Think of iron like a courier, and oxygen like the packages we order online. The courier picks up packages from a distribution centre, loads it onto trucks, and transports it to our homes. If there are not enough couriers working to keep up with the demand for deliveries, we do not receive our packages on time.
In the same way, iron picks up oxygen from the lungs, loads it onto red blood cells, and transports it to every cell in the body. Once our cells receive oxygen, they use it to make the fuel that allows our bodies to function. If we do not have enough iron to carry oxygen to our cells, we are not able to make energy, and we feel tired.
Low iron can cause more than just fatigue. When our cells are deprived of oxygen, every action in the body is affected, from our brain to our toes. This is why low iron can cause wounds to heal slowly, muscle weakness, difficulty with concentration and memory, depression, headaches, hair loss, and weaken our immune system1. Iron deficiency also results in poor cognitive development, behavioural concerns, and ADHD in children2.
The best way to understand your iron status is by having a blood test to measure something called ferritin, which is our iron storage. The tricky part about this test is that in Canada, “normal” ferritin in adults is defined as falling within the range of 5-272 ug/L. Since this is a wide range, you can imagine that someone with a ferritin of 7 ug/L would feel very different from someone with a ferritin level of 200 ug/L.
In fact, research shows that iron supplementation can be beneficial for people experiencing fatigue, even in cases where ferritin is not low enough to cause anemia3. Dr. Hilary suggests aiming for a ferritin of 70-100 ug/L so that the body has enough iron to function in an optimal way.
Some groups of people are likely to have low iron, including:
- Vegans and vegetarians1
- Women with heavy periods4
- During pregnancy and breastfeeding1
- People lacking a nutrient-rich diet1
- Children with behavioural concerns or ADHD2
- People experiencing fatigue, depression, or brain fog3
- People taking acid blocking medications for heartburn1
- People with digestive conditions such as Celiac disease, colitis, Crohn’s disease, and SIBO5
Floradix is a liquid iron supplement that promotes the formation of healthy red blood cells. The iron is in form called ferrous gluconate, which is effectively absorbed and gentle on our digestion.
Floradix provides vitamins B1, B2, B6 and B12. These vitamins work synergistically with iron to promote the formation of healthy red blood cells. In addition, B vitamins are essential for the conversion of oxygen into energy once it has been delivered to our cells.
Floradix contains a combination of nutrient-rich vegetables, fruits and herbs that have been carefully selected to improve the digestion and absorption of iron. It is free from alcohol, lactose, and artificial additives, and is vegetarian-friendly.
Elemental Iron II (Ferrous gluconate) 10mg
- Easily absorbed and vegan-friendly form of iron6.
- Gentle on the digestive system, and non-constipating.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine hydrochloride) 2.5mg
- Essential for the conversion of food and oxygen into energy7.
- Individuals who have difficulty absorbing iron or who have a diet low in iron are often also low in B vitamins.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium) 4mg
- Required to activate vitamin B6 and folic acid7.
- Essential for the conversion of food and oxygen into energy.
- Individuals who have difficulty absorbing iron or who have a diet low in iron are often also low in B vitamins.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine hydrochloride) 2 mg
- Required for the production of haemoglobin in the red blood cells7.
- Essential for the conversion of food and oxygen into energy.
- Individuals who have difficulty absorbing iron or who have a diet low in iron are often also low in B vitamins.
Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) 7.5 mcg
- Required for the production of red blood cells. Low vitamin B12 can result in anemia7.
- Essential for the conversion of food and oxygen into energy.
- Individuals who have difficulty absorbing iron or who have a diet low in iron are often also low in B vitamins.
Each 10 ml Contains
Elemental Iron II (Ferrous gluconate) 10mg
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine hydrochloride) 2.5mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium) 4mg
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine hydrochloride) 2mg
Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) 7.5 mcg
Non-Medicinal Ingredients: Aqueous extracts of carrot, stinging nettle, spinach, couch grass, bitter fennel, kelp, hibiscus; juice concentrates of pear. black grape, black currant, orange, blackberry, cherry, and red beetroot; in a base of honey, extracts of rosehip, wheat germ, nutritional yeast, natural orange flavour, purified water, and ascorbic acid (antioxidant).
Vegetarian | Dairy Free | Kosher
Adults & adolescents 14+: 10ml twice daily before meals
Children 10-14yrs: 10ml once daily before a meal
Children 5-9yrs: 5ml once daily before a meal
Children 2-4yrs: 4ml once daily before a meal
Do not use if you are allergic to anethole or plants of the Apiaceae/Carrot family, or if you are sensitive to Matricaria or plants of the Compositae family. Taking a daily multivitamin mineral supplement along with this product may result in constipation, diarrhea, or vomiting due to the high intake of iron.
Keep out of reach of children.
Dr. Hilary’s Lifestyle Changes To Support Healthy Iron Levels
- Focus on iron-rich foods, including meat, fish, dark leafy greens, brown rice, beans, nuts and seeds and iron-fortified grains.
- Avoid consuming foods that block iron absorption within two hours of an iron supplement or eating iron-rich foods1. These include black tea, coffee, cocoa, and calcium-rich foods such as dairy, almonds, and broccoli.
- Increase foods that boost iron absorption1, including foods high in vitamin C and beta carotene. These vitamins are found in yellow, orange and red fruits and vegetables, such as grapefruit, oranges, bell peppers, beets, carrots, squash, and tomatoes.
- Talk to your doctor if you are taking acid blocking medications (proton pump inhibitors, antacids), as they impair iron absorption.
- Heal the gut lining to improve absorption of iron in the small intestine.
- Blood work should be done in each trimester, as well as six to eight weeks postpartum to test your ferritin level. Aim for an optimal ferritin level of 70-100 ug/L.
- National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary supplement fact sheet: iron. 24 August 2007. Accessed 25 January 2021.
- Health Canada. Prenatal nutrition guidelines for health professionals – Iron contributes to a healthy pregnancy. 2009. Accessed 26 January 2021.
- Mei Z, Cogswell ME, Looker AC et al. Assessment of iron status in US pregnant women from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999-2006. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Jun;93(6):1312-20.
- World Health Organization. Iron Deficiency Anaemia: Assessment, Prevention, and Control. World Health Organization, 2001.
- Scholl TO. Maternal iron status Nutr Rev. 2011;69 Suppl 1.
- Cogswell ME, Parvanta I, Ickes L et al. Iron supplementation during pregnancy, anemia, and birth weight: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr.2003;78:773-81.
- Rusia U. Mother’s iron status, breastmilk iron and lactoferrin-are they related? Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006 Jul;60(7):903–8.
- Rioux FM, Savoie N, Allard J. Is there a link between postpartum anemia and discontinuation of breastfeeding? Can J Diet Pract Res. 2006 Jan;67(2):72–6.
- Konofal E, Lecendreux M, Arnulf I, Mouren M. Iron Deficiency in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med.2004;158(12):1113–1115.
- Houston BL, Hurrie D, Graham J, et al. Efficacy of iron supplementation on fatigue and physical capacity in non-anaemic iron-deficient adults: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. BMJ Open. 2018;8(4):e019240.
- Briase H, Hallberg L. Absorbability of different iron compounds. Acta Med Scand Suppl. 1962;376:23-37.
- Kennedy DO. B Vitamins and the Brain: Mechanisms, Dose and Efficacy--A Review. Nutrients. 2016;8(2):68.
SYMPTOMS
Some groups of people are more likely to benefit from Floradix:
- Women with heavy periods
- Vegans and vegetarians
- During pregnancy and breastfeeding
- People lacking a nutrient-rich diet
- Children with behavioural concerns or ADHD
- People experiencing fatigue, depression, or brain fog
- People taking acid blocking medications for heartburn
- People with digestive conditions such as Celiac disease, colitis, Crohn’s disease, and SIBO
Iron picks up oxygen from the lungs, loads it onto red blood cells, and transports it to every cell in the body. Once our cells receive oxygen, they use it to make the fuel that allows our bodies to function. If we do not have enough iron to carry oxygen to our cells, we are not able to make energy, and we feel tired.
Low iron can cause:
- Fatigue
- Wounds to heal slowly
- Muscle weakness
- Difficulty with concentration and memory
- Depression
- Headaches
- Hair loss
- Weaken our immune system
Iron deficiency also results in poor cognitive development, behavioural concerns, and ADHD in children.
SOLUTION
It is important to have our iron tested regularly so that we can adjust our diet and supplements to achieve and maintain healthy levels.
Floradix provides:
- Easily absorbed, gentle combination of iron
- B vitamins
- Nutrient-rich food extracts to enhance the absorption, digestion, and effects of iron in the body
- Gentle, won’t cause stomach upset
Floradix provides a well-rounded solution for optimizing iron levels to improve energy and overall health.
GLUTEN FREE
VEGAN
NON GMO
CANADIAN
Dr. Hilary’s Lifestyle Tips
Focus on iron-rich foods, including meat, fish, dark leafy greens, brown rice, beans, nuts and seeds and iron-fortified grains.
Avoid consuming foods that block iron absorption within two hours of an iron supplement or eating iron-rich foods 1. These include black tea, coffee, cocoa, and calcium-rich foods such as dairy, almonds, and broccoli.
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