Many of our customers successfully improve their iron status with our Liver product because it naturally provides the cofactors that support endogenous iron production (vitamin A, B12, zinc, copper, etc.) along with a moderate amount of heme iron. For this reason, liver should be considered as a first line supplement option to manage iron status. It's important to know that adding more dietary iron to the equation doesn't always work... if that's not the root cause of the issue.
That being said, sometimes inadequate dietary iron IS indeed the root cause of the issue, in which case, our Spleen product should be considered due to a totally different mechanism of action and the high heme iron content (5Xs more than liver) either in combination with the Liver (or) as a stand-alone product. The spleen plays a critical role in hemoglobin health. When the bone marrow is injured or impaired, cell production is damaged.
The incredible thing is that the spleen works as a compensatory organ and takes over to generate the blood cells the marrow was producing. It sometimes swells to 5 times its normal size to accommodate this new activity. It's one of the many ways that our body can adapt and change to overcome injury and disease... it's amazing how smart our bodies are! In these instances, the spleen needs all the help and nourishment it can get. Like supports like... it's grounded in science! For this reason, Liver plus Spleen should be considered as a second line supplement option to provide the cofactors that support endogenous iron production, the compensatory support and it’s a significant and meaningful amount of dietary heme iron.
Unfortunately, there will remain a few non-responders if the root cause is a struggling thyroid which is often the case. A struggling thyroid creates a cascade of struggling metabolic processes including struggling digestion and inadequate nutrient assimilation. If a struggling thyroid is the root of the issue, natural desiccated thyroid support should be considered when FREE T3 levels are not in the functional medicine range (i.e. 3.0 – 4.0 pg/mL) and / or reverse T3 (rT3) are elevated. Our Thyroid product provides 30mg of natural thyroid glandular with 470mg of Liver per capsule for those seeking targeted support in harmony with nature — the old-fashioned way, the way that our early ancestors did.
There's a very good chance that one's iron status will improve with the Liver product alone... if it does not, consider adding in the Spleen product which provides a totally different biological mechanism and it supplies over 500% more heme iron per serving (12.5 MG). Lastly, if iron status remains unimproved, one's thyroid status should be evaluated. If indeed a struggling thyroid is at play, consider a natural desiccated thyroid product like this one as an option to naturally balance, nourish and support thyroid health.
UPDATE: There are a few other mechanisms that can contribute to low iron health / blood markers. The most common are as follows:
- Not adequate digestion and assimilation... think thyroid status and downstream pancreatic enzymes, stomach acidity, bile production.
- Not adequate digestion and assimilation... think lectins, phytates and other anti-nutrients in the diet.
- Not adequate immune response... think anemia of chronic disease; Thymus and/or BTC may need to be considered in addition to diet and lifestyle changes.
Many gut and digestive issues have a deficiency characteristic such as low stomach acid (80% of Americans), low pancreatic enzymes, low bile and/or low liver function. I'm not saying that all do, just a lot!
Low Acid — Restrict liquids with meals... most Americans actually have LOW stomach acid so stop diluting it with water during dinner... if that's you, also consider adding Betaine HCL and/or Apple Cider Vinegar to produce adequate stomach acid to get the job done right. A ketogenic / paleo / primal diet can help address the root cause.
Low Enzymes — Consider eating pancreas or supplementing with pancreatic enzymes to help... a struggling thyroid, heavy metal exposure and pancreatic insufficiency can all suppress enzymes. A ketogenic / paleo / primal diet can help address the root cause.
Low Bile — Our early ancestors used bile from the gallbladder... it was sprinkled on the meat and used as a condiment as we might use mustard today. Word has it that bile did a lot for the taste of liver. If you can't do this, consider supplementing with ox bile. A ketogenic / paleo / primal diet can help address the root cause.
Low Liver — Most Americans have a non-alcoholic fatty liver that causes a sluggish liver and sluggish bile... supporting your own liver health with lots of choline from egg yolks and eating Grass Fed Beef Liver will do wonders. A ketogenic / paleo / primal diet can help address the root cause.
TOP [14] THINGS TO IMPROVE IRON & FERRITIN HEALTH In summary, go after the root cause so that you can provide targeted support; however, biological systems are complex and people are lazy. With that said, feel free to throw the kitchen sink at it. Here's a list of literally everything that I know...
- Grass Fed Beef Liver - works for most people
- Grass Fed Spleen - different mechansim of action plus tons of hem iron
- Grass Fed Bone Marrow - red blood cell production
- Grass Fed Thyroid - thyroid affects everything
- Grass Fed Thymus and/or Grass Fed BTC - if one suspects it's anemia of chronic disease... these will support and boost immune health.
- Grass Fed Pancreas - supports pancreatic health and provides digestive enzymes
- Grass Fed Gallbladder (w/ Ox Bile & Liver) - gallbladder with ox bile to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins
- Increase acid by restricting liquid with meals, add betaine HCL and consider apple cider vinegar (ACV) with meal too.
- Love on the egg yolks for the choline... like Chris Masterjohn says "choline is king."
- Get sensible sunshine, wild fish eggs or add a vitamin D3 supplement
- Get fermented veggies like kimchi, sauerkraut and nattō or add a vitamin K complex supplement
- Mind your magnesium orally as well as transdermally
- Go cyclical ketogenic / paleo / primal (< 150g of carbs / day)
- Go to our "About Us" page and do EVERYTHING on that list EXCEPT for #8... don't do this if you're not ready for it!