Ep. 112: Why You're Not Absorbing Iron (Even If You Are Supplementing) [PART 1 of Iron & Ferritin Series]

If you've been taking iron consistently and your ferritin still won't move, this episode is going to help you understand why. This is Part 1 of a three-part series on iron, and it starts where most ferritin problems actually begin: absorption. Dr. Heather walks through the case of her client Ashley, whose years of stress, grief, antibiotics, hormonal birth control, and mold exposure created a gut environment that couldn't absorb iron no matter how much she took. Dr. Heather also  breaks down exactly why iron intake is only one small piece of a much bigger system.In this episode:Why iron absorption depends on stomach acid, pancreatic enzymes, bile flow, mineral status, and nervous system regulation, not just how much iron you're takingWhat Ashley's GI Map revealed, including H. pylori, C. diff, pathogenic E. coli, and a depleted four-lows mineral pattern on HTMAHow chronic stress physically changes digestive function and blocks absorptionPractical starting points to support absorption, including meal hygiene, stomach acid and bile support, and mineralsWhy iron supplementation needs to be timed to where your body actually is and what to look at if ferritin still isn't movingNext week: Part 2 covers iron transport: ceruloplasmin, copper, and why ferritin can stay low even when your iron looks normal on a blood panel.Ready to fix your low (or high) ferritin? Join me live on May 31st for my live training "Why Iron Isn't Enough" (you'll also receive my ferritin troubleshooting guide) Find the real root causes of your GI symptoms with our free, 2 minute Quiz! Take the quiz here!Connect + Next StepsWant daily education, stories, and gut-friendly support?Follow Dr. Heather on InstagramReady for personalized 1:1 support and a clear plan?Apply for gutTogether®Want a chance to win a free HTMA Bundle? Leave a rating & review and email it to [email protected] with [PODCAST REVIEW] in the subject line! We choose a new winner every month!