/clues on your journey to better health. Where did you get an idea of what blood tests you wanted? Thanks for sharing your walk and experiences :-)
Also, I get that "empty" feeling too. Around 10:30am each day.
I’d see a hematologist, I have similar blood test results. I had to get IV infusions . I have Hashimoto’s. I did have MALT lymphoma, but it was eradicated.
I use to get monthly iron infusions for 8 years because my ferritin was low. They believe due to intestinal damage from years of undiagnosed celiac disease. Anything under 90 and I could feel the affects (tired, constipation, stomach issues...). I tried ancestral supplement's beef spleen (Amazon) and it is the only thing that keeps my ferritin optimal (100 - 200) and I haven't needed an infusion for over a year. I only need to take 1 every other day to maintain but you'll need to experiment with that.
BTW, doctors believe I have slow blood loss not absorbing since the supplements work
So glad to hear it's working so well for you! ❤️
My mother had a positive ana test as well after her C19 vaccine. Did you get the vaccine? She’ll be 80 and it’s unusual at her age to suddenly have an autoimmune diagnosis. I suspect the vaccine caused this, but we’ll probably never know.
I know many in the same boat with their sudden ana and that correlation
I was thinking the same thing.
Exactly
Yes , after my shots, I was told I had to much iron in my blood. Then the search went on to figure it out. I was told to stop all meds and vitamins for 2 weeks and did another test. Everything was normal again.
Indigo,love your channel and love your research. If you have had the Covid vaccine, some folks have had autoimmune markers flare from that. Hope you figure it out! We will
Stay posted!
I would guard against getting too much in the weeds about iron because it fluctuates so much in women especially.
I donate blood regularly because I have a rare type. I recently got turned away because of low iron. So I made a clam chowder and ate a rare steak and went back the next week, and my Iron was fine.
Foods that help boost iron are
• Black strap Molasses
• Clams
• Rare Steak
• Chlorophyll
• Sardines
• Mackerel
• Beets
There’s more I’m sure, but the point is to incorporate them weekly, so find the ones you like add them to your diet.
If you still find low iron after adding these foods, then think about how much zinc is in your diet. Zinc antagonizes iron absorption because zinc competes with iron for the same blood receptors.
Wow, tons of good information, thanks! My AGreens have been ordered, and I am looking forward to see how my body reacts. This motivates me to get a thorough blood work up done. Thanks!! I can’t wait to hear more about the follow up with your doctor.
You might consider looking into the supplement lactoferrin-as I’m sure you’re wanting to hear unsolicited advice from internet strangers lol
My diet is also very meat based and last I checked my ferritin was 8. I’ve been trying to increase it for the last 2 ish months. I’ve felt improvements with fatigue and hair loss with the ancestry supps (I got the spleen but will try blood vitality next). I’ve also played around with Betaine hcl and increasing acv and lemon intake, I have suspicions that I have trouble breaking down proteins. You’re not alone! Can’t wait to hear what your game plan is.
iron comes from plants, maybe less meat and add something healthy.
Hi @kocomomiron5392- it's been a year, how did you do with the Blood Vitality?
I've been dealing with this the last 6 months. Also puzzling for me because I eat mostly carnivore. How the heck did this happen? Finally got more energy from thyroid and then this hits me. I know that feeling of muscles weakness. For a while I felt like I had no muscles whatsoever. I'd blame this all on Covid, RSV and sinus infection which I had back-to-back for 6 weeks in winter but my iron was already low last fall. Besides the low energy/muscle, the biggest thing I noticed was I could see my scalp. I wasn't losing gobs of hair. My doc told me I just wasn't growing new hair. It has filled back in but still no curl so I know it's not back to normal. Think I'll go for some of the heme iron supplements rather than the stuff I have been taking. Thank you so much for sharing all this info.
Vit C needs to be consumed at the same time as iron, either by food sources or suppliments. The Vitamin C helps with the absorption. Calcium within 2 hours of consuming iron and Vitamin C will hinder the absorption.
Giving up on good health is not a option! I love hearing about your plans for figuring out this puzzle. I'm working on my own puzzle as well.
If your ana is positive, then they do a serious of other tests (probably already done with those labs~where they look at the patterns. If those tests are normal, then no disease)to further determine if something is going on.
I'll look at my labs and tell you which ones.... They are the ana pattern/titer tests following the ana. Like "Smith antibodies" Ribosomal, etc there's a bunch of them...
Have you been checked for Pernicious Anemia? Pernicious Anemia means you are lacking an Intrinsic Factor in your gut, which means you do not absorb B12. So you will have to supplement with B12 for the rest of your life. That will also affect your iron levels.
Thank you for the update and the excellent info on iron and ferritin. I have had low ferritin my whole life. Even on carnivore it was 11 when I donated blood. I will be checking out the info on the UA-cam channel you referenced.
My sister and I always test positive Ana, but negative for every autoimmune they can think to test for. We also have very low iron levels. As horrible as this is going to sound to the keto police, we both take flinstones chewables with iron. No idea why, but it helps! Also, boiling water with an iron fish. It is in my kettle. I second the vitamin c with your iron.
I was told that the Covid vaccine can cause antibody levels to be elevated for a period of several weeks and that I should wait for at least 3 months before having any lab work done for my thyroid issues. So, if you had a recent vaccine that might be the reason.
That being said I've heard covid itself as well as the vaccine has been causing autoimmune issues up to a year after illness or vaccine
I have discovered recently that sugar substitutes are huge disruptors of our gut microbiome and can inhibit the absorption of many nutrients, including iron. Hate it, bc I love avoiding the sugar and calories, but great to know!
I was anemic myself back in 11th grade. I found I had a duodenal ulcer! Got rid of it in 94. My last two blood tests which cover 12 months since I see my doctor twice a year I was told were "good" but my doctor doesn't usually give me any numbers. The only time she did was when my A1C went from 5.8 to 6.0. Since it's now in the normal range, I'll assume it's less. I wish you the very very best with your working on the iron deficiency! I'd never heard of it until a short time ago when I saw your video! Take care, all! Later!
You can do a CAC later in life, CAC test measures the amount of calcified plaque you have in those arteries.
I HAVE TO GO EACH MONTH TO MY BLOOD DOCTOR. I HAVE A B-12 SHOT EACH MONTH AND MY BLOOD DRAWN. EVERY 3 MONTHS I SEE THE DOCTOR TO KEEP THINGS CHECKED. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IRON INFUSIONS THREE TIMES, AND BECAUSE OF HAVING AN BLEEDING ULCER, I HAD TO HAVE TWO BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS. I ALSO HAVE TO TAKE FOLIC ACID EACH DAY. BLESSINGS UPON YOU.
I had low iron levels and anemia. The cause was a very heavy monthly period due to fibroids. Hope you get some good information from your MD visit. God bless you!
Wishing you the best! 🙏 to you that this gets under control. I recently found out I have a heart issue-have normal A1C, cholesterol is good, blood sugar is good, have lost almost 100 lbs, 30 to go.
I was iron deficient like you till I did an ablation of the uterus and finally it was gone when I went through menopaus. I also have 4 children. I also am genetically low, but was way low like you till I did the things mentioned.
Having inflammation in your body can show a positive ANA , Psoriasis can elevate it also
I used to be very low in iron too, especially after 3 babies in 6 years. One thing I did was use cast iron pans because the iron will leach into your food, helping to raise your iron levels. It seems to have worked, because when I started using them I have not had the problem since. This is an "Old wives tale", but I really think it does work!
Vitamin C and lemons both trigger migraines for me. I grew up reading how good for you vitamin C is. My mother bought tons of citrus fruits when we were young because she believed in vitamin C. I love all citrus! I believe all citrus is very cleansing for the body and the liver! I can get away with the squeeze here and there of lemon juice bad anymore than that and I will get a migraine! It is very frustrating! When I need something to be tart, I open up a capsule of malic acid and sprinkle it on like a salad, I use that for my lemon substitute!
Lemon or lime also help with absorption of iron from spinach.
I've read that Vitamin C helps the absorption of iron. I wonder if that's why you were having the cravings for the salads. 🤔
Vitamin C does help absorption of non-heme iron. It's possible that that was causing my cravings... Funny thing though, oxalates I'm greens hinder absorption... Can't win! 😅 Heme iron is is different and absorption isn't hindered by much so I'm excited to supplement with that and see what happens.
You go girl!
I’m in the same boat, I was iron deficient anemia, had a blood transfusion I’m no longer Anemic, but still low iron, I take an iron supplement & vitamin c on an empty stomach, I will see what happens my next blood work🤞🏻
My last bloodwork showed all my categories were in the range except cholesterol - it was 160! Not high but she wanted me to come back in 6 months. Haven’t been back yet because she isn’t a keto friendly doc.
I've also always had low alk phos, my doctor says they only worry about it if your numbers are high. They say that just may be my personal normal. Interestingly, my mom tests low also. Wishing you well getting the ANA and ferritin issues figured out.
Anemic all my life. It almost killed me to.. my iron was completely undetectable in my lab work. Had to get Vennifer treatments to function. What fixed me was my hysterectomy.
Bless your heart! ❤️❤️🙏🙏
For help with ANA look into having your doc prescribe Low Dose Naltrexone. Look it up, it is useful for MS and Rheumatoid Arthritis, and hypothyroidism. As far as iron deficiency, no matter how much beef you eat, supposedly vitamin C helps you to actually absorb the iron, so a good idea is to eat something like bell peppers with your beef. You can also be deficient in certain enzymes in your stomach to help you absorb your nutrients.
I have the ferritin issue also. I used to also be severely anemic. But, my serum iron and hemoglobin are normal now. I still have the ferritin issue. The only thing that has helped me more than iron is adding folic acid. My youngest child and myself both responded to this. But there is also a possible plus. People with COVID who hang hjvh ferritin levels did not do well.
Also, the methylated B12 needs to be sublingual as does the methylated folate. Because your stomach may not absorb both of those.
I do think you should test for pernicious Anemia ..and the ability for your SI to absorb b12
But you need to eat vitamin c. They (iron and vitamin c) work together. Like beef fajita with red bell peppers. Hope that helps