If you’re a woman dealing with fatigue, hormone issues, or chronic symptoms, chances are you’ve been told you’re “anemic” and need more iron. But here’s the overlooked truth: low iron on bloodwork doesn’t always mean your body needs more iron.
In fact, iron overload—paired with copper deficiency—is one of the most common (and misunderstood) root causes of fatigue and chronic health struggles.
In our recent Cornerstone Integrative Healing Podcast episode with Morley Robbins, author of Cure Your Fatigue, we unpacked the surprising story of iron, copper, and why mineral balance is at the foundation of true healing.
The Problem with the Anemia Narrative
For decades, iron was pushed as the answer to tiredness. Starting in 1941, the U.S. and other countries began fortifying flour with iron filings, and supplements soon followed. Doctors still interpret low iron in bloodwork as a call to supplement—even though research shows iron often builds up in tissues, where it fuels inflammation and oxidative stress.
Why Copper Is Essential
Copper is what allows your body to actually use iron, activate oxygen, and make cellular energy. Without it, iron piles up in tissues instead of doing its job. That imbalance can show up as:
- Constant fatigue and burnout
- Hormone imbalance and menstrual issues
- Poor stress resilience
- Recurrent infections or weak immunity
Every part of iron metabolism depends on copper. Without it, your body simply can’t make energy the way God designed it to.
How Modern Life Strips Copper
Our ancestors ate organ meats, shellfish, leafy greens, and nuts—all rich in copper. Today’s processed foods, farming chemicals, and chronic stress have left most people deficient. Add in the overuse of iron, calcium, and vitamin D supplements, and mineral balance is even harder to maintain.
Your symptoms are signals—not failures.
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Signs You May Have Copper Dysregulation
- Persistent fatigue that iron doesn’t fix
- Anxiety, depression, or sleep issues
- Thyroid struggles or “mystery” hormone imbalances
- PMS, infertility, or irregular cycles
- Blood sugar crashes
- Frequent illness or poor immunity
If this sounds familiar, copper—not iron—may be the missing link.
Simple First Steps to Restore Balance
The good news? You don’t need perfect labs before taking action. Here are four practical steps from the Root Cause Protocol:
- Stop iron supplements unless you’ve had major blood loss.
- Limit excess calcium and vitamin D—they can worsen imbalance.
- Start with minerals. An adrenal cocktail (coconut water, sea salt, and citrus) is a simple daily support.
- Replenish magnesium. Oral or transdermal magnesium helps calm stress and restore balance.
From there, whole food vitamin C, copper-rich foods, and targeted support can help rebuild what’s been lost.
Hope for Your Healing Journey
It can feel overwhelming to realize how backwards conventional advice has been. But this isn’t about fear—it’s about hope. Your body was designed to heal when given the right foundation.
Mineral balance isn’t a quick fix, but it’s the key that allows your energy, hormones, and immune system to finally work the way they were created to.
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