-
Risk Factors for Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutrient gaps—and in today’s lesson, “Risk Factors for Iron Deficiency” from the Mineral Balance course, we learn it’s not just about diet.
For women, heavy menstrual bleeding—often driven by estrogen dominance or endometriosis—is a leading cause. But other risk factors include pregnancy, plant-based diets (since non-heme iron is harder to absorb), and poor gut health that reduces absorption.
Surprisingly, low copper can also mimic iron deficiency anemia—because copper is needed to move iron out of storage and into the blood.
Other contributors? Chronic stress, low stomach acid, parasites, heavy exercise, and even things like caffeine, dairy, or calcium supplements that block absorption.
✨ The takeaway: healthy iron levels depend on more than just iron intake—they require balanced hormones, gut health, and mineral cofactors too.
If you’d like to learn more, you can explore today’s lesson—or the full Mineral Balance course—for deeper insights into the causes, signs, and solutions for iron and other key mineral deficiencies.
