What is Ferritin?
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron and is crucial for maintaining healthy iron levels in your blood. Ferritin to some extent acts as a buffer to regulate healthy iron levels. Ferritin is found in most tissues.
Ferritin serves to store iron in a non-toxic form, to deposit it in a safe form, and to transport it to areas in the body where it is needed.
Maintaining healthy Ferritin levels
Iron is a key ingredient in red cell production. The key function of red blood cells is to transport oxygen from your lungs to cells throughout the body, providing the body with energy. Low Ferritin levels can cause fatigue, weakness, dizziness and shortnes of breadth on account of low blood oxygen levels.
Keys to maintain healthy Ferritin levels are (i) eating natural foods high in iron, (ii) maintaining healthy Vitamin C levels, (iii) avoid taking aspirin daily, and (iv) avoid coffee, tea and caffeinated beverages.
Here is a good read on how to maintain healthy Vitamin C levels: Vitamin C Natural Food Sources for Optimum Health.
Aspirin has long been widely prescribed daily as a way to reduce heart attack risks. However, we have since learned that taking aspirin daily significantly increases the risks of developing anemia. Regularly taking aspirin can increase the risk of developing anemia by 20%. See This OTC Medicine Linked to 20% Higher Anemia Risk in Seniors.
Women with heavy menstruation bleeding are at risk of having low ferritin levels, low iron stores, low iron levels and are at higher risk of becoming anemic.
Several studies have found that coffee, tea and other caffeinated drinks can reduce iron absorption.
One study found that drinking a cup of coffee with a hamburger meal reduced iron absorption by 39%. Drinking tea, a known inhibitor of iron absorption, with the same meal reduced iron absorption by a whopping 64%. See Healthline Coffee and caffeine can inhibit iron absorption
Low iron and ferritin levels have been associated with higher risks of anxiety, depression and ADHD symptoms.
Natural foods to help maintain healthy Ferritin levels
Food Sources of HEME IRON from the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
Food Sources of NONHEME IRON from the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
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