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What’s one HH symptom that completely blindsided you?
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🔥 Iron Overload & Your Gut – The Hidden Connection
Did you know excess iron can destroy your gut health and fuel inflammation, bloating, and digestive issues?
💥 How Iron Overload Harms Your Gut
⚡ Feeds Bad Bacteria – Pathogenic bacteria, like E. coli and Salmonella, thrive on excess iron, throwing off gut balance and increasing infections.
⚡ Damages the Gut Lining – Free iron triggers oxidative stress, leading to leaky gut, which allows toxins and undigested food to enter the bloodstream.
⚡ Reduces Beneficial Gut Bacteria – Healthy probiotics (like Lactobacillus & Bifidobacteria) struggle to survive in iron-heavy environments, worsening digestion, immunity, and mental health.
⚡ Increases Inflammation & Food Sensitivities – Iron overload causes gut inflammation, making you more sensitive to foods like dairy, gluten, and high-histamine foods.🔥 Signs Iron is Wrecking Your Gut
✔ Bloating & gas after meals
✔ Constipation or diarrhea
✔ Acid reflux or heartburn
✔ Food intolerances that seem to get worse
✔ Brain fog & low energy (gut-brain connection!)
✔ Skin flare-ups (eczema, rosacea, or acne)
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I had no idea iron could cause gut problems! I’ve been struggling with bloating for years. Could this be why probiotics don’t seem to help me?
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Yes! If iron overload is disrupting your gut bacteria, regular probiotics may not be enough. Some probiotic strains struggle in a high-iron environment. Look for Lactobacillus plantarum or Bifidobacteria, which are more resistant. Also, try pairing them with prebiotic-rich foods like asparagus, onions, and bananas to help them thrive
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I’ve noticed that every time I eat spinach or red meat, my stomach feels awful, and I get cramps. Could that mean my gut can’t handle high-iron foods? I used to think steak was good for me, but I always felt sluggish and bloated afterward. Since switching to more plant-based meals, my digestion has improved a lot!
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Yes! When your gut is inflamed from excess iron, eating <strong data-start=”422″ data-end=”467″>high-iron foods like red meat and spinach can make things worse. Spinach also contains <strong data-start=”513″ data-end=”525″>oxalates, which can irritate digestion, and red meat can trigger inflammation in people with iron overload. Instead, try getting iron from <strong data-start=”656″ data-end=”688″>low-absorption plant sources like chickpeas, nuts, and seeds. Pairing meals with <strong data-start=”741″ data-end=”758″>coffee or tea can also help block excess iron absorption, reducing gut stress!
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I’ve been struggling with constant bloating and digestive issues, and I recently found out my iron levels are high. Could iron overload be the reason my gut feels so off, and what can I do to start feeling better?”
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Yes, Madelyn! High iron levels can disrupt your gut in multiple ways. Excess iron <strong data-start=”344″ data-end=”370″>feeds harmful bacteria, reduces good gut bacteria, and increases <strong data-start=”413″ data-end=”433″ data-is-only-node=””>oxidative stress, leading to bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and inflammation. To start feeling better, try these steps:
✅ <strong data-start=”545″ data-end=”572″>Eat Iron-Blocking Foods – Coffee, tea, dairy, and calcium-rich foods help reduce iron absorption.<br data-start=”646″ data-end=”649″> ✅ <strong data-start=”651″ data-end=”680″ data-is-only-node=””>Support Good Gut Bacteria – Add probiotics (like <strong data-start=”704″ data-end=”731″>Lactobacillus plantarum) and prebiotic foods (asparagus, onions, bananas) to restore balance.<br data-start=”801″ data-end=”804″> ✅ <strong data-start=”806″ data-end=”831″>Limit High-Iron Foods – Reduce red meat, spinach, and iron-fortified products if they trigger symptoms.<br data-start=”913″ data-end=”916″> ✅ <strong data-start=”918″ data-end=”945″>Soothe Gut Inflammation – Drink <strong data-start=”954″ data-end=”1003″>aloe vera juice, chamomile tea, or bone broth to repair the gut lining.
Balancing your iron levels and healing your gut takes time, but small changes can make a big difference!
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I’ve been dealing with gut issues from iron overload. Are there any foods that can help repair the damage? I’ve heard aloe vera juice might help, and I’ve also noticed that cutting out processed sugar has reduced my bloating and inflammation.”
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Great question, Chris! Aloe vera juice is fantastic for soothing inflammation and supporting gut healing. Cutting out processed sugar is also a smart move since sugar feeds bad bacteria that thrive on excess iron. Other gut-healing foods include:
🌱 <strong data-start=”546″ data-end=”568″>Pectin-rich fruits (apples, pears, bananas) – Help remove excess iron & improve digestion<br data-start=”639″ data-end=”642″> 🥑 <strong data-start=”645″ data-end=”669″ data-is-only-node=””>Avocados & flaxseeds – Provide fiber & omega-3s for gut repair<br data-start=”711″ data-end=”714″> 🍵 <strong data-start=”717″ data-end=”747″>Chamomile & peppermint tea – Soothe acid reflux and gut irritation<br data-start=”787″ data-end=”790″> 🥒 <strong data-start=”793″ data-end=”812″>Fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, coconut yogurt) – Restore healthy gut bacteria
Making these changes can go a long way in calming inflammation and repairing your gut from iron-related damage!
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I just had a full-blown panic attack for the first time ever. My iron is still high—could it be messing with my nervous system?
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Does anyone else feel like their memory is worse since being diagnosed? Like, I forget things mid-sentence. HH brain fog is REAL!
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Brain fog was my first symptom, even before fatigue. It’s scary how much iron affects the brain.
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My doctor said my iron is ‘high, but not dangerous.’ Meanwhile, I feel awful. Does anyone else’s doctor downplay this?
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Yep, my doctor said ‘we’ll just keep an eye on it’ instead of doing anything. My ferritin was 600!
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Mine told me HH was ‘only an issue for men.’ Meanwhile, my joints were wrecked and I could barely function!
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I had to BEG for a ferritin test. My doctor said ‘women don’t need to worry about iron overload.’ 🤦♀️
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I’ve read that iron overload can affect the heart (cardiomyopathy, irregular beats, etc.), but it’s not talked about much. Have any of you had heart-related issues from HH?
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Two people can have HH, but one has sky-high iron and the other barely absorbs any. WHY?!!
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I never used to struggle with anxiety, but since my HH diagnosis, it’s been through the roof. Could excess iron be messing with my nervous system?
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What’s the Strangest Advice a Doctor Has Given You About HH?
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My first Dr. told me to donate blood every few years! My Ferritin was 700! It will go down naturally he said. YES, I changed Doctor’s!
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My Dr. said to stop eating red meat, and it would go any on it’s own! 😂 Yes, I got a new Dr. as well!
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When I first started phlebotomy, I thought I’d feel 100% better as soon as my ferritin got low enough. HA! For those further along, how long did it take to REALLY feel better?
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