Are you on iron overload?
Too little can cause anemia—but too much can lead to atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular problems. Unlike other minerals, excess iron is not excreted from the body. Instead, it’s stored in the tissues, accelerating iron overload indefinitely.
When excess iron builds up in the heart, this all-important muscle gets damaged. About 10% of Americans—or over a million people—have a genetic predisposition for iron overload, making them especially vulnerable to this kind of heart trouble.
Menopausal women—as well as men at any age—can also build up excess iron. While lower levels of estrogen during menopause are usually blamed for women’s greater risk for heart disease, I believe iron overload may be the culprit in many cases!
Research shows that females 55 to 65 years of age experience a doubling of ferritin, a protein carrying iron. Some researchers believe that when ferritin iron is released from protein, free radicals are formed that oxidize cholesterol—which clings to artery walls—forming dangerous plaque.
Ferritin increases with inflammation—another underlying risk factor for cardiovascular disease. At least one study has shown that for every 1% increase in ferritin levels, the risk of cardiovascular disease increases by 4%.
Too much iron also accelerates aging by creating oxidative stress that causes cell damage and unwanted DNA changes. It’s no wonder that iron overload has also been linked to arthritis, fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
When Less Really Is More
During menstruation women naturally lose iron, so the levels of ferritin circulating in the blood are kept under control. But without this natural release, iron accumulates and overload can occur.
The results? Abdominal pain, a bronze tint to the skin, fatigue, hair loss, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, lowered immunity, and heart disease are common signals of excess iron. Ask your doctor about a serum ferritin test to determine your iron level.
Once you stop menstruating, avoid iron supplements and moderate your intake of iron-rich foods—red meats and spinach are prime sources. But bright red, purple, and yellow veggies and fruits are known iron chelators, binding with this mineral to help move it out of the body.
Like me, you’ll want to take the Iron-Free Female Multiple that’s especially formulated for women who are no longer menstruating. In addition, this unique supplement doesn’t contain copper, which also contributes to fatigue, hair loss, and skin problems.
Because our thyroid tends to slow as we grow older, this multi contains iodine to balance hormones and help stave off middle-age spread. Iron-Free Female Multiple is also formulated with minerals—like chromium—that help balance blood sugar and combat metabolic syndrome for added heart protection.
Don’t Leave Out the Guys
Men are at risk for iron overload throughout their lifespan—which may be why they tend to have heart attacks at younger ages than women. For this reason, the Male Multiple is another iron-free formula. It’s loaded with chromium, heart-friendly lycopene, and anti-aging reservatrol—to specially target the male heart.
Based on the latest cardiovascular research, the Male Multiple also contains folic acid, B-6, and B-12 for advanced protection against homocysteine—another protein linked to heart disease in males. This broad-spectrum multivitamin and mineral formula even contains saw palmetto for added prostate support.
A controlled iron intake will keep your heart healthy—at any age.
Sources:
Hot Times, How to Eat Well, Live Healthy, and Feel Sexy During the Change
Before the Change, Taking Charge of Your Perimenopause
Super Nutrition for Men
www.foodnavigator.com/Science-Nutrition/Iron-status-may-be-link-in-degenerative-diseases-study
www.irondisorders.org/chronic-diseases-affected-by-iron
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21175649
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2999297/?
