Iron Deficiency and Anemia: What Your Body is Telling You

Are Anemia and Iron Deficiency the Same?

Feeling exhausted, weak, or dizzy lately? These common symptoms might hint at something deeper—iron deficiency or anemia. While related, they aren’t exactly the same.

Iron deficiency is a state where your body lacks sufficient iron to function properly. Iron is crucial because it's a key component of hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.

Anemia occurs when your blood doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells. Although anemia can result from various causes, iron-deficiency anemia is the most common form, directly caused by insufficient iron (NIH, 2022).

Types of Anemia

There are 3 main types of anemia:

• Iron-Deficiency Anemia: The most prevalent type, characterized by fatigue, weakness, pale skin, and dizziness due to low hemoglobin. Iron-deficiency anemia affects approximately 30% of the global population, making it the most common nutritional disorder worldwide (WHO, 2025). Women and young children are especially vulnerable due to higher iron requirements.

• Pernicious Anemia: Occurs from vitamin B12 deficiency due to the body’s inability to absorb vitamin B12, leading to neurological problems.

• Hemolytic Anemia: Results when red blood cells are destroyed quicker than they’re replaced, often due to inherited or autoimmune diseases, or infections.

To identify anemia, healthcare providers typically perform blood tests like a complete blood count (CBC), serum ferritin, vitamin B12 test, and reticulocyte count.

Common Symptoms

Common symptoms of iron deficiency and anemia include:

• Constant fatigue: Persistent exhaustion and lack of energy, even with adequate rest.

• Weakness in daily activities: Difficulty performing everyday tasks or physical activities due to muscle fatigue.

• Pale skin: Loss of normal coloration, particularly noticeable in the face, gums, and lower eyelids, due to decreased blood flow.

• Often dizziness: Feeling faint or unsteady, particularly when standing up quickly.

• Frequent headaches: Unexplained headaches often linked to reduced oxygen supply to the brain.

It is best to consult a medical professional if you experience any of these symptoms in your everyday life. Ignoring these early signs can significantly impact your life, causing a prolonged physical and mental exhaustion (Mayo Clinic, 2022). 

Ready to reclaim your energy? Try IronKind today.

What Causes Iron Deficiency-Anemia?

Dietary insufficiency: Particularly common in vegan or vegetarian diets, where plant-based iron (non-heme iron) is less efficiently absorbed by the body compared to animal-based iron sources. Foods rich in plant-based iron, like legumes, leafy greens, and fortified cereals, often require complementary nutrients such as lactoferrin and vitamin C to improve absorption (Piskin et al., 2022).

Increased demand: Situations like menstruation, pregnancy, rapid growth spurts in adolescents, or intense physical exercise significantly boost the body's requirement for iron. During pregnancy, iron supports the increased blood volume necessary for fetal development, while heavy exercise increases iron demand to facilitate oxygen delivery to muscles.

Blood loss: Chronic conditions like ulcers, polyps, or cancers in the gastrointestinal tract, heavy menstrual bleeding, or conditions causing internal bleeding can lead to substantial iron loss. Persistent blood loss reduces the body’s iron stores, leading to iron deficiency anemia (NIH, 2022).

Malabsorption issues: Conditions such as celiac disease, Crohn's disease, or surgeries affecting the intestines significantly impair the body's ability to absorb iron, even if dietary intake is adequate. These medical conditions damage the intestinal lining, limiting nutrient uptake and contributing to iron deficiency anemia (Saboor et al., 2015).

Iron Absorption: The Forgotten Factor

Only about 10-15% of dietary iron is absorbed effectively by the body. Not all iron types are equal—heme iron from animal sources is more easily absorbed than non-heme iron from plant-based foods.

Factors influencing iron absorption include:

• Enhancers: Lactoferrin and vitamin C boost iron absorption significantly. Read more about how to improve iron absorption without the negative side effects from iron supplements.

• Inhibitors: Calcium, tannins found in tea and coffee, and certain fibers hinder absorption.

Merely increasing iron intake often doesn't solve the problem. Enhancing absorption is crucial for managing iron levels sustainably.

Read more on iron myths and what you need to know about iron absorption.

Meet IronKind: Smarter Iron Supplementation

IronKind combines vegan lactoferrin and prebiotics that work together in harmony with your body to naturally boost your energy levels:

• Vegan lactoferrin: Naturally boosts iron absorption gently without overwhelming your body with excess iron and is gentle on your gut.

• Prebiotics: Enhance gut health by promoting beneficial bacteria, further aiding nutrient absorption and overall well-being.

Who can benefit from IronKind?

• Athletes: To meet increased iron demands from intense physical activity.

• Women with heavy periods: To replenish iron levels consistently lost during menstruation.

• Pregnant women: Who have significantly higher iron requirements for fetal development. Please consult with your physician if you are thinking about starting IronKind. 

• Vegans and vegetarians: Who need a reliable source of well-absorbed iron due to dietary restrictions.

Understanding iron deficiency and anemia—and addressing iron absorption specifically—is essential to maintaining vibrant health, sustained energy, and overall vitality. Learn more about how IronKind can help you to boost your energy.

Unlock better iron absorption with IronKind today!