BeanDiet

I had to visit my physician a few weeks ago since I have restless limb syndrome. For some reason my doctor decided it'd be good for me to be tested for my iron and cholesterol levels. Since we pay out of pocket for health care, I told him I was a nutritionist and even though I'm older than 35, I'm sure my cholesterol is very low. So just the iron test please.

A few days later I get a call from my physician's office on my answering machine, and without telling me what my iron levels were (most women throughout reproductive ages are "borderline anemic" due to blood loss each month), the secretary told me my doctor would like me to take an iron supplement THREE TIMES A DAY, along with a vitamin C supplement (vitamin C aids in the absorption of non-heme iron). In other words, my doctor who apparently knows nothing about nutrition or supplements, wants me to take six supplements a day.

So here's the problem(s) with this logic: vitamin C is an antioxidant, and when ingested via a pill, acts as a pro-oxidant, creating loads of free radicals which cause the creation of plaque and cancer cells, simply put. While it's true vitamin C does help in the absorption of iron, these "synergistic effects" are limited to food, not supplements.

And if that weren't enough, iron itself is a powerful pro-oxidant, creating free radicals in our bodies. It's even believed that one of the reasons women live longer than men is due to lower iron levels throughout the pre-menopausal years. Studies in men who give blood regularly show that by lowering their iron levels, they are less likely to have oxidized forms of LDL cholesterol that contribute to heart disease and stroke. Some researchers believe that we need to re-classify what are considered to be healthy iron levels, and thus change standards currently based on iron levels in men to that of lower levels found in women.

In addition, hemochromatosis is the most common genetic disorder known in humans, with 24 million people worldwide at risk for this horrible disease. People with this condition are unable to eliminate excess iron from their bodies, resulting in heart disease and liver cancer.

In other words, excess iron is incredibly toxic. This is why we hear news reports from time to time about children who got into their parents' iron pills and had to have their stomachs pumped. This is why iron supplements come with tamperproof lids.

But here's some good news: although most of us learned that heme iron (found in meats) is more readily absorbed than iron found in plants (non-heme), this is actually a good thing. Heme iron is almost always absorbed, whether your body needs it or not. Non-heme iron (found in vegetables, grains and legumes) is only absorbed in proportion to your body's need. If your iron levels are high, less non-heme iron will be absorbed, and if they're low, you'll absorb more. Now, doesn't that sound safe and healthy?

Suffice it to say next time I meet with my doctor he's going to learn a thing or two. Hope you do too.