There are several things that can block your immune system from doing what it’s designed to do. In this blog I’ll address one very important impediment to your healing. It has to do with your blood.
Anemia is a game changer for your health and wellbeing. Some people have been told by their doctor that they have anemia, but they are never told why. Other people have anemia and don’t even know it.
About 40% of the people I see, have some kind of anemia, often due to nutrition and absorption issues, or excessive bleeding, and they have no idea. Did you realize there are many different kinds of anemia, with different causes, and only a few of them require iron to help? Iron deficient anemia and Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency are most common. You can’t tell if you have anemia unless you do the correct blood tests. That’s one reason why I love to share Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis with as many people as I can. It truly takes the guess work out of your healthcare.
Why is iron so important?
Iron is a mineral that helps make red blood cells, which then carry oxygen from your lungs to every part of your body. Oxygen keeps you alive, if you aren’t oxygenating then your health is in trouble. Iron is also necessary for growth and development.
Heme iron is most easily absorbed and comes from foods such as red meat, poultry and fish. Nonheme iron is less readily absorbed and comes from rice, black beans, soybeans, and eggs
Some Symptoms of Iron Anemia:
-You’re tired and can’t seem to get your energy up and consistent
– Slow to heal from minor scrapes, bruises, or injuries.
– Feeing like your immune system is a bit compromised. This can look like “never” getting sick (correct, this is not a sign of health), or you have lingering colds, ear infections, sore throats, or skin conditions that come and go regularly.
-Shortness of breath
-Pale complexion
-Heart palpitation (feels like your heart is fluttering funny or skipping beats)
-You may feel itchy
-Hair loss
-Restless leg syndrome
-Headaches and dizziness
Causes of Anemia
There are many things that can cause iron deficient anemia so it’s very important to get to the root of it. Think of anemia as a symptom of something else happening in your body. It’s optimal to discover what this is and address the root causes as well as the symptoms.
Here are some causes:
-Bleeding in the stomach or intestines. This can come from taking over-the-counter (OTC) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) OR from stomach ulcers, stomach or bowel cancer.
-Heavy bleeding during menstruation or if you have uterine fibroids
-Pregnancy
-Absorption issues that prevent you from absorbing and using iron from foods you eat
-Lack of proper nutrition, not enough iron rich foods in your diet
-Chronic kidney disease can cause iron anemia
-Inflammatory bowel disease can lead to iron anemia due to micro tears in the tissues that can cause bleeding
-Traumas can cause bleeding and therefore lead to iron anemia
-Regular nose bleeds
-Alcoholism
-Certain genetic factors
-Autoimmune disorder that causes pernicious anemia- which causes a type of B12 deficiency
-Infectious malaria
-Destruction of red blood cells from various issues like shock, blood infections like sepsis, and lead toxicity
Next week, check back for how anemia can effect your immunity and what to do to align with a better level of health around this common issue. Click on this link to read the follow up article: Is This Blocking Your Immune System (Part 2)?