- Lucy Bassett
- Jun 30
- 3 min read
Tired of taking iron tablets with no real improvement? Learn why iron deficiency is often misunderstood, and how ancestral foods like liver can naturally reverse anaemia.
Are you tired, pale, dizzy or struggling with low energy — only to be told you’re anaemic and given iron tablets? You're not alone. But here's the truth: iron supplements are often a short-term fix that don't solve the real problem. In this post, you'll discover why iron deficiency anaemia is rarely just about iron, and how traditional foods like beef liver can naturally restore your energy and rebuild healthy blood — fast.
Why Iron Tablets Often Don’t Work
Most people are told they're anaemic based on a blood test, and immediately prescribed iron tablets. While this can help in the short term, it rarely addresses the underlying issue. Iron supplements can also cause side effects such as constipation, nausea, and gut irritation — and in many cases, the iron doesn’t even get absorbed.
We’re Not Short on Iron — We’re Missing the Cofactors
The body needs more than just iron to make healthy red blood cells. It also requires several key nutrients to absorb, transport, and utilise iron properly. These include:
Vitamin A
Vitamin B12
Folate
Copper
Vitamin C
A healthy gut lining
If you’re missing these, your body may not absorb the iron you're taking — no matter how much is in your supplement.
The Nobel Prize Discovery That Cured Anaemia Naturally
In the 1930s, three researchers — Dr. Minot, Dr. Murphy, and Dr. Whipple — cured a deadly form of anaemia using beef liver. Patients recovered in as little as 3 weeks. This earned them the 1934 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (as it’s officially known).
They weren’t using synthetic iron tablets — they were using real, nutrient-dense food.
Why Liver is Nature’s Multivitamin
Beef liver is one of the most powerful foods for building healthy blood. It contains:
Heme iron (the most absorbable kind)
Vitamin B12
Preformed vitamin A (retinol)
Copper
Folate
Choline
CoQ10
High-quality protein
Eating liver once or twice a week can often do more for anaemia than any supplement — and without the side effects.
Why This Information is Overlooked Today
Sadly, there’s little profit in recommending liver. Unlike tablets and fortified cereals, it can’t be patented. Modern medicine tends to favour synthetic solutions, but ancestral nutrition teaches us that the real cure often lies in our kitchens — not in our prescriptions.
How to Naturally Support Iron Levels and Reverse Anaemia
If you suspect iron deficiency or struggle with low energy, here are natural ways to support your body:
Eat organic or grass-fed liver 1–2 times a week
Add bone broth or meat stock to support gut healing
Include foods rich in copper (e.g. oysters, spirulina, or bee pollen)
Improve B12 and folate intake (egg yolks, fermented dairy, leafy greens)
Work with a nutritional therapist to assess root causes, not just symptoms
Final Thoughts
Anaemia is often a sign that your body isn’t being nourished deeply. Instead of masking symptoms with iron pills, consider whether your body is truly getting what it needs to absorb and use iron properly. With the right ancestral foods and a focus on healing the gut, lasting energy and vitality are possible.
Ready to support your health with real food?
If you’ve been struggling with low energy, poor iron levels, or a gut that just isn’t working as it should, don’t settle for a quick fix. It's time to nourish your body the way nature intended — with deeply healing, nutrient-dense foods.
If you’d like guidance on where to begin, or support tailored to your unique health picture, I’d love to help.
And if you’d like to receive more tips like this, ancestral wisdom, food-based remedies and practical support straight to your inbox, sign up to my newsletter here:
Let’s reconnect with the traditional foods that helped our ancestors thrive — and start your journey to long-term, root-cause healing.
Please share this post with someone who needs to hear this information