Iron Archives - Beth Klenner

Uncover the Hidden Insights in Your Blood Test Results!

by Beth Klenner | General, Iron, Minerals, Pathology, Vitamins

Let’s be honest—getting a blood test isn’t something most people look forward to. Some avoid it entirely, while others breeze through without a second thought. But one thing I hear often from clients is: “I don’t really understand what my results mean.”

Typically, blood test results are interpreted against “normal” ranges, designed to catch overt disease markers in the general population. This approach is crucial for identifying when something is significantly off and may require immediate medical attention.

But what if you’re told you’re “in range” even though you still feel off? What if you leave the clinic, results in hand, but with lingering health worries?

Here’s the secret: Your blood holds valuable information—golden clues to your well-being that go beyond simply being “normal.” By looking at your results from an optimal health perspective, we can unlock a unique story that considers patterns, relationships between markers, and your specific needs. This independent review reveals much more than what traditional reference ranges show.

Why Blood Tests Are Key to Your Health Journey

Your blood is packed with insight, extending beyond “healthy” or “sick.” It can guide every step of your wellness plan, from energy and immunity to metabolism and aging. Here’s a glimpse of what we can uncover:

Energy and Vitality: Low iron or B12 levels might be the hidden culprits behind fatigue and low motivation. Boosting these levels often leads to better energy, sharper focus, and an overall brighter mood.
Metabolic Health: Glucose and haemoglobin A1c levels reveal how your body processes energy. Higher levels can signal insulin resistance, a potential precursor to diabetes, and can impact weight management.
Cardiovascular Health: Your cholesterol profile—LDL (“bad”) and HDL (“good”) cholesterol—offers key insights. High LDL can lead to artery plaque buildup, while HDL helps clear it away, maintaining cardiovascular balance.
Immunity and Inflammation: Markers like CRP (C-reactive protein) reveal ongoing inflammation. This could stem from hidden infections, chronic stress, or even early signs of autoimmune issues.
Nutrient Deficiencies: Blood levels of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D, magnesium, and zinc are essential for daily function. Low vitamin D, for example, can weaken immune health and bone strength, while low magnesium affects sleep, mood, and muscle relaxation.

Beyond “Normal”: Your Unique Health Story

While standard ranges show averages, your body may have unique needs that require a closer look. I focus on finding “optimal” rather than just “normal” ranges—helping you feel your best, not just average.

Are you ready to go beyond the basics and truly understand what your blood test reveals? I’d love to help you decode your results and explore how small adjustments can lead to meaningful improvements.

Take that next step in your health journey!

Bethx

Can low Iron be slowing your Thryoid?

by Beth Klenner | Iron, Minerals, Thyroid

If you’ve already read my post on ‘Iron, the Women’s Essential Nutrient’ and ‘Iron Pathology’ then this will start to make more sense if you have found yourself to be low in Iron and feel it’s your thyroid despite being told you are fine.

Iron is intricately involved with Thyroid hormones, in fact, dependant on the mineral, bottom line, low Iron, low Thyroid despite having a Thyroid condition.

Having low Iron affects the production of the Thyroid hormone in several ways:

In the Thyroid gland where T4 is made an enzyme called Thyroid Peroxidase enzyme (TPO) depends on Iron to work. So, if there is not enough Iron, the production of T4 will be reduced. Now you are familiar with how easy it is to be low in Iron, it can make you wonder if your hypothyroid symptoms are not due to an iron deficiency. This enzyme’s antibody, TPOab is tested for the diagnosis of Hashimotos.

There are enzymes all through the body and brain called Diodinases, de-iodin-ase and they break an iodine molecule from T4 down and convert it into T3. These enzymes depend on Iron to be able to work. The ratio that we like this to happen is a 3:1, ie 3x T4 to 1x T3. Having low iron may be one of the few reasons that there is poor conversion.

When the body detects there is low iron in the blood, it increases the amount of T4 that is changed into Reverse T3 (RT3) which is the opposite of active T3, this will slow you down and cause fatigue.

Iron is an important part of the mechanism that transports thyroid hormone into cells and lack of it can lead to pooling of hormone. This can lead to being hypothyroid even though there are normal T3 levels and it produces a thyroxine resistance situation.

Because of the dependence of Iron for the conversion of T4 to T3, some symptoms may worsen if you are put on Thyroxine and the underlying Iron deficiency has not been addressed – that’s like revving the accelerator on the taxi when there is no gas. Symptoms may be anxiety, palpitations, or irregular heartbeats.

Ironically being hypothyroid may in return cause a lack of Iron because when we are low in thyroid hormones we lack the ability to have good digestion, and tend to have low stomach acid or more susceptible to Immune diseases like being Celiac.

Dysphagia is a term that means difficulty in swallowing. A frequent need to clear the throat, particularly when under stress, is a classic sign of possible low thyroid activity and low iron status.

Women who experience heavy menstruation can become iron-deplete and therefore create a hypothyroid state.

Ferritin deficiency is the primary cause of hair loss in premenopausal women, and it’s often why women with Hashimotos continue to lose hair despite normal thyroid levels.

As you have read, Iron is extremely important, so make it a priority to have your levels assessed on a regular basis.

If you’d like to know more about this or other topics, you are welcome to join my free membership on face book. Thyroid, Metabolic, Hormone Harmony Hub.

I’d love to see you there

Inspiring Wellness

Beth