How Does Iron Anemia Affect Your Immune System?

A lack of iron impacts many aspects of your physiology, especially your immune system. When you have anemia, you are more vulnerable to infections and heal at a much slower rate. An aspect of your immune system known as “non-specific” immunity is greatly impaired when you have iron anemia. This part of your immune system is your first line of defense against pathogens. During these interesting times of Viral infections, such as COVID, as well as other flu bugs going around, it’s important to make this connection.

Anemia is a block to healing. If you aren’t getting lasting results in addressing your symptoms, it may be that you have underlying blocks that prevent you from fully healing and stepping into a new and healthy version of yourself. Anemia blocks your body from repairing tissue and oxygenating your entire body. I often notice that underlying blocks are a real game changer when it comes to lasting vibrant health. My third book addresses the many blocks to healing in detail and gives my best recommendations for resolving them, so stay tuned. 

 

Are you aware that in the human body, calcium interferes with iron absorption? So never take supplements that have both iron and calcium in them and never take them at the same time.  

In order to best assess your iron levels, you need a full iron panel done. 

This includes

* Serum Iron

*Iron Saturation

* TIBC

*UIBC

* Ferritin

* Complete Blood Count (CBC)

With the above information I can even tell if you have B12/folate anemia. Don’t bother getting a blood test for B12, it is not accurate. The best test to measure B12 is a specific urine test. However, I can tell through your CBC results if you are B12/folate deficient. 

 

If you do have iron anemia and you discover why you have it, then it’s time to address it.  It’s best to take an iron supplement with Vitamin C, which helps it get absorbed. It’s important Not to take it with Calcium, as this will impair absorption. Not all iron supplements are the same. I prefer using more food-based supplements when possible. Some iron pills can cause constipation so please work with a holistic healthcare provider to help you determine what is best for your body. 

If you have B12/folate deficiency, called megaloblastic anemia, then taking methylcobalamin or hydroxocobalamin are best sources for B12 . Folic acid is not good to take, it’s best to take L-methylfolate, the converted form of folate.

I love using food as medicine and yet there are some people who have anemia because they don’t eat animal products. I prefer to use food as medicine and prescribe nutritional changes such as incorporating organ meats, bone broths, red meat as well as herbs. However, I understand that this may sometimes feel out of alignment with people’s values. In these cases, I lean more heavily on supplementation. I also like to teach people about what their body needs so they can help find better alignment between their values and their biological needs as a human on this diverse and resilient planet. I remember having to negotiate with my mind/beliefs/ values during my 10-year stint of strict vegetarianism and veganism. I have some genetic SNPs that cause long term B12 anemia and being vegetarian made it much worse. I had no idea why I was so tired, bruised easily, had cold hands and feet, brain-fog, and light menstrual periods to name a few. I understood at a soul level that I had a mission on the planet and I wasn’t going to be able to accomplish it if I was sick. I listened to spirit, followed Divine Orders, and got my health back on track while evolving my values and beliefs to be in full alignment with my higher self and truth. This is an individual process for everyone. Understanding the pitfalls and tricks of the mind are an important step in this amazing process. 

Empowering the body to do what it’s designed to do, which is regenerate, be healthy, and whole, means you’re paying attention to the details of your health; body, mind, and spirit. Anemia can prevent natural processes from occurring in your body. Understanding, through functional blood chemistry analysis, is an important tool that can take the guess work out of your healthcare and put you back in the driver’s seat of your well-being. 

I’m here to help. Please let me hear if I can be of service on your path to vibrant health.

Blessings,

Kristin Grayce

LAc, MAc, CFMP(R), CST-T, CLP

Health and Lifestyle Alchemist