Why no iron??

[Keryn]

I read in Dr. Atkins book, regarding vitamins, not to take iron. I need to take an iron supplement because I have been low for a long time.

What is the reason Dr. Atkins suggests no iron supplement?

[imdon]

I found this post from Shawnee in 2003.

Don't routinely take an iron supplement or vitamins with iron unless your physician finds you to be iron deficient. Iron can accumulate in the body and raise your risk of disease. Besides the toxicity of too much iron, there is also the fact that it's constipating

The fact is Iron, once it is consumed, has no way out of your body. Most of it is recycled, not excreted or otherwise consumed. Except during growth stages, menstruation, or another cause of blood loss and only a minute amount at that.

Here I quote Dr Akins himself:
You may remember from chemistry class that Iron coverts readily between ferrous (two electrons) and ferric (three electrons) forms. THis makes it a player in oxidation-reduction reactions, useful in transmitting oxygen via our red blood cell, but also capable of acting like a free radical and oxidizing tissues, thereby damaging them.

This mean that any iron not affixed to the hemolobin in your blood or to other proteins simple roams around the body as unbound "free iron" and iis vulnerable to the rust like process of free radical oxidation.
Research has been done that suggests that LDL Chloresterol becomes an artery blocking danger only when it oxidizes and that men with high concentrations of iron (or copper) in thier bodies are at a particularly high risk.
That is why women have less of a chance of heart disease, because menstruation ensures that excess iron is excreted, not left to become an oxidizig menace.

The idea of "no Iron on Atkins" comes from the fact that Meat, and green leafy vegetables are major sources of Iron. and the recommended daily allowance is 10 to 15 mg a day. The recommended daily allowance is easily achieved during the Atkins approach. But by including Iron in your suppementation, you may be at risk for heart problems and damge to the stomach lining or liver damage due to excessive intake.

Hope that answers your question

Here is the link to Shawnee's original post:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...iron-iron.html (Iron...Iron...Iron)

[liv]

I need to take iron too. And I do it. I think if you have had it checked and need it, take it. Otherwise you are fine.

[Keryn]

Thanks Imdon and Liv, that really helped me settle down with what I a eating. I'm at the doctor next week, and will have my iron checked again. I certainly don't want to over due the iron and defeat the reasons why I want to be healthy!