Iron - why do I have low iron?

Ritesh Bawri

Feb 21, 2024 — 2 min read

BreatheAgain

I have low iron levels, compared to most people my age. For someone who professes to live a healthy life, this should be very surprising. It should almost disqualify me as an advocate of good health.

So why is my iron low, and why have I not done anything to fix it?

Sorry to keep saying the same thing again and again, but our body is more complex than we currently understand.

I know we have all kinds of people claiming that they have definitive answers, but the truth is that very few people do. We know the basics, but when it comes to nuances, there are new things being discovered every day, much of which contradict views held prior.

In my case, I have a twin problem. I am vegetarian, and I drink coffee. Yes, I told you, the body is complex.

Vegetarians consume food that has something known as non-heme iron. Non-vegetarian food contains heme. Your body uses the heme in food to make iron.

In this case, since vegetarian food has only non-heme iron, it makes it much harder for the body to absorb iron. So I start with a low base.

Next, the coffee. Coffee competes with the absorption of iron in the body. So, if I start with low levels of iron and then drink a substance that is competing, is it any wonder that my iron levels are low?

But you would ask, Why then don't I just fix it?

Human nature. One of the problems of knowing something is the belief that comes alongside. I can fix this anytime I like. It makes one lazy.

Of course, to fix it, I would need to reduce my levels of coffee consumption as well.

But the mind plays tricks. I do so much. I am so disciplined. I have no vices. I go to sleep at 8 p.m. and wake up at 4 a.m. to meditate.

Surely I am allowed some extra coffee?

Reach out to me on twitter @rbawri Instagram @riteshbawriofficial and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain

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