Causes of low iron ?

what can cause low iron and folate levels other than diet?
My tests came back with very low iron and folate even though my diet hasnt changed(if anything I ve been eating better over last few months) even though a few months ago my tests came back normal, and a year ago, normal as well. Dr says she's suprised at how low they are, ive started to take supplements but feel I eat ok as it is?
Can they get that low in that short of time?

Have you heard of Iron Overload? Most conventional doctors do not check for it(there is a special equation to figure it out) or know much about it. Your test results can come back with low iron...even if you have too much iron in your body. I have just learned about it. Your body stores iron and these stores don't show up in tests. So often when people have tests that show low iron, they are treated with more iron. When really they could have too much and need to get rid of some. Not saying that is what is going on here...but I would research it on the internet. It could cause very serious illness. Check out www.ironoverload.org

folic acid is green vegetables, iron comes in blood- meat or preferably liver

why you're low? not enough information. could be pregnancy (assuming you're a girl, that is), or a bad diet, or excessive menstrual bleeding, or parasites, or an infection (quite a few people react with anemia even to a common cold)

You feel OK simply because your body has adapted to the low levels (BTW you don't say how low- if it's 10 gm of Hbg or 3)
sometimes the amount of food is not bad, but the combinations make absorbtion bad- eg iron containing food combined with milk (alkaline) means bad absorbtion.

what can I say? see a doctor.

are u anemic? heavy periods? dark circles under eyes??

eat more pulses, lentils, nuts, seeds, fish and a multivitamin and loads of water

Have you bought into the diet craze of no red meats? Did you cut chocolate completely out of your food plan? Have you cut fats out of your food plan?

These three items are more important than most dieticians will let you know. Red meat contains hemi iron which is the most readily absorbed iron in existance. Chocolate is loaded with iron. Fats aid and abet the absorbtion of iron. No amount of suppliments will help until you are eating a sufficient amount of natural (saturated) fats.

Eat everything advised on the food pyramid except the bottom tier! It is totally unnecessary and causes weight gain.

Contrary to popular belief, red meat is not the only source of iron. I eat no red meat at all and take no supplements and I have gotten my iron levels back to normal from severe anemia a couple of years ago. I was so bad that I had pica (paper-eating) and little webs growing in my throat too. The most important thing to remember about iron is that you need to have vitamin C when you eat an iron rich food to maximize absorption - orange juice can be your best friend here.

Here are some of the things I eat every day for iron and the percentage daily value they contain per serving:

Chocolate grahm crackers - 15%
Pumpkin Seeds - 15%
Special K Vanilla Almond Crunch - 45%
Silk Vanilla Fortified for Kids - 6% (also has 35% vitamin C)
Any enriched pasta - 10% or more
Dried Apricots - 10% (also 35% vitamin C)
Healthy Choice Country Vegetable (10%)

What you drink with your meals is very important too - like I said, include a vitamin C source such as juice or a piece of fruit. Also, do not consume any coffee, cola (non-caffeinated soda drinks like Sprite or 7 up are ok) or tea for one hour before and after eating because the tannins and caffeine will significantly block your absorption of iron. You may need the supplements for a few weeks until your levels get back to normal, but after that if you keep count of the iron amounts in your food then you should be ok. Remember that if you are a woman of childbearing age you will need about 120% of the RDA listed on packages.