When we think about iron and health, most people assume any iron disorder is iron-deficient anemia, which causes fatigue. But too much iron is just as dangerous — and far more common than most doctors and patients realize.
For every person diagnosed with iron overload, eight to ten others go undiagnosed. They’re tired, they’re struggling with stubborn and mysterious health problems, and they’ve probably seen multiple doctors who can’t figure out what’s wrong.
Hereditary hemochromatosis (the genetic condition that causes iron overload) is the most common genetic disorder affecting people of European descent.
If you have red hair or Irish or Scottish ancestry, you’re at especially high risk, as more than 67 percent of people with Irish heritage carry at least one hemochromatosis gene.
Why Too Much Iron Is Dangerous
Your body has no natural way to eliminate excess iron, like it does with other nutrients. It accumulates in your organs, including the liver, heart, pancreas, and brain, causing damage over time.
When iron builds up, it creates oxidative stress that damages cells and tissues. This can lead to:
- Diabetes: About 50% of people with hemochromatosis develop type 1 or type 2 diabetes from iron damaging the pancreas
- Heart problems: Iron depletes CoQ10, a critical nutrient your heart needs to function properly
- Hormone issues: Men often develop low testosterone from iron accumulating in their testes
- Shortened lifespan: People with ferritin levels of 600 or higher have a median survival of just 55 years compared to 79 years for those with levels below 200
Could You Have Iron Overload?
Most people with iron overload don’t know they have it because the symptoms are vague and easily dismissed:
- Chronic fatigue that never improves
- Joint pain
- Brain fog
- Unexplained diabetes or blood sugar issues
- Low libido or hormone problems
- Liver problems
- Heart palpitations
The average person suffers for 9.5 years and sees more than three different doctors before getting diagnosed.
Surprising Things That Affect Your Iron Levels
The Carnivore Diet
Although the carnivore diet has helped many people reverse insulin resistance and other conditions, it is also a common cause of non-hereditary iron overload. The heme iron from red meat can rapidly increase your iron stores, especially if you have the genes for hemochromatosis.
Your Morning Coffee Is Actually Helping
Coffee reduces iron absorption by 39%, and tea by 64%. Green tea is especially effective at reducing iron absorption. If iron overload is a concern, drink your coffee or tea with meals or within an hour after eating for maximum iron-blocking effect. Drinking it an hour before meals won’t have much impact.
Well Water Warning
Many rural areas have naturally high iron content in groundwater, which can contribute to iron overload over time.
The Acid Blocker Trap
If you’ve been taking proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or other acid-reducing medications for years and then stop, your iron levels could spike dangerously. These medications mask iron overload by preventing proper absorption.
What About Iron Supplements?
Not everyone who’s anemic needs iron supplementation. You can actually be anemic and have too much iron at the same time, as your body hides iron during infection or inflammation, a condition known as anemia of inflammation.
Giving iron to someone with iron-loading anemia could be dangerous. This is why proper testing is so necessary before starting iron supplementation.
What You Should Do
If any of this sounds familiar, talk to your healthcare provider about comprehensive iron testing, including:
- Ferritin levels
- Iron saturation percentage
- Complete iron panel
- Genetic testing for hemochromatosis genes (especially if you have European ancestry)
For optimal longevity, ferritin should ideally be around 100 or below, not the 300 for men and 200 for women that many labs consider “acceptable.”
Addressing Iron Overload
The most effective treatment for iron overload is regularly removing blood through therapeutic phlebotomy (similar to donating blood). Each unit of blood removes about 200-250 mg of iron.
You can also modify your diet to reduce red meat, time your coffee and tea strategically, and take specific supplements like CoQ10 to protect against iron-induced damage.
The key is getting diagnosed before iron accumulation causes irreversible organ damage.
You can learn more about iron overload from Dr. Christy Sutton’s course or her book The Iron Curse.