COPPER ANEMIA
A very common type of anemia that is not well understood by doctors is due to copper imbalance. It is usually mild, and on tests it looks exactly like iron deficiency anemia. Doctors give iron for it. However, taking iron does not correct it completely.
It is much more common in women, and not because of blood loss due to menstruation. Women have more copper imbalance than men. To correct it, one must correct the copper imbalance. This requires a nutritional balancing program, in most cases.
It is much more common in women, and not because of blood loss due to menstruation. Women have more copper imbalance than men. To correct it, one must correct the copper imbalance. This requires a nutritional balancing program, in most cases.
COMMON CAUSES OF ANEMIA
Copper imbalance. Anemia due to a copper imbalance is the most common type of anemia in the industrialized world due to widespread copper imbalance in the population. Many, if not most apparent iron deficiency anemias are caused by copper imbalance.
These cases do not respond well to iron therapy. Taking an iron supplement when copper imbalance is present often just poisons the body with iron! Instead, these individuals require a development program to correct the copper imbalance.
Biologically available copper is required for the conversion of iron from the ferric to the ferrous form, and back again, to produce hemoglobin. Bioavailable copper is also required to incorporate iron into the hemoglobin molecule.
Signs and symptoms are those of a mild, chronic, microcytic, microchromic anemia. It is most common in teenage and adult women, although it can occur in anyone.
While anemia due to copper imbalance appears identical on blood tests to iron deficiency anemia, the cause and correction is very different. A hair mineral analysis can help distinguish the two types.
Taking iron is not helpful, and, in fact, taking iron supplements is very harmful when it is not needed. I take a lot of young women, in particular, off iron supplements when their anemia is due to copper imbalance, and they recover fully.
IRON DEFICIENCY
Adequate iron is needed in everyone as it is the central atom of the hemoglobin molecule. Iron deficiency is most common in poor nations where people do not eat meat and eggs. It also occurs in some cases of pregnancy, and in young women who have very heavy menstrual periods.
It can also occur in some vegetarians who do not eat meat or eggs. Finally, it can occur due to hidden bleeding somewhere in the body. For example, bleeding could be due to an ulcer, a cancer or to an accident or injury.
Iron deficiency produces a microcytic, microchromic anemia, meaning that the red blood cells are too small, and they are not very red when viewed under a microscope. This is a hallmark of this type of anemia.
Simple iron deficiency anemia is not that common in the industrialized world, and is easy to take care of by adding more meat and eggs to the diet, in most cases. One can also take an iron supplement, although most regular iron supplements are hard on the intestines and often cause constipation. Chelated iron or liver tablets are much better, if these are needed.
WARNING: Beware, however, of three critical facts about iron deficiency anemia today.
A. In my experience, simple iron deficiency anemia is not that common in the industrialized nations, except during pregnancy, among some vegetarians and in a few young women with extremely heavy menstrual periods.
B.Copper anemia exactly mimics iron deficiency anemia, and is far more common. It causes a microcytic, microchromic anemia exactly like iron deficiency, can cause low ferritin, and it is extremely common. Doctors often give women iron for this condition, which only makes the women more ill! It is discussed below.
C. Iron is very toxic when in excess. Therefore, beware of taking iron or eating loads of meat every day. In fact, iron overload is extremely common, as revealed on hair mineral tests and medical articles. Our bodies have trouble removing iron, so iron easily can build up in the body, where it causes or contributes to all the major diseases of our time. These include arthritis, inflammation, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. For more on this, read Chronic Acquired Iron Toxicity on this website.
B-12 DEFICIENCY, ALSO CALLED PERNICIOUS ANEMIA
This is a less common anemia that occurs mainly in older people, in some vegetarians, and in some people who low levels of hydrochloric acid in the stomach or low digestive enzymes, in general.
Most people lose some ability to absorb vitamin B12 from their food as they age. This is a serious problem for many over the age of 60 or perhaps younger, especially if the digestive tract is in poor condition or if one is under a lot of stress. Vitamin B12 is found mainly in animal foods, so vegetarians, especially vegans, are much more prone to this serious condition.
Vitamin B12 deficiency causes a macrocytic or so-called pernicious anemia. It can cause permanent brain damage with symptoms of confusion, memory loss, dementia and even death. It is often missed by doctors in its early stages.
A mild B12 anemia may also occur in vegetarians, or others who do not eat much meat or eggs. The cost of supplementary vitamin B12 is so low that this simple problem ought to receive more attention by the medical community. It is also a reason why everyone needs a digestive aid, especially older people.
LEAD AND OTHER TOXIC METALS
Lead poisoning is well known for causing a type of anemia that can be fatal. Hidden lead toxicity may be responsible for anemias of chronic disease. This is seen commonly with cancer and other degenerative diseases.
Elevated lead is often not revealed on any tests until it is eliminated from the body using a nutritional balancing program or some other method. Lead is often hidden because it is deposited deep within bone marrow and other inaccessible areas of the body.
One or more years may be required to mobilize hidden lead with nutritional balancing science. Chelation therapy with EDTA and other drugs only removes more superficial lead deposits, in general, and unfortunately also removes essential minerals such as calcium and zinc. Therefore, we never recommend chelation and we don’t require it to remove lead and all the toxic metals.
OTHER TOXINS
A good example is the anemia that usually accompanies cancer. This is caused by a toxin secreted by the cancer cells that poisons the bone marrow.
Heavy menstrual periods, especially if combined with a diet low in iron. This is a problem for some women.
Vegetarian diets also lead to heavy menstrual periods. Eating animal products can solve this problem.
There are many unusual types of blood disorders, most of which are uncommon. They may affect the red blood cells, white cells, the platelets or other blood components.
In my limited experience with these conditions, improving the nutritional balance and removing toxic metals and toxic chemicals from the body in the systematic fashion that is possible with nutritional balancing science can have a beneficial effect in these cases.
Each case is different, however, so one cannot generalize more than to suggest that this method be tried first, as it is simple and non-invasive.
Copper imbalance. Anemia due to a copper imbalance is the most common type of anemia in the industrialized world due to widespread copper imbalance in the population. Many, if not most apparent iron deficiency anemias are caused by copper imbalance.
These cases do not respond well to iron therapy. Taking an iron supplement when copper imbalance is present often just poisons the body with iron! Instead, these individuals require a development program to correct the copper imbalance.
Biologically available copper is required for the conversion of iron from the ferric to the ferrous form, and back again, to produce hemoglobin. Bioavailable copper is also required to incorporate iron into the hemoglobin molecule.
Signs and symptoms are those of a mild, chronic, microcytic, microchromic anemia. It is most common in teenage and adult women, although it can occur in anyone.
While anemia due to copper imbalance appears identical on blood tests to iron deficiency anemia, the cause and correction is very different. A hair mineral analysis can help distinguish the two types.
Taking iron is not helpful, and, in fact, taking iron supplements is very harmful when it is not needed. I take a lot of young women, in particular, off iron supplements when their anemia is due to copper imbalance, and they recover fully.
IRON DEFICIENCY
Adequate iron is needed in everyone as it is the central atom of the hemoglobin molecule. Iron deficiency is most common in poor nations where people do not eat meat and eggs. It also occurs in some cases of pregnancy, and in young women who have very heavy menstrual periods.
It can also occur in some vegetarians who do not eat meat or eggs. Finally, it can occur due to hidden bleeding somewhere in the body. For example, bleeding could be due to an ulcer, a cancer or to an accident or injury.
Iron deficiency produces a microcytic, microchromic anemia, meaning that the red blood cells are too small, and they are not very red when viewed under a microscope. This is a hallmark of this type of anemia.
Simple iron deficiency anemia is not that common in the industrialized world, and is easy to take care of by adding more meat and eggs to the diet, in most cases. One can also take an iron supplement, although most regular iron supplements are hard on the intestines and often cause constipation. Chelated iron or liver tablets are much better, if these are needed.
WARNING: Beware, however, of three critical facts about iron deficiency anemia today.
A. In my experience, simple iron deficiency anemia is not that common in the industrialized nations, except during pregnancy, among some vegetarians and in a few young women with extremely heavy menstrual periods.
B.Copper anemia exactly mimics iron deficiency anemia, and is far more common. It causes a microcytic, microchromic anemia exactly like iron deficiency, can cause low ferritin, and it is extremely common. Doctors often give women iron for this condition, which only makes the women more ill! It is discussed below.
C. Iron is very toxic when in excess. Therefore, beware of taking iron or eating loads of meat every day. In fact, iron overload is extremely common, as revealed on hair mineral tests and medical articles. Our bodies have trouble removing iron, so iron easily can build up in the body, where it causes or contributes to all the major diseases of our time. These include arthritis, inflammation, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. For more on this, read Chronic Acquired Iron Toxicity on this website.
B-12 DEFICIENCY, ALSO CALLED PERNICIOUS ANEMIA
This is a less common anemia that occurs mainly in older people, in some vegetarians, and in some people who low levels of hydrochloric acid in the stomach or low digestive enzymes, in general.
Most people lose some ability to absorb vitamin B12 from their food as they age. This is a serious problem for many over the age of 60 or perhaps younger, especially if the digestive tract is in poor condition or if one is under a lot of stress. Vitamin B12 is found mainly in animal foods, so vegetarians, especially vegans, are much more prone to this serious condition.
Vitamin B12 deficiency causes a macrocytic or so-called pernicious anemia. It can cause permanent brain damage with symptoms of confusion, memory loss, dementia and even death. It is often missed by doctors in its early stages.
A mild B12 anemia may also occur in vegetarians, or others who do not eat much meat or eggs. The cost of supplementary vitamin B12 is so low that this simple problem ought to receive more attention by the medical community. It is also a reason why everyone needs a digestive aid, especially older people.
LEAD AND OTHER TOXIC METALS
Lead poisoning is well known for causing a type of anemia that can be fatal. Hidden lead toxicity may be responsible for anemias of chronic disease. This is seen commonly with cancer and other degenerative diseases.
Elevated lead is often not revealed on any tests until it is eliminated from the body using a nutritional balancing program or some other method. Lead is often hidden because it is deposited deep within bone marrow and other inaccessible areas of the body.
One or more years may be required to mobilize hidden lead with nutritional balancing science. Chelation therapy with EDTA and other drugs only removes more superficial lead deposits, in general, and unfortunately also removes essential minerals such as calcium and zinc. Therefore, we never recommend chelation and we don’t require it to remove lead and all the toxic metals.
OTHER TOXINS
A good example is the anemia that usually accompanies cancer. This is caused by a toxin secreted by the cancer cells that poisons the bone marrow.
Heavy menstrual periods, especially if combined with a diet low in iron. This is a problem for some women.
Vegetarian diets also lead to heavy menstrual periods. Eating animal products can solve this problem.
There are many unusual types of blood disorders, most of which are uncommon. They may affect the red blood cells, white cells, the platelets or other blood components.
In my limited experience with these conditions, improving the nutritional balance and removing toxic metals and toxic chemicals from the body in the systematic fashion that is possible with nutritional balancing science can have a beneficial effect in these cases.
Each case is different, however, so one cannot generalize more than to suggest that this method be tried first, as it is simple and non-invasive.
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