All Things Iron: A Guide to the Most Common Nutritional Deficiency
Posted: February 16, 2026 | By: Shanon Peckham
Why You Need Iron
Iron, one of Dr. Wallach’s 90 essential nutrients, is a mineral your body needs for normal growth and development.1 It’s what makes your blood appear red, too! Hemoglobin – which your body makes with iron and turns red when reacting with oxygen – helps oxygenate your entire body, keeping your cells, tissues, and all your organs functioning optimally.2 Iron fuels this vital oxygenation process, keeping you feeling energized, strong, and ready to take on the day!
Likewise, if you don’t get enough iron, you may start to experience unpleasant side effects. There are all kinds of strange ways low iron can mess with your energy, mood, and overall health. Read on to learn more about who’s most at risk of deficiency, ways to increase your iron intake, and discover Youngevity’s latest innovation!
Who’s at Risk?
Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in the world. According to recent studies, as many as 1 in 4 Americans have inadequate iron intake or absorption issues, putting their health, longevity, and quality of life at risk.3 Iron deficiency anemia (low iron levels) primarily impacts women and young children, as much as 30% of women and 40% of children worldwide.4 Women are more likely to experience deficiency due to iron loss through menstruation (or the need for more iron during pregnancy), while children may not get enough from a poor diet. Low iron levels can also be exacerbated by lifestyle choices (like vegetarianism/veganism, frequent blood donation), certain medications (proton pump inhibitors), underlying health conditions (cancer, GI disorders, heart failure), and mental health issues (eating disorders, severe depression).1,3,4,5
Symptoms to Look Out For
In the short term, lower iron levels probably won’t impact you very much, but when the deficiency becomes chronic, you will definitely notice changes.1 Associated symptoms include everything from fatigue, stomach upset, and difficulty concentrating to dizziness, a weakened immune response, circulation/temperature regulation issues, heart disease, and pregnancy complications.1,3,4,5 Your tinnitus? Might be caused by an iron deficiency, too.6 In short, if you’re experiencing new symptoms, it’s important to take them seriously and get tested for deficiency – no matter how old you are.
Ways to Up Your Iron Intake
Maintaining consistent, balanced iron levels can help you feel more energized, healthy, and ready to take on your day.7 You can add more iron to your diet with fortified cereal, lean meat, seafood, poultry, white beans, lentils, spinach, tofu, kidney beans, peas, nuts, raisins, and other iron-rich foods.1,7 Most importantly, the experts say, pair your favorite high-iron staples with other foods that also naturally include vitamin C, which helps boost iron absorption. Try citrus fruits, broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, white potatoes, red peppers, strawberries, and tomatoes – which also provide a plethora of healthy nutrients like antioxidants and fiber.7 The experts also recommend eating foods that provide plenty of folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin A to combat deficiency, while carefully timing your intake of foods/medications that can hinder iron absorption (like calcium, proton pump inhibitors, etc).1,4,5
In addition to healthy eating, nutritional supplementation can also make it easy for us to both avert and help address iron deficiency (as well as vitamin deficiency). It’s a safe, convenient way for women, vegetarians, vegans, and those with chronic health conditions to boost their iron intake, too. Youngevity’s Ultimate Iron 26™ is formulated with key synergizing nutrients like iron, folic acid, vitamin C, and iron-rich Moringa leaf to help you support overall health, energy, and healthy iron levels – all in one convenient capsule!
Here are some additional products that pair well with Ultimate Iron 26™:
HOPE – Our HOPE system blends the benefits of top research-backed ingredients to help you address the key symptoms of menopause, promote a healthy gut and vaginal microbiome, and support longevity at the cellular level.
Healthy Body Start Pak™ 3.0 – Gives you Dr. Wallach’s 90 essential nutrients and 3.0’s targeted Time Duration Nutrition to support your health needs around the clock.
C-FX™ – Delivers 500 mg of Vitamin C per serving (plus Echinacea extract to help support a healthy immune system).
Beyond Osteo FX™ Powder – Supplies calcium, trace minerals, and other nutrients that can help you support strong bones and joints.
As always, we recommend checking in with your doctor before trying a new supplement for the first time, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication (some medications have interactions with iron supplements).
Sources
1 Iron Fact Sheet, National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements
2 What Color Is Your Blood?, Cleveland Clinic
4 Anaemia, World Health Organization
6 Iron deficiency anemia and the risk of new-onset tinnitus in female patients: a cohort study, 2025
7 What Iron Does for Your Body, Cleveland Clinic
Posted in:
