A few years ago I gave birth to a healthy baby boy (my second). Although the birth itself was totally fine, I lost a lot of blood in the process and the hospital advised me to have a blood transfusion. I was super keen not to and the doctors agreed to give me a few days to get my iron readings up to a level that they were happy with, which I managed to achieve. However, the doctors said I was still borderline anaemic/iron deficient for some time afterwards and what shocked me was just how bad it made me feel. The lack of energy was unlike anything I had ever experienced, with even a short walk to the shops making me feel tired and I also felt really cold a lot of the time. I managed to increase my iron levels with good nutrition and a heavy-duty iron supplement, but they had side effects that I didn’t love such as stomach cramps and constipation and it wasn’t until someone introduced me to Spatone® – an iron supplement that’s gentle on the tummy – that I started to feel better. A few years later, I went vegan for lent, and after some time felt many of these symptoms return again; however, by this point, I had forgotten about how bad a lack of iron levels can make you feel and instead put my tiredness down to having two young children and a busy life. My doctor wasn’t as convinced and did a blood test that revealed (rather unsurprisingly) that my iron levels were low again. I instantly went back to the pharmacy to pick up a pack of Spatone®! 

The top 5 Signs of low iron in the body:

Fatigue and weakness

Headaches

Circulation Issues

Dizziness or light-headedness

Heavy periods

Iron is such an important nutrient that supports many of the body’s functions but surprisingly the body does not make it itself so it is vital that we get our iron intake from other sources including food and supplements. Iron makes our cells work properly, drives your body’s energy supplies, helps form haemoglobin in your red blood cells that carries oxygen to every part of your body, and supports our immune system. If you struggle with tiredness, suffer from dizzy spells or even headaches that you can’t find the root cause for, it might be a good time to talk to your doctor about your iron levels. Even if you feel like your diet has a host of iron-rich foods such as spinach, red meats and lentils, iron is infamously tricky to absorb and often needs a good helping of vitamin C to help with the process. 

It is believed that around 20% of women of childbearing age are deficient in iron – I was a perfect example of that – and it wasn’t until Spatone® started making me feel so much better again that I realised how rubbish I was feeling before. But it isn’t just menstruating women that are in danger of becoming iron deficient, iron is really important for everybody and is especially important in the winter months when we’re needing our immune systems to be functioning at their best, often people don’t realise how much they need iron daily in their diet until they take a supplement like Spatone® and feel so much better.

1 in 2 healthcare professionals say patients regularly complain about the side effects from iron supplements*, which is exactly what I experienced with some of the iron tablets I was prescribed historically but Spatone®, the UK’s No 1 Natural Iron brand** is natural, iron-rich mineral water that is less likely to cause any of the tummy issues I had previously experienced. Each sachet contains 5mg – your daily iron need and has an absorption rate of up to 40% meaning that less iron sits unabsorbed in the gut causing unpleasant gastrointestinal effects typical of iron supplements, such as stomach irritation, constipation and nausea. However, because the absorbance is high your body is able to use most of the iron that comes in a Spatone® sachet. Spatone® sources its iron-rich water from an ancient spring in Snowdonia National Park in North Wales, where it has been used historically since 100 AD, so it has really stood the test of time. So gentle is Spatone® that everyone can use it over the age of two, including pregnant and breastfeeding women***. For those who don’t like the taste of natural Iron, Spatone® also has an Apple flavoured variant that is enhanced with vitamin C to enhance absorption. Both flavour variants are available in 14, 28, 42-day packs.

If you are interested in finding out about your own iron levels, please do talk to your GP.

spatone.com

Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Iron contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and the normal function of the immune system (EFSA). ***Always consult your doctor or midwife before taking a supplement.

*1 Nelsons Nutritional Study. (2009) The Significant Impact of Spatone on Iron Levels

** IRI Value Sales 52 weeks w/e 25th December 2021. [email protected]