Donating blood is really a great option. I have a high but normal iron level. 17.3 dl/L or something like that. Still within the normal, healthy range, but on the far end of it. This might have to do with my diet, my exercise routine, and being Irish. I also have Type O negative blood so I am the universal donor. The Red Cross has a machine that will allow you to donate two units of red blood cells at once while pumping the rest of your plasma and what not back into you. It's kinda trippy, you get the tingles on your lips and forehead when it comes back in because your plasma has cooled to room temperature so I assume it's the muscles shivering.

If you have high iron and you donate blood, your body will put the extra iron you are ingesting to work by creating new RBCs so while I'm not a doctor, I don't believe the iron would build up if your body is constantly needing to reproduce RBCs. I personally believe that it improves my fitness because my body is forced to function under high levels with less RBC and it becomes more efficient. My VO2Max levels are pretty good when I am at full blood capacity.

And lastly, and most importantly, you are doing the community a quality service by donating blood. By doing the Double Red donation, you can only do it three times a year. The Red Cross wins because they get 6 units of blood instead of 5 and you win because you only have to go 3 times a year. And if your iron count is high, the units come out quickly and you don't have to sit at the cantina afterwards, it takes an extra 15 minutes total, if that. And the Red Cross is in desperate need for blood. How would you feel if a loved one died in a car accident and you didn't donate when you could have? Taking a pill to pass iron through your system seems like a waste of a gift. If you have high iron, please donate and help save a life or two.

I read that in the US 20% of women of child-bearing age are anemic, usually because of heavy periods. If you fall into that category I think you should have your ferritin level checked. Mine was 5 (i've heard you start to feel better when it is around 70). 9 months of eating paleo with more red meat did not budge my ferritin level. I'm on iron supplements now.

i've read one theory stating that since hunter-gatherer women had their onset of menstruation later, followed by cycles of getting pregnant (no period) and breast-feeding for years (no period), they did not have problems with anemia related to blood-loss through menstruation. anyone with anymore info on this?

My father had hemochromatosis and gave blood every month to treat it. Since it was genetic in his case, and could have been passed to me, I told my doctor. She then ordered a simple blood test to check the iron level. Had the test results been high she would then have ordered the more expensive genetic test. If anyone is concerned about their iron level it might be worth having it checked, if for no other reason than peace of mind.

There is a product called inositol hexaphosphate (aka IP6) that acts as an iron chelator. You take it for about a month, on empty stomach and between doses of any other supps as it'll also clear out a number of vitamins. I am having blood work done soon and will have my iron checked as 1) I'm a guy and 2) do not give blood.

There has been a post already covering this in the archives here including a very interesting conversation about the build up of iron in the body and giving blood on a regular basis, you may like to look at it. The conclusions were that, yes, build up of iron can happen with serious consequences, however the body has automatic processes in place to regulate iron levels naturally.

I think eating lots of iron rich foods is generally better than not eating them - seems like striking a happy balance between the two extremes would be the solution.......

If you're worried about your iron levels and don't want to reduce meat, you can always take an Apolactoferrin supplement witch is available online at places like vitacost.com

Lactoferrin is a naturally occurring compound that strongly binds to iron. It has antimicrobial activity and is present heavily in breast milk.

Its main function is binding and transport of iron ions so it is said that most people experiencing iron overload don't really have too much iron, but have too low lactoferrin so it stays in the blood instead of being transported to the cells.

I recommended apolactoferrin instead of lactoferrin mainly because the apolactoferrin has been deprived from iron so it will bind even more iron than regular lactoferrin witch comes attached with iron.

Hope this helps.

I would get your iron levels checked. It's the only way to know. I'm Celtic and recently had bloodwork done and my levels are normal...though as a woman I well...naturally give blood every month.

I know people who have had abnormally high levels- I guess they are genetically adapted for agriculture. Giving blood is a possible solution in that case, as is restricting meat.

I'm interested in thoughts on this, too. The reason it worried me is because I have multiple sclerosis, and I've been reading some new research that shows MS is linked to a venous disorder called CCSVI, where there is narrowing of the veins of the head and neck and therefore excess iron gets deposited in the brain causing neurological symptoms. For now, I'm not tooo worried, because it seems to be more prevalent in people with more severe MS, and my case is pretty much benign. But I'd still like to know more about this subject to hopefully put my mind at ease!