I was wondering if taking iron in my suppliment would not be a good idea considering that the LC diet is supposed to be high in iron.

I definitely feel better when I take it but I haven't for 5 days now because when I realized it I got scared.

I think that one of the reasons Dr. A said no iron is that iron can be constipating. Something that LCers don't need, an additional thing that can lead to constipation.

Iron is a mineral that's not excreted from the body like potassium or magnesium .. it gets stored. Levels of stored iron that are too high have been linked to heart and blood vessel disease. This is mostly a concern for men and post-menopausal women though, since menstruating women lose some iron with their monthly bleeding. Pregnancy and breastfeeding will use up quite a bit of iron too.

If you're really worried that your iron level might be too high, ask your dr. for a blood test called "serum ferritin". I'm glad I did .. found out my level was too LOW.


hth


Doreen

The parts of the cell responsible for absorbing iron are also responsible for absorbing calcium and zinc, so you can find yourself getting low on these other essential minerals if you are taking in too much iron.

Best thing to do is to get your iron and haemoglobin levels checked when you get your bloods done - that should let you know whether or not you need extra supplementation.

Thanks you guys.

If you suddenly stop taking a vitamin like that, you're also going to be feeling the effects of missing everything else--esp. C and B, which are not stored in any form in the body. I can feel B within a day or two--and it's not pretty. (And actually writing this reminded me that I missed this morning's dose...)

Assuming your still menstruating and not having major problems with consipation, one bottle won't hurt. Or, you could buy the same stuff without iron, and alternate on days till the original is gone.

If you want way more information than this, look at Sex Time and Power by Leonard Shlain. He tells the story about how human evolution has been driven by the human female's incredible need for iron, unique among mammals. Whole different picture.

I was thinking that artifical iron, like the iron found in most supplements, builds up in your body and the excess is not excreted. And natural iron, like you find in meat, does not build up? And since most people on low carb diet get plenty -- do not take in supplements.

http://www.vitacost.com/store/produ...ron&SearchBy=HL

http://www.healthiernews.com/

http://www.worldhealth.net/p/aadr-iron.html

Thanks you guys, I really appreciate it. I'm just going to give the suppliments to my boyfriend or his dad and I'll buy some without the iron.

If you don't think they're safe enough for you to take, why would you give them to someone who presumably doesn't menstruate?

Iron supplements are often needed, and always safer, for menstruating women, because menstruation, child bearing, child birth, and nursing are heavily iron-draining. Women lose a LOT of iron over their life. Men lose very little at all.

Personally, I take supplements with iron. I need it. YMMV.

Anthony Calpo over at www.theomnivore.com has an article about iron and why it is not good to supplement it. I've decided not to supplement it myself and try to get what I need from food.

Men should never take supplements with iron, unless there is a medical reason to do so.

What about someone who eats really poorly? I'm talking frozen pizza, popcorn, barely any veggies and maybe a few bites of meat from dinner.

Would it still be bad for him to take it if he eats horribly?