Why I Left the Root Cause Protocol and Thoughts on Iron Deficiency
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Dec 5, 2025 Explore the intriguing shift in views on iron overload and deficiency. The speaker shares personal blood donation experiences that shaped his understanding of iron's role in health. He discusses how vitamin C, L-lysine, and other supplements can influence iron absorption and ferritin levels. Misconceptions about hair loss linked to low ferritin levels are addressed, along with the impact of heavy metal toxicity on iron status. Insights into dietary recommendations and practical steps for improving iron levels round out this enlightening discussion.
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Blood Donation Changed His View On Iron
- Matt Blackburn donated blood twice and felt superhuman after the first donation but extremely fatigued after the second.
- He attributes the second reaction to being already in stage one or two iron deficiency before donating again.
Ferritin Reflects Iron Savings
- Serum ferritin is a reliable non-invasive marker of body iron stores according to iron experts like Robert Crichton.
- Iron deficiency progresses in three stages and can exist without anemia for a long time.
Hair Loss Signals Low Iron Stores
- Many women with hair loss have ferritin below 70 ng/mL, linking low iron to telogen effluvium.
- Hair follicles are oxygen‑dependent and sensitive to even early-stage iron deficiency.
