Canker sores 

Canker sores also called aphthous ulcers are signs that you are low in iron. We are more prone to infections and inflammation without iron and oral ulcers are a part of that process.

Mouth ulcers

Mouth cuts called angular cheilitis. These side slits aren’t only eczema. They are a sign of poor wound healing and potentially a poor immune system that can’t fight infections which are all caused by iron deficiency.

Joint pain

Joint pain and muscle fatigue. Gold isn’t the only metal good for joints. Iron is too. While it doesn’t cause arthritis, it does cause less oxygen to nourish joint tissues.

Conjunctival pallor

Lack of blood in the eyelid called conjunctival pallor. If you pull your eyelid down and it’s not a rich red colour from lid edge to eyeball, you may need iron.

Atrophic glossitis

A smooth sheeny shiny tongue called atrophic glossitis. Once you’re done pulling at your eyelids, you can stick out your tongue. Our tongue is made up of these little bumps called papillae. Papillae are made from myoglobin, a protein that is made with iron. When this happens, your tongue can feel like a burn and have mouth pain and tongue sensitivity.

Tachycardia

Heart palpitations and fast resting heart rate called tachycardia. When we are iron deficient our blood doesn’t carry as much oxygen. We try to make up for this by increasing your breathing rate to get more oxygen into your body, and by increasing our heart rate to help move the oxygen around.

Hair loss

Alopecia or hair loss. One of the first signs our body is in iron distress is to shed our hair likely because it’s a non-crucial part of our body.

Koilonychia

Spoon nails called koilonychia. These are nails that are dipped in the middle and raised at the edges to give a rounded appearance like a spoon.

Headaches

Headaches and dizziness are signs of not enough oxygen to the brain. Iron deficiency can be a cause.

Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a disruptive need to move the legs when resting and only improves when you move them. A more permanent solution is correcting iron deficiency that causes RLS. When you don’t have iron in the central nervous system, nerves start to react. You can have what look like normal levels of ferritin, but still have deficient iron in the central nervous system.