Iron bisglycinate is a specialized form of iron that’s easily absorbed without the typical negative gastrointestinal side effects that come with standard iron pills.
Forms of iron like ferrous gluconate and ferrous sulfate can often cause nausea, constipation, dark stools and even vomiting, because they’re poorly absorbed.
Iron is vital for red blood cell formation; low iron stores can lead to anemia, which is a shortage of red blood cells. Once a person becomes anemic, it can take at least 3 months to return to normal blood levels. Athletes, vegans/vegetarians, and women have a greater risk of becoming anemic than other people.
Staying up on your iron will prevent you from becoming anemic, and having to deal with all the negative symptoms that come with it!
Best Uses for Iron Bisglycinate
- Iron Deficiency anemia
- Symptoms of iron deficiency include weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue and others
- Iron bisglycinate is ideal for those who can’t tolerate standard iron pills
- Endurance athletes require more iron than non-athletes
- Women with extremely heavy menstruation
- Be sure to get a simple iron and ferritin test before supplementing
Here’s How Iron Bisglycinate Works
Iron bisglycinate contains 25mg elemental iron attached to a glycine molecule which greatly enhances its absorption. Because it’s more quickly absorbed, it doesn’t sit around in your gut causing all of those nasty GI side effects.
People who really need to take iron will be more likely to use this form since it has none of the typical iron side effects.
Inadequate iron leads to diminished production of red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen and the nutrients our cells need - without enough of them, our health suffers greatly. Fatigue, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, weakness, dizziness and overall reduced performance are hallmark symptoms of low iron.
It’s important to have your iron stores checked, at least 1 time a year and more often if you have a history of anemia, eat a vegetarian diet, or have heavy menstruation. Don’t let yourself slip into anemia - it will crush your performance and it takes months to recover!
