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Have you been feeling really flat and tired? It could be because of low iron, B12 or folate levels.
Iron, B12 and folate are the major nutrients required to produce healthy blood cells. When your B12, iron and folate levels are low your ability to carry oxygen and distribute nutrients around the body is hindered. With less oxygen going to your tissues you become easily fatigued.
Many people will have less than adequate amounts of these nutrients, due to poor dietary intake or lifestyle/biological factors that alter absorption. Therefore if you are experiencing ongoing fatigue it is vital that you get your levels of these nutrients assessed.
At Natremed we can use Hemaview (live blood screening) to screen your blood for such nutritional imbalances. From one single drops of blood from the figure tip, Hemaview allows us to look at the health of your red blood cells in regards to your iron, B12 and folate.
Are you at risk for deficiencies in these nutrients?
Look at the table below to find out.
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Iron |
B12 |
Folate |
|
Signs and symptoms of
Deficency
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Anaemia Fatigue Pallor/pale lips, inner eye lids Blue tinge to the mouth Feeling cold Brain fog |
Fatigue, pins and needles, degeneration of nerves eg MS, Brain fog |
Abnormal paleness of the skin, decreased appetite, Irritability, Lack of energy or tiring easily (fatigue), smooth and tender tongue |
| Causes of deficiency |
Increased blood loss (heavy periods, trauma, bowel diseases – crohn’s, ulcerative colitis). Poor dietary intake Poor absorption: low vitamin C intake, low stomach acid, not chewing your food properly, food intolerance/allergy Drinking tea with iron foods. |
Food intolerance esp gluten intolerance. Low stomach acid. Poor dietary intake Increased blood loss |
Alcohol reduces absorption Pharmaceuticals such as: Nexium, sulfasalazine, SSRIs, anticonvulsants), Blood loss |
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Groups at risk of
deficency
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Vegans Vegetarians Elderly or those with lower levels of stomach acid Pharmaceuticals that inhibit or lower stomach acid (e.g. Nexium, Zoton, Rani). |
Those with family history of low B12. Vegans Long term vegetarians Eldery or others with poor stomach acid Pharmaceuticals that reduce stomach acid (eg Nexium) |
Bowel cancer Pregnancy IBD: crohn’s disease/ulcerative colitis. Alcoholics Infants with a genetic inability to absorb folate |
| Foods high in this nutrient |
Red meat, chicken, fish, Parsley raw Dried Apricots, Spinach, silver beet, beetroot and leaves, wheat Bran, nuts and seeds, lentils and legumes. |
B12 is mostly produced by the bacteria that colonise the intestine. Some foods that contain B12 are: Fermented foods (miso), meat and fish. |
Green vegetables, liver, legumes, wheat germ and yeast |
By: Sophie Atkin
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