So many clients come into my practice due to long term struggles with fatigue. They are frustrated with their exhaustion and the negative effect it has on their ability to live the life they love. There are so many root causes of chronic fatigue, but one big issue that often goes under the radar is anemia. 

In general, anemia is a condition where the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen effectively to tissues. This can result in symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath. Iron is the mineral necessary for making the hemoglobin that carries oxygen throughout the body. 

What most people do not know is that there are distinct types of anemia with different root causes. 

Here are the most common types:

Iron-deficiency anemia: This is the most common and often results from blood loss like heavy menstrual periods or gastrointestinal bleeding. It can also be due to insufficient dietary intake or poor absorption of iron which has digestive dysfunction at its root. 

In this case, it is important to first prioritize heme-iron rich foods like meat, liver, poultry, and seafood as these are the most bioavailable sources of iron.

Non-heme food sources include legumes, dark leafy greens, nuts and seeds, whole grains, and dried fruit. With plant-based sources, it is important to eat these foods with Vitamin C rich fruits and vegetables like citrus, bell peppers or strawberries to enhance absorption while also avoiding iron inhibitors like coffee, tea, or calcium rich foods alongside your iron rich meals. 

Please note that with iron-deficiency anemia, you can supplement until the end of time, but if you do not correct the reason for the loss of blood or lack of absorption of iron in the digestive tract, you will never solve the problem.

B12/Folate deficiency anemia: This occurs when there is a lack of these nutrients which are essential for healthy red blood cells. This type of anemia is common for someone struggling with digestive issues related to malabsorption of nutrients as well as people on a vegan or even vegetarian diet. 

This type of anemia is better suited to a combination of heme and non heme plant-based sources. Focus on B12 rich foods like animal proteins as well as folate-rich foods like leafy greens (i.e., kale, spinach), asparagus, avocado, and broccoli. 

Iron supplementation will not fix this situation, as the problem is not iron itself, but lack of nutrient cofactors to form healthy red blood cells. 

Anemia of chronic disease: This is linked to underlying inflammatory conditions like autoimmune disease, chronic infections, or kidney disease. The body may sequester iron during inflammation, making it unavailable for red blood cell production. In this situation, iron supplementation is not recommended, as the body may be sequestering iron as part of its survival strategy. 

For example, if there is a gut infection, we know that pathogens feed on iron in the body to multiply and survive. So, in its innate wisdom, the body will sequester iron to prevent the pathogenic source from proliferating. So, throwing supplemental iron into the mix is like throwing fuel on a fire. 

Pernicious anemia: This is a specific type of B12-deficiency anemia caused by an autoimmune condition where the body produces antibodies that attack intrinsic factor (a protein produced in the stomach) and/or the parietal cells that produce it. Without intrinsic factor, vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed in the small intestine, leading to a deficiency. 

This condition is more common in older adults and can have dire consequences if left untreated as B12 is key for red blood cell production, DNA synthesis, and neurological function. A root cause approach might focus on identifying potential triggers and imbalances contributing to the autoimmune response, including gut health, stress, environmental toxins, and infections. 

Once again, this is not about throwing some iron supplementation into the mix, it is about assessing and addressing the root cause to uncover the type of anemia as well as the underlying causes or driving factors. Is it dietary, absorption related, inflammatory, or a nutrient co factor deficiency?

An individualized approach is key as each person is unique! A personalized assessment and tailored approaches based on health history plus test results will guide the process. And of course, a nutrient dense, whole food diet is always at the core of any healing protocol to ensure the client is getting the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients needed for optimal health. 

Comprehensive bloodwork is where I always start to assess any type of anemia since each type requires a different approach, and in rare cases referring out to a medical specialist is the appropriate next step. 

Once the type of anemia is discovered, a stool test is often needed to assess digestive health. You could be eating the best diet in the world, but if you are not breaking down, absorbing and assimilating nutrients properly, your diet is worthless, and it is money down the drain. 

Why is yearly comprehensive blook work necessary? Running a very in-depth bloodwork panel once per year can help you assess what is going on in your body across all systems. It is one of the most cost effective and preventive ways to keep abreast of your health and prevent any issues from progressing into something more serious. 

When was the last time you had your blood work done? If you do not have an answer to this question, I would love to help. I offer shorter packages where I work with clients on diet, lifestyle and key supplements based on the results of a comprehensive set of labs/bloodwork. 

In sum, comprehensive bloodwork is a powerful way to embrace self-care, prevention, and longevity, in addition to figuring out the root cause of anemia. Cheers to that!