High iron levels are an under-recognized health threat, and there is a general lack of awareness in the medical community regarding the health risks associated with elevated iron levels . If you are concerned about memory loss or have a family history of Alzheimer’s disease, you should start considering iron levels, not only in your blood but also in your brain.
The study I shared demonstrates that excess iron in the brain doesn’t just sit there doing nothing. It triggers numerous oxidative stress reactions and cellular damage that accelerate cognitive decline. The first step should be to reduce the underlying cause, which is excessive iron accumulation coupled with poor antioxidant defenses. These are the strategies I recommend to take control of the iron oxidation cycle and give your brain the support it needs to stay alert, focused, and protected.
1. Analyze your ferritin and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) to assess iron load and oxidative stress: First, assess your ferritin level . Ferritin is the storage form of iron, and the ideal range is between 60 and 75 ng/mL. Elevated ferritin levels indicate that the body is retaining too much iron, which can leak into the brain and cause damage.
I also recommend ordering a GGT test. GGT is an important marker of oxidative stress and helps identify whether free iron is causing damage within the body. When both ferritin and GGT are elevated, it’s a sign that iron is causing damage.
2. Donate blood or request a phlebotomy if your iron level is too high: If your body retains more iron than it can safely handle, this increases your risk of heart disease, insulin resistance, and oxidative damage to your organs, including the brain. What is one of the most effective solutions?
Donate blood two to four times a year. Doing so removes stored iron and gradually lowers your iron levels. If donating isn’t an option due to your health history, request a therapeutic phlebotomy to achieve the same result.
3. Balance your copper intake to support healthy iron metabolism: Lowering your iron level is only part of the solution. If your copper level is low , which is common, your body can’t properly regulate iron. Copper and iron work together. Iron accumulates in places where it shouldn’t when there’s a copper deficiency. Consider taking a copper bisglycinate supplement with 3 to 4 milligrams daily if your intake is low.
You can also consider copper-rich foods such as bee pollen, beef liver from grass-fed animals, and acerola cherries (acerola cherries are very high in vitamin C, which contains the copper-rich enzyme tyrosinase). Consider retinol, as this nutrient, found in beef liver and organ meats, helps the body absorb and use copper effectively.
4. Get calcium from food to help keep iron under control: Adequate calcium intake naturally reduces the risk of iron overload. When calcium levels are low, the body produces more parathyroid hormone, which increases iron storage. This creates a feedback loop that worsens brain inflammation over time.
Focus on getting calcium from whole food sources, such as raw dairy products from grass-fed animals, egg yolks from free-range hens, and powdered eggshells . Avoid synthetic calcium supplements unless you need them, as they don’t provide the same cofactors for absorption.
5. Eliminate vegetable oils and consume more antioxidant-rich foods: Iron is very dangerous when it reacts with unstable fats, such as the polyunsaturated fats in vegetable oils . I recommend you stop using canola, soybean, corn, sunflower, safflower, and other vegetable oils. These oils break down in the body and promote oxidative stress.
Replace them with stable fats like ghee, coconut oil, tallow, and butter from grass-fed animals. Also, boost your antioxidant defenses by consuming garlic, onions, and free-range eggs. These foods provide your body with the building blocks to produce glutathione, your brain’s primary defense against iron-induced damage.
You can also add molecular hydrogen to your daily routine. Hydrogen activates the body’s healing system by activating glutathione, which is crucial when chronic illness and oxidative stress have deactivated these systems. Whether through hydrogen-rich water or tablets, this approach helps reactivate the brain’s defense systems.
When you reduce excess iron, you restore mineral balance, strengthen your antioxidant defenses, and protect your brain from the inside out. These strategies are simple, effective, and supported by clear biological mechanisms. First, experiment, modify your diet, and be consistent—your future brain will thank you.
