IRON DEFICIENCY VS. EVERYDAY EXHAUSTION: DR LIBBY’S FOUR RED FLAGS
By Nicole Fuge
I’ve been tired for years.
Waking up just as weary as when I went to bed. Foggy, flat and no amount of sleep seems to help.
At first, I chalked it up to motherhood. Or hormones. Or stress. Or maybe just life. Then I got my iron levels checked. My ferritin was at 12. Suddenly, it all made sense.
I wasn’t just tired. I was depleted.
And I’m not the only one.
According to Dr Libby Weaver, nutritional biochemist and bestselling author, iron deficiency is incredibly common, and it often goes undiagnosed in women.
"It's when the fatigue just won't resolve after a good sleep. So you start to notice that the fatigue is more days than it isn't. So it's really quite persistent," she says.
The signs can sometimes be subtle and while fatigue is the big one, Dr Libby says there are other clues, too.
"You might also notice that you get a little bit pale in your face. Some women notice heart palpitations or their heart racing. Anxiety is actually one of the symptoms of iron deficiency,” she says.
"Another little trick is you can pull your eyelid down, your bottom eyelid, when we pull that down, the lining of the eyelid should be a lovely bright red colour and if it's pale, that's another telltale sign that it's not just a busy life, but it's iron deficiency."
While these are all handy hints, Dr Libby says blood tests remain the most reliable way to confirm what’s really going on under the surface. So book in with your GP to find out your iron levels.
Why So Many Women Are Running Low on Iron
Iron deficiency isn’t just a result of what we eat (or rather what we don’t eat), it can also be a lack of knowing. Many women simply don’t realise how much iron we actually need on a daily basis, particularly during our menstruating years.
"We need 18 milligrams of iron every single day to prevent that deficiency. And to put that into context, food wise, that's just over half a kilogram of beef per day," Dr Libby says.
Few women eat that much red meat, and those who follow plant-based diets or restrict their food in any way, need to be even more mindful.
"You can obtain enough iron through food with an omnivorous way of eating and a vegan way of eating if you're really focused on iron, but you really need to focus on it,” she says.
“Some women eat for nourishment and energy and for satiation. But a lot of women still really approach food with a dieting mentality, as in, ‘I'll just have coffee for lunch,’ either because they're busy or they're trying to use that as a weight loss mechanism. Or some women approach meals with an attitude of, ‘I'll just have a small portion because that'll help my clothes fit better’.
“It's really hard when you're a robust eater and a hearty eater to meet iron requirements, but it's almost impossible when we're restricting in some way or have that dieting mentality.
“When we eat in a vegan or vegetarian way, our requirements are actually increased. You multiply the RDI by 1.8, so across the menstruation years that means requirements are about 32.4 milligrams per day, and that's virtually impossible to get through food alone.”
Normalising Supplementation Without the Shame
While food is the foundation, Dr Libby believes there needs to be more open conversation around the role of supplements, especially when iron stores are running low.
"It can be necessary for some women to have an iron supplement on and off, or consistently, across the menstruation years to actually maintain iron levels," she says.
It's Not Just You… Iron Deficiency Is on the Rise
If it feels like more women are dealing with low iron, it’s because they are. And the ripple effects start early. A recent study published in New Zealand shows up to 55% of New Zealand women across the menstruation years are iron insufficient in some way. They are either experiencing iron depletion, iron deficiency, or iron deficiency anaemia, which is the most severe form when hemoglobin has dropped and you’re not making enough red blood cells.
This is also affecting our children.
"A study was done looking at Australian children and 75% of infants in Australia weren't eating enough iron and 25% of toddlers," she says..
The message is clear. Iron deficiency isn’t just a silent issue, it’s a growing one. And it’s time we stopped dismissing fatigue and anxiety as simply ‘part of life’.
If you want to feel more energised, focused and grounded, talk to your GP about checking your iron levels, because sometimes, the problem isn’t your schedule. It’s your stores.
Disclaimer: The content provided on Muse Paper is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical conditions, or treatments. Any reference to nutritional supplements is for general information only and does not constitute endorsement or therapeutic claims. Muse Paper does not advertise or promote therapeutic goods, in accordance with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Code.
MUSE PAPER
ISSUE 05