Why Poor Iron Absorption Could Be Leaving You Running On Empty

If you’ve ever felt like you’re running on empty, you might suspect low iron could be the culprit, but most people don’t realise it’s not just about how much you’re taking in iron-rich foods and supplements, but how well your body can absorb it.

Iron is your oxygen taxi. It hops into your red blood cells, creating hemoglobin, and drives oxygen to every corner of your body. So if your iron is low, your whole system is basically running out of breath.

Think of it like climbing Castle Hill breathing through a straw. That’s what your cells are experiencing when iron’s in short supply — it shows up as fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, dizziness, restless legs, thinning hair, brittle nails, cold hands and feet, and even low moods and anxiety. Your body’s not being dramatic — it’s just screaming for help.

Now here’s the kicker: most people don’t know they’re low until they hit a wall. And even then, some grab a cheap iron supplement, chug it with a coffee, and wonder why they still feel like rubbish.

Here’s the thing. Iron isn’t just about how much you take — it’s about how well you absorb it. And a lot can mess that up.

For starters, timing matters. Taking iron with zinc is like swallowing two magnets — they bind together, and neither gets absorbed. Coffee and green tea? Love them, but the tannins can block your iron from being taken up. I once had a client fix her iron levels just by moving her tea an hour away from meals. No extra pills. Just timing.

Your gut plays a huge role too. You could be eating steak every night and still be low. Why? Because stress, low stomach acid, certain meds, or gut bugs like H. pylori can all interfere with how iron gets in. It’s like laying turf on top of dead soil — the nutrients are there, but nothing’s getting through.

And don’t forget balance. Copper and zinc are iron’s wingmen — too much or too little of either, and your body struggles to manage iron properly. It’s like trying to fill a bucket full of holes. This is where a simple test and a good chat with your practitioner can be a game changer.

If this sounds familiar, don’t just grab a supermarket supplement and hope for the best. Practitioner-quality iron, taken with the right timing and the right co-factors, can make all the difference. You don’t just want to take iron — you want to absorb it, use it, and feel the difference.

Let’s get you breathing easy again. Book a consultation with me or if you have some recent blood tests that you want me to analyse to see what’s really going on, book a Pathology Review.

Catch my latest podcast episode, Running on Empty: Diving into Iron Deficiency, for a deeper dive into this essential mineral. Listen here or find What the Health with James Jensen wherever you get your podcasts:
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts

Your body’s got things to do — let’s not let low iron hold you back.