Why You Still Feel Exhausted: The Hidden Truth About Iron
Have you ever felt tired to your bones, no matter how early you go to bed? You wake up unrefreshed, your brain is foggy, you get dizzy standing up, or you notice your hair is thinner than it used to be. Maybe your doctor tested your iron and found it low, so you started supplements – but weeks or months later, nothing changes. Or you’ve even had iron infusions, only to feel your energy drop again a few months later.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many women I see feel frustrated and defeated, wondering why nothing is working for their energy.
The truth is, low iron levels are often not just about how much iron you take in – it’s about how well your body absorbs and uses it.
My Story in Brief
After having my twins, I felt utterly exhausted. Even though doctors tried to help with thyroid medication, nothing seemed to shift my energy or clarity. I felt alone in it until I began studying naturopathy to find real answers. Today, my energy is back, my hormones are balanced, and I have no thyroid symptoms. I want you to know – fatigue doesn’t have to be your normal either.
Why Isn’t My Iron Going Up?
Here are key reasons why your iron might remain low, even when you’re eating well or taking supplements:
Low Stomach Acid
Your stomach acid (HCl) is vital to:
Release iron from food proteins (especially non-heme plant-based iron)
Convert it into its absorbable form (Fe²⁺)
Without enough acid, iron remains bound in food particles and passes through unabsorbed. Low stomach acid is common with:
✔️ Chronic stress (stress lowers acid production)
✔️ Hypothyroidism (thyroid hormones influence gastric secretions)
✔️ Older age (acid naturally declines)
✔️ Use of antacids or proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for reflux
Signs of low stomach acid include: bloating, burping, reflux, feeling overly full after meals, or undigested food in stools.
Reference: Martinsen TC et al. The role of pepsin and other proteolytic enzymes in gastric digestion. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2005.
Gut Inflammation
Your small intestine’s lining has tiny villi and microvilli that absorb nutrients like iron. If these are inflamed or damaged – due to food intolerances, gluten sensitivity, bacterial overgrowth, or chronic gut infections – iron absorption is impaired, no matter how much you eat or supplement.
This is why people with coeliac disease, Crohn’s, or chronic IBS often have ongoing iron deficiency.
Reference: Bergamaschi G et al. Intestinal absorption of iron in humans. Haematologica. 2010.
Imbalanced Gut Bacteria
Healthy gut bacteria create an optimal environment for nutrient absorption. Dysbiosis (imbalanced gut flora) can:
Produce toxins that inflame the gut lining
Lower stomach acid indirectly
Disrupt iron uptake mechanisms
For example, H. pylori infection (a bacteria affecting the stomach lining) lowers acid production and reduces iron absorption.
Reference: Beard JL et al. Iron requirements in adolescent females. J Nutr. 2000.
High Stress Levels
Stress puts your body into “fight or flight,” reducing blood flow to the gut and lowering digestive secretions, including stomach acid. Chronic stress also depletes minerals and increases inflammation, creating multiple barriers to iron absorption and energy production.
Women juggling family, work, and life demands often live in constant low-grade stress, affecting digestion and nutrient status daily.
Reference: Chrousos GP. Stress and disorders of the stress system. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2009.
Inadequate Co-Nutrients
Iron doesn’t work alone. Your body needs:
✔️ Vitamin C to convert iron into absorbable form
✔️ Copper & zinc for iron transport
✔️ B vitamins & protein to build haemoglobin effectively
If your diet is low in these, your body struggles to use iron efficiently, leading to persistent fatigue.
Reference: O'Connor E et al. Micronutrients in health and disease. Nutrients. 2020.
What About Iron Infusions?
Iron infusions are life-saving in severe deficiency or when absorption disorders are present. But if you need them regularly, it’s a sign there is an underlying issue – often poor digestion or gut inflammation – preventing you from maintaining healthy levels naturally.
Infusions top up your iron temporarily, but without addressing why your levels keep dropping, you stay stuck in a cycle of fatigue, deficiency, and ongoing medical intervention.
Reference: Tolkien Z et al. Ferrous sulfate supplementation causes significant gastrointestinal side-effects in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2015.
How Can You Improve Iron Absorption Naturally?
Here are practical tips to support your iron levels effectively:
Eat iron-rich foods with vitamin C
Combine red meat, lentils, pumpkin seeds, or leafy greens with capsicum, broccoli, or lemon juice.
Support stomach acid production
Try 1 tsp apple cider vinegar in water before meals, or digestive bitters, to stimulate acid. (Check with your practitioner if you have reflux or gastritis.)
Avoid tea or coffee with meals
These contain tannins and polyphenols that inhibit iron absorption. Wait at least an hour after eating.
Heal your gut
If you have bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, reflux, or food intolerances, addressing gut health is crucial for iron absorption.
Manage stress
Take a few deep belly breaths before eating, and eat in a calm, mindful environment to activate digestion.
Focus on co-nutrients
Include B vitamin-rich foods (eggs, meat, legumes), copper (nuts, seeds, organ meats), zinc (pumpkin seeds, oysters), and protein in every meal to support iron metabolism.
You Don’t Have to Stay Tired
I know how overwhelming it feels when your body seems to work against you. But from my own journey, and from working with many women, I know you can rebuild your energy naturally when you address the root causes.
If you’re tired of feeling tired and want to understand what’s blocking your iron and energy, I’m here to help. Together, we can build a plan that supports your digestion, gut health, and nutrient absorption so you feel strong and energised again.
Book Your Free Discovery Call
🌸 Ready to uncover why your iron is staying low?
Book your free 15-minute discovery call today and let’s start rebuilding your energy from within.
References
Martinsen TC et al. The role of pepsin and other proteolytic enzymes in gastric digestion. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2005.
Bergamaschi G et al. Intestinal absorption of iron in humans. Haematologica. 2010.
Beard JL et al. Iron requirements in adolescent females. J Nutr. 2000.
Chrousos GP. Stress and disorders of the stress system. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2009.
O'Connor E et al. Micronutrients in health and disease. Nutrients. 2020.
Tolkien Z et al. Ferrous sulfate supplementation causes significant gastrointestinal side-effects in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2015.