The Overlooked Connection Between Low Iron and Perimenopause Symptoms

So many women in their 40s come to me saying the same thing:

“I’m exhausted, but I don’t know why.”

This isn’t normal tiredness — it’s a full-body heaviness, like you’re moving through wet cement.
It affects your mood, your clarity, your motivation, and even your confidence.

And in many cases, the reason isn’t “just hormones.”
It’s low iron — specifically low ferritin, your body’s iron storage protein.

---

A Client Story: When “Normal” Labs Weren’t Enough

One of my clients — a long-time vegetarian — avoided soy because she’d heard it was harmful for hormones, and avoided iron supplements because she’d read they were inflammatory. So was getting very low levels of iron through her diet.

Meanwhile, she struggled with:

• Exhaustion
• Brain fog
• Low mood
• Irritability
• Feeling “heavy”
• Trouble concentrating

Her doctor told her she was “fine.”
But she didn’t feel fine.

When we ran a complete iron panel, her ferritin was in the single digits — critically low.

This made perfect sense:
When ferritin is low, your cells don’t get the oxygen they need to create energy.
Low oxygen → low energy → that heavy, foggy, depleted feeling.

---

Why Low Iron is Common in Perimenopause

Iron needs shift dramatically during perimenopause.
Cycles often become heavier or longer, leading to increased iron loss.

You’re at higher risk if you:

• Eat mostly plant-based
• Avoid red meat
• Have a sensitive digestive system
• Have a history of anemia
• Experience heavy periods

And because most doctors run only basic iron labs, ferritin deficiency often goes undetected.

---

Why You Should Never Supplement with Iron Without Testing

This part is crucial.

While low iron is common, iron supplementation is not something to take casually. Always speak with your practitioner first.

Iron is a storage mineral, which means:

• If you take too much, it can build up.
• Excess iron can increase inflammation.
• It can become harmful when levels rise too high.

This is why I always recommend:

1. A full iron panel before supplementing, including ferritin, transferrin saturation, and TIBC.
2. Speaking with your doctor about your results.
3. Supplementing only when levels are clinically low.

Symptoms should always guide testing — not guesswork.

---

Restoring Iron Safely and Effectively

In my client’s case, we used a food-first approach, then added a gentle, well-absorbed form of iron her doctor approved.

Within weeks, her energy lifted.
Her mood stabilized.
Her brain fog melted away.
The heaviness disappeared.

And she felt like herself again — maybe for the first time in years.

---

The CORE 1:1 Approach

Inside my CORE 1:1 program, we look at the full picture:

• Iron + Ferritin
• Thyroid health
• Blood sugar and insulin
• Cortisol rhythm
• Gut health and absorption
• Inflammation markers
• Menstrual patterns

Because symptoms like fatigue, irritability, and brain fog are never random.
They’re signals.

And once we understand what your body is trying to tell you, we can address the root cause and rebuild your energy from the ground up.

---

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been feeling unusually tired, foggy, or emotionally flat — it may not be “just perimenopause,” and it’s definitely not your imagination.

Low iron is common, treatable, and so often overlooked.

If you’d like to explore whether my CORE 1:1 Membership may be right for you, reach out — I’d love to support you in feeling vibrant and energized again.

---