10 Things That Reduces Iron Levels in Your Blood

Our bodies need iron for it to work properly, and it’s a key component of hemoglobin.

Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies all over the world, affecting millions of people.

People often try to get more iron in their diet, but it is important to know what things can make you have less iron in your body.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about some of the things that reduces iron levels in your blood and what you can do to help prevent this.

10 Things That Reduces Iron in Your Blood

There are lots of things that can make your body have less iron.

This include the food you eat, the medications, health problems, and lifestyle factors.

Knowing all these factors can help you stay healthy and maintain iron levels. Now let’s look at some of the things that reduces iron levels in blood.

1. Iron-Deficient Diet

Vegetarians and vegans may have a higher chance of getting low levels of iron.

This is because they don’t eat as much iron as people who eat meat.

If you want to get more iron in your diet, try eating foods that are high in iron.

Also, eat foods that contains high amounts of vitamin C, because they can help your body absorb iron efficiently.

2. Blood Loss

Blood loss causes iron deficiency anemia if the body does not have enough iron to replace the lost blood cells.

Causes of blood loss are injury, surgery, and gastrointestinal bleeding.

If you have iron deficiency anemia, take iron supplements, or get a blood transfusion to help treat it.

3. Pregnancy and Lactation

When a woman is pregnant, she needs more iron to support the growth and development of the fetus, and production of breast milk.

This reduces the amount of iron available in the blood if the mother’s diet doesn’t provide enough to meet the needs.

To prevent iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy and lactation, take prenatal vitamins that contain iron and eat iron-rich foods.

4. Kidney Disease

Kidney disease reduces the amount of a hormone called erythropoietin that is produced by the kidneys.

Erythropoietin stimulates the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow, and when its levels are low, the body may not make enough red blood cells.

Since iron is needed to make red blood cells, lack of erythropoietin decreases the amount of iron in the blood.

To solve this problem, erythropoietin injection is administered into your vein properly, this will help produce fresh hormones in your body to make new red blood cells.

5. Iron Chelators

Some drugs interfere with iron absorption and utilization.

Iron chelators bind with excess iron in the body and helps to remove it. This reduces iron levels in your blood.

Examples of iron chelators include deferoxamine, deferasirox, and deferiprone.

6. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Heavy menstrual bleeding reduces iron in the blood over time because the body loses significant amounts of iron with each menstrual cycle.

Menstrual blood contains iron, and if a woman starts bleeding heavily during her period, she can lose more iron than her body can replace through diet alone.

Treatment options for heavy menstrual bleeding are hormonal birth control or surgery.

7. Blood Donation

Blood donation can temporarily reduce iron levels in the blood.

If you want to manage your iron levels, you should wait a certain period of time before donating blood again and eat a balanced diet that includes iron-rich foods.

8. Tannins

Tannins are naturally occurring compounds found in tea, coffee, and red wine. They have been found to reduce iron absorption in the body.

Tannins can bind to dietary iron and form a complex, making it less available for absorption in the gut.

This complex is then excreted from the body, thus reducing the amount of iron in the blood.

In addition, tannins also inhibit the activity of enzymes involved in iron absorption, further reducing the amount of iron that can be absorbed from food.

9. H2 Receptor Blockers

These drugs are used to treat heartburns and reduces the amount of acid in the stomach.

However, they can also decrease the absorption of iron from food.

Examples include famotidine, cimetidine, and ranitidine.

10. Alcohol Consumption

Drinking too much alcohol can make it hard for your body to use and get enough iron.

Alcohol can irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines, leading to inflammation and bleeding.

To prevent iron deficiency anemia, drink alcohol in moderation.

Conclusion: 10 Things That Reduces Iron in Your Blood

Several factors contribute to reduced iron levels in the blood.

Drinking too much alcohol, taking drugs like H2 blockers and NSAIDs, and having chronic kidney disease are some common things that can lower iron levels in your blood.

Remember to eat a balanced diet rich in iron and vitamin C, and take iron supplements if needed to keep your iron levels healthy. You should also avoid iron inhibitors like tea and coffee.

Being aware of the factors that can lower your iron levels, this will help you take steps to maintain optimal health.