Too Much Iron?

[T. Kadijevic]

Is there such thing as having too much iron in your blood?

If so, how could you tell?

Would donating blood be a good way to rid of the excess?

The reason for asking is I read a "health article" saying to avoid eating iron rich foods too often, like liver, brocolli and spinach (which I enjoy!).

[centerfire]

I'm quite curious as to the source of that "health" article. I think there are some medical conditions associated with iron, and my guess is that more often than not it is iron deficiency that is a problem, not excess. I recently heard an M.D. who has a radio talk show discuss this very thing with a caller. He said you should avoid taking Iron supplements (PILLS) unless your doctor tells you that you need them, but iron rich foods are good for you. You should avoid eating any food TO EXCESS, but that has nothing to do with the iron, really.

If you, for some reason, feel it necessary to investigate, you should go to a medical doctor and get a checkup and advice. You oughtta be verrrrrrry skeptical when it comes to reading these types of "health" magazines and web sites. Mostly marketing based garbage and scare stories based on junk science. People think Western medicine and pharmaceutical companies are hype, this holistic stuff is off the scale!

good luck, keep yer skeptic's hat on

[T. Kadijevic]

Heh, you are correct about the source. Just one of those general overviews of health magazines. In which, the main goal is to market "holistic" aids.

However, there is a genetic iron disorder here (http://adam.about.com/encyclopedia/000327.htm)
where too much iron is a problem.

Also, from http://adam.about.com/encyclopedia/002422sid.htm
(http://adam.about.com/encyclopedia/002422sid.htm)

It is unlikely that iron toxicity can develop from an increased dietary intake of iron alone. Children have been known to develop iron toxicity by increased intake of iron supplements, however. Symptoms of iron toxicity include the following:



Fatigue
Anorexia (http://adam.about.com/encyclopedia/003121.htm)
Dizziness
Nausea (http://adam.about.com/encyclopedia/003117.htm)
Vomiting (http://adam.about.com/encyclopedia/003117.htm)
Headache (http://adam.about.com/encyclopedia/003024.htm)
Weight loss
Shortness of breath (http://adam.about.com/encyclopedia/003075.htm)
A grayish color to the skin is a possible indication of iron toxicity.


Overall it just peaked my curiousity as I've been experiencing some fatigue lately.

[centerfire]

Heh, you are correct about the source. Just one of those general overviews of health magazines. In which, the main goal is to market "holistic" aids.
Wasn't too hard to figure out.



Overall it just peaked my curiousity as I've been experiencing some fatigue lately.
Fatigue is an awfully vague symptom, in itself. It can be related to a rather large variety of physical causes as well as psychological. How bad is it? Obviously bad enough that you wrote to a forum about it, but is it to the point that it is affecting your daily life? Does it change over a period of time or is it static? Does it seem to be increasing? Hit you at certain times & not others or unpredictable? You have to note these things and be able to explain them, especially if it seems to be getting worse.

[T. Kadijevic]

With me, I guess its more like a roller coaster...good days, bad days. I've just been noticing in the past two weeks. If I wake up, I still feel tired, or I end up taking naps when I shouldn't be, but the urge wins out. I'll have to take notes to make a better assesment.

Thanks for the reply though :)

[centerfire]

With me, I guess its more like a roller coaster...good days, bad days. I've just been noticing in the past two weeks. If I wake up, I still feel tired, or I end up taking naps when I shouldn't be, but the urge wins out. I'll have to take notes to make a better assesment.

Thanks for the reply though :)
Glad I could offer a little help. Two weeks doesn't sound like much given the symptoms you describe. But yeah, pay attention. Your body will usually let you know if something's serious. If it persists or gets much worse, go see a doctor (M. D.).

[centerfire]

Constipation is a symptom of excessive iron intake, but that's from iron supplementation, not an ordinary iron rich diet.

Pregnant and anemic women are often on iron supplements, and they're often constipated from it.
This sounds about right.

Beyond this point, let's go to Nutzpah.