Iron is a component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. It also plays a role in energy metabolism at the cellular level and in normal immune function. When iron stores run low, the body prioritizes. Nonessential functions get less. 

Menstruation results in regular iron loss that men do not experience. Pregnancy increases iron needs. Heavy periods, common and commonly normalized, increase the loss further. Add a diet lower in red meat, and the gap widens. 

Fatigue that rest does not resolve. Hair shedding. Shortness of breath on stairs that did not used to be hard. Cold hands and feet. 

Difficulty concentrating. Restless legs at night. Brittle nails. Pale inner eyelids or gums. 

Each of these has many potential causes. Together, they are worth a conversation with your doctor. 

Fatigue that rest does not resolve. Hair shedding. Shortness of breath on stairs that did not used to be hard. Cold hands and feet. 

Difficulty concentrating. Restless legs at night. Brittle nails. Pale inner eyelids or gums. 

Each of these has many potential causes. Together, they are worth a conversation with your doctor. 

Ferrochel iron bisglycinate. Most cheap iron supplements use ferrous sulfate. It is inexpensive and it is famously hard on the stomach. Chelated iron is bound to an amino acid, which changes how it moves through your digestive tract. This is the single biggest reason women quit iron, so it was the first decision Dr. Wale made. 

Vitamin C at 300 mg. Vitamin C supports the absorption of non heme iron. Including it in the formula means you are not depending on remembering to take it with orange juice. 

L-Methylfolate, not folic acid. L-Methylfolate is the active form your body can use directly. 

A meaningful share of women carry a genetic variation that makes converting folic acid less efficient. 

Methylcobalamin, not cyanocobalamin. Same principle. The active form of B12, ready to use. 

Morning, with food. Away from coffee, tea, calcium, and dairy by about two hours. Consistently. Iron stores rebuild over months, not days.