Iron Supplements -  Which Supplement is Right for Me?

Do you have low iron levels or iron deficiency anemia? Have you had trouble increasing your iron stores through your diet alone? Iron supplementation can be a helpful addition to your daily routine to help boost your iron levels. But it can be difficult to know which is the right supplement for you.

So how do you pick an iron supplement? Let’s start with some basic questions.

1. Do you have symptoms of iron deficiency such as fatigue, dizziness, cold hands & feet?

   • Learn more from our blog Feeling Tired? You Could Be Iron Deficient.

2. Have you been to your doctor and had your blood levels checked?

   • At VITALITY, we always recommend working with your health care professional to determine if and why you might be iron deficient. Having your blood levels checked can help determine your degree of deficiency and guide supplement dosing. Your doctor may repeat your blood work every 3 months to determine if the treatment is working.

3. Are you a vegan or vegetarian?

   • In our diets, as well as our supplements, there are two main types of iron. Heme iron is derived from animal products such as red meat, liver and seafood. It is well absorbed and the main source of iron in the diet. Non-heme iron is the iron present in plant-based foods such as dark green leafy vegetables, nuts and legumes. Our body has a harder time absorbing non-heme iron, thus those on vegetarian or vegan diets can become iron deficient.

4. Have you had trouble taking iron supplements?

   • Iron supplements commonly cause side effects such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea or constipation. This happens when unabsorbed iron in the gut irritates our digestive lining, and/or negatively impacts the bacteria that lives in our gut. These side effects often result in people stopping supplementation. If this is something you have experienced, it is important to look at the type of iron you are taking.
   • The most commonly prescribed iron supplements are iron salts, such as ferrous sulfate and ferrous fumarate. However, these are also the most likely forms of iron to cause side effects. Iron supplements that are less likely to cause irritation include carbonyl iron, iron amino-acid chelates and polysaccharide-iron complexes.
   • Iron bisglycinate is an amino acid chelate that is known for causing less side effects from supplementation. It is also very well absorbed requiring lower doses of iron thus causing less irritation to the gut lining.

VITALITY Power Iron + Organic Spirulina and Daily Iron + Organic Spirulina both use iron bisglycinate for a well-absorbed, vegan iron supplement that is less likely to cause side effects, such as constipation, nausea and stomach cramps. Our supplements also contain vitamin C and organic spirulina to support iron absorption, as well as adding vitamin B12 and folic acid to help with red blood cell production. 

Power Iron + Organic Spirulina or Daily Iron + Organic Spirulina?

Wondering how to decide which VITALITY iron supplement is right for you? Let’s look at the ingredients:

Power Iron + Organic Spirulina was formulated for those suffering with low iron levels and/or iron deficiency anemia. With 45mg of iron bisglycinate, this supplement will help boost iron levels fast while vitamin B12 and folic acid support red blood cell production.

Daily Iron + Organic Spirulina was built using the same powerful foundation as Power Iron but NOW with lower dosing. 15mg of iron bisglycinate provides your daily iron requirements making it the perfect follow up to Power Iron + Organic Spirulina for those looking to maintain their iron levels. It is also a great choice for vegans and vegetarians who may not be getting enough iron from their diets. Lower dosing also makes it a safer choice for men and seniors with low iron who may not need as high an iron dose or for prenatal support. Finally, if you have low iron but find that you are very sensitive to supplementation you can take up to 3 capsules of Daily Iron + Organic Spirulina per day, allowing you to spread out your iron supplementation throughout the day to be even more gentle on your stomach.