You might need an iron supplement and not even know it. Being iron deficient can have a profound effect on our health. I experienced this first hand in an extreme way eight years ago. Between having my daughter Meghan and son Luke, I had a pregnancy that ended in a missed miscarriage at 12 weeks that required me to have a D&C.
During the surgery I lost more blood than normal. It was supposed to be an outpatient surgery with a relatively quick recovery, but I definitely didn’t feel well afterwards. Besides the emotional impact, I felt exhausted.
It was almost time for me to be discharged and I stood up to go the the restroom. I barely made one step before I passed out. It took me a solid week to get my energy back to levels where walking up the stairs didn’t feel like a marathon. This is an extreme example of how being low in iron can cause fatigue.
Maybe you aren’t passing out, but fatigue is the most common sign of iron deficiency. Do you often feel run down? Perhaps your low energy is caused by more than just too many late nights or early morning wake up calls? Let’s take a look at seven signs of iron deficiency.
7 Signs You Might Need an Iron Supplement
- Fatigue
- Muscle weakness, especially upon exertion
- Heart palpitations
- Pale skin
- Decreased Focus¹
- Occasional sadness²
- An inability to stay warm
It turns out that 1 in 10 women in the United States are at risk for iron deficiency³. You might be at risk if you are a menstruating woman (I bet most of you reading this are!), especially with a heavy flow, pregnant or breastfeeding, have undergone major surgery or physical trauma, are vegan or vegetarian, or have certain conditions like peptic ulcers, or gastrointestinal diseases such as celiac disease or Crohn disease.4 If you suspect you could be low in iron, I highly recommend you talk to your doctor and get your levels checked.
I have been dealing with a heavy menstrual flow for the last few years, and recently had two periods in one month. Lucky me, right?! I definitely fall into the “high risk for iron deficiency” category.
When I had my D&C, my doctor prescribed an iron supplement. It did the trick with getting my iron levels back where they needed to be, but it wasn’t without side effects. It made my stomach hurt and caused constipation. Definitely not something I’d like to deal with on a regular basis.
I’m ELATED to share that I’ve found an iron supplement that works WITHOUT any side effects. I wish I would have known about this supplement years ago! You already know I’m a major fan of MegaFood’s supplements, so it’s probably no surprise that it’s MegaFood that makes the iron supplement, Blood Builder, that I am in love with.
Blood Builder was shown in a clinical trial5 to increase iron levels without causing nausea or constipation.* This is HUGE!!
It has a gentle and effective potency of Foodstate Iron (26 mg/serving).* It’s even gentle enough to take on an empty stomach! I’ve been taking Blood Builder for two months now and have experienced zero issues—absolutely no side effects.
Blood Builder is made with B12 and folate, both vitamins that help maintain healthy red blood cell production.* Vitamin C with organic oranges helps to promote proper absorption.*
Blood Builder is an iron supplement that naturally combats fatigue and improves energy levels.* I’m so glad I found this safe and effective iron supplement.
If you’re in need of an iron supplement, it’s with 100% confidence that I recommend Blood Builder by MegaFood. If you’re not sure if you need an iron supplement, it’s always a great idea to check with your doctor. Be your own health advocate!
I also recommend trying to include more iron-rich foods in your diet. Start with this Iron Rich Smoothie!
This post is brought to you in partnership with MegaFood. All opinions are my own.
*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
The author’s expertise on this topic shines through in every paragraph.
Hi there, thank you for sharing your experience. I was wondering about your dosage. Did you take as directed one pill a day or two. I’ve seen some take it in the am and pm.
Thank you again for your resources!
I also have had some blood issues and started taking the Blood Builder by Mega Foods about a year ago … it has done a great job for me also so I was elated to see that someone else has had great results with it… No side effects for me either… A great product…..
Thanks for sharing your experience!