Getting All Of It Our bodies become less efficient at absorbing nutrients as we age. So if you happen to be iron deficient (many are - especially women - and don't even know it), you may be pondering what to do after reading the e-Alert "Ironman…Ironmind" (5/27/08), in which HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., explained why using iron supplements is a bad idea. Step one: Increase your intake of iron-rich foods such as beef liver, chicken, fish, red meat, and pork. Step to Improve absorbency. Dr. Spreen and an HSI member explain how that might be easily done. If you've ever looked over the HSI Healthier Talk community forums (and I hope you have!), then you've probably read a number of postings by an HSI member named Florence who is quite knowledgeable about alternative healthcare. In response to "Ironman…Ironmind," Florence writes: "Jenny, one factor that many people don't take into consideration when it comes to iron and the other minerals our body needs is digestive enzymes. "I was iron deficient while pregnant with my son and had to take iron pills and then had to continue them afterwards - still with low iron measures. When my son was a few years old I went to a new Dr and he looked at my nails and said that he thought he knew what the problem was. He did a hair analysis and it showed a deficiency pattern in iron, calcium, zinc and I think chromium. I was taking all of these in supplements and had done for years! "As soon as I started on Betaine HCL my iron levels normalized and I could donate blood for the first time. Over the years my iron became low again and I knew it was time to up my dosage of Betaine HCL. It works every time! My iron is up and my fingernails grow nicely." Reading Florence's note, I recalled that in a previous e-Alert Dr. Spreen had recommended betaine HCl (betaine hydrochloride) to help improve calcium absorption. So I asked him for his take on Florence's e-mail. Dr. Spreen: "Betaine HCl is supremely underrated, and not just because of its effect on iron. It's needed for adequate break down and utilization of proteins (amino acids), which are applied to both structural, and enzymatic uses within the body. "Proper digestion is vital for absorption of most everything, and most people over 40 (maybe even 30, now that so many people eat sugared, processed, refined junk all the time) are low in both digestive enzymes, and concomitantly stomach acid, which is augmented by betaine hydrochloride (not anhydrous betaine, which is trimethylglycine or TMG, also wonderful stuff but not for digestion) along with pepsin. "VERY commonly people report faster digestion, as well as better nail growth and hair growth. "Yep, Florence is right on!" | 
