How to Increase Ferritin Levels With Supplements

Ferritin blood tests measure a protein in your body that stores iron for emergency situations and oxygen production. A low ferritin reading indicates that storage has reached capacity, leading to anemia as a possible outcome.

Your doctor will draw blood from your arm using an antiseptic wipe and bandaging, before inserting a needle in its veins to take samples.

Heme Iron

Iron is an essential mineral essential to our bodies, playing many crucial functions such as transporting oxygen, building muscle tissue and supporting cognitive development. Decreased iron stores – known as iron deficiency anemia – are common, often as the result of conditions like hypothyroidism, vitamin C deficiency or celiac disease. If you’re struggling to attain optimal ferritin levels through diet alone or supplementation may provide relief.

Foods containing heme iron — such as meat, fish and poultry — provide your body with easily assimilated hemoglobin iron, while plant foods contain nonheme iron which requires more digestion to assimilate. By including iron-rich plants such as spinach, broccoli and baked potatoes in your diet you may help boost absorption rates; adding raisins or dried apricots containing 2 milligrams per serving could also provide added boost.

Heme iron can also be taken orally as supplements such as Proferrin, which contains hemoglobin and other proteins to facilitate its absorption, while polysaccharides and vitamin C further aide the body’s uptake of iron. To optimize absorption of your supplement iron dose, consume it alongside meals high in vitamin C; this will increase bioavailability while calcium-rich foods or beverages may interfere with iron absorption.

Consult with your healthcare provider on the best ways to increase your ferritin levels; these strategies shouldn’t replace professional treatment from a healthcare professional. Low ferritin levels could indicate various medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, chronic intestinal bleeding or elevated serum iron from risedronate therapy for osteoporosis.

Vitamin C

Ferritin is an iron storage protein that helps to regulate levels of mineralized iron in blood, as well as modulate immune function. A decreased ferritin level may indicate iron deficiency anemia; however, its levels can differ depending on an individual and even change due to inflammation or infections [2].

If you are showing symptoms of iron deficiency and fatigue, such as increased dietary consumption of iron-rich foods or supplementation may help. As noted by ASH, however, this can be challenging without considering any medical conditions or other potential contributors to deficiency.

Diet is the key to increasing ferritin levels, and lean meats are an excellent source of haem iron which has been shown to quickly raise levels according to several studies. Poultry, fish and low-fat dairy are other good sources. Iron supplements may also be effective; however, many are poorly absorbed and may lead to nausea or constipation.

Vitamin C helps the non-haem variety of iron absorb more effectively, so consume foods rich in both vitamin C and iron together or add lemon juice to meals rich in iron-containing foods. Soaking, sprouting and fermenting legumes and grains also helps improve iron absorption by decreasing their phytate content, thus improving iron absorption.

Vitamin A helps the body absorb iron more effectively, so consume vegetables, fruits and cereals that contain an abundance of this nutrient for maximum absorption.

Avoid pairing calcium-rich foods with high iron foods; recent research indicates that calcium can reduce iron absorption by over 60% in one meal alone; thus it is best to limit consumption of both simultaneously.

Fermented Foods

Fermented foods have long been a part of global cultures’ diets, such as dairy products fermented into cultured drinks like kefir and yogurt as well as fermented vegetables like kimchi, sauerkraut and pickles. Not only can these foods increase iron levels but they may also promote a healthy gut microbiome for improved digestive health and overall immune system functioning.

Fermented foods offer more than iron; they provide essential calcium, magnesium, vitamin K2, folate and enzymes as well as low levels of sugar and fat content. Some fermented products such as raw apple cider vinegar also contain probiotic bacteria which may support digestive and immune health.

When selecting fermented foods, it’s wise to opt for those made with organic whole ingredients since these typically boast the highest bacterial counts. Furthermore, selecting foods prepared through natural fermentation methods rather than with chemical additives and preservatives will yield optimal results. Such items can often be found at most grocery stores – particularly the refrigerated section.

Add Lean Meats to Your Diet For Natural Ferritin IncreaseAdding lean meats such as beef, pork and chicken is another natural way to increase ferritin levels naturally. Lean cuts such as these should all work great when added into meals!

Foods rich in copper may help increase ferritin levels, including liver, spirulina, oysters, shiitake mushrooms and lobster. Calcium-rich foods like milk cheese yogurt may interfere with iron absorption. Tea and coffee may also contain polyphenols and tannins which impede absorption so consuming these beverages at meals should also be avoided for best results.

f dietary changes alone aren’t enough to raise your iron levels, iron supplements can be taken. Unfortunately, they may cause side effects like nausea, constipation and diarrhea; for this reason it would be wiser to opt for nonheme sources of iron such as vegetables rich in iron instead.

Vegetarian Foods

Ferritin is an iron storage protein, responsible for safeguarding body’s iron stores and helping ensure adequate hemoglobin levels. Ferritin also transports iron to cells where it can be used in making red blood cells and myoglobin which transport oxygen throughout the body. Iron deficiency has been linked with fatigue, weakness and poor mental and physical performance [1]

Low ferritin levels often signal iron deficiency; however, they could also indicate hypothyroidism, vitamin C deficiency or celiac disease as potential sources. Therefore, it’s crucial that you work closely with your healthcare provider to treat the source of low ferritin before trying to increase it yourself.

Consume more foods high in iron to increase your intake, such as red meat, poultry, fish, nonheme vegetables and dark chocolate. Avoid dairy products, coffee and tea which inhibit iron absorption; shellfish liver shiitake mushrooms spirulina are all excellent sources of copper that may improve iron absorption by up to 16%.

Diets consisting largely of plant-based foods can help increase iron consumption, but it’s essential that they be combined with nutrients that enhance absorption – for instance, taking vitamin C alongside nonheme iron increases absorption by 57% while adding meat boosts it by an estimated 80%. Soaking, sprouting or fermenting legumes and grains also helps by decreasing their level of phytates, thus improving iron absorption.

If you are vegetarian, add more iron-rich foods into your diet such as green leafy vegetables, dark chocolate, beans and tofu, oatmeal with wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, lamb and beef as well as liver.