Low Ferritin
By Scott Webb
()
About this ebook
Why are young runners prone to low iron stores today? More than half are testing low in ferritin. What is it about? To medical professionals, it's often an indicator for iron supplementation. How does the human body utilize iron and what depletes it? Coaches most likely understand half of this equation. Why do iron supplements work for some runners and not for others? This has been a mystery until now.
Are there broad factors affecting millions of young adults who are not somehow properly assimilating iron nor other valuable minerals from their diets? Scott Webb says yes -- this is cultural in nature, only recently highlighted by young athletes.
This book assesses the current paradigm that something has gone wrong with the individual athlete, while ignoring the epidemic aspects of this condition. Are young adults really plagued by a "medical problem" or is there some aspect of current culture, in general, which has recently changed? Why is low ferritin suddenly affecting an entire generation of otherwise healthy kids?
While filming the 2013 Brentwood High (Tennessee) Cross Country team's season, Scott Webb learned that some runners on the team were challenged by low iron stores as indicated by low ferritin test results. In reading through the current discussions on the topic, he was shocked to discover almost no mention of "impairments" to iron assimilation in the running media. He made suggestions for the Brentwood team based on his own understanding of digestion, assimilation, and elimination with noteworthy success.
Now he has compiled his perspective for runners, coaches, and parents to better understand the critical variables at play. Scott Webb identifies "low ferritin" as one falling Domino in a line of other previous internal failures in the connections between the small intestine, the liver, the thyroid, and their interactions with the microflora, which have been responsible for the success and survival of humans for thousands of years without issue.
But something has changed within recent years which is impairing humanity's vitality as a whole. What is it? Read this book and learn all about it. To some it might be fiction. To others, it could provide a huge leap forward. By understanding our past and by taking a simple stroll through the micro-processes occurring within the human body, this may provide the key to unlocking the mystery of widespread low ferritin in student runners -- and others.
It will merely require an open mind and about one hour of your time to get it done.
Scott Webb
Scott W. Webb graduated from Wheaton College, Chicago, 1981 with a degree in philosophy. He is the father of two grown children, Art and Maddie, and grandfather to two, Kaden and Hannah. He worked for the Anchorage Daily News in Alaska for seven years before moving to Nashville, Tennessee in 1990 after his wife signed a developing artist deal with Star Song Communications and then with Curb Music. In 2000, he became interested in "health and wellness" and opened a private colon hydrotherapy office in 2001, where he is in his 14th year. In 2006, he wrote the book, "Inside Poop," about his experiences and learnings as a colon hygienist, which has a five star rating on Amazon. He has authored other books on a wide variety of topics and been published in ACRES USA and Massage magazine. His other interests include history, gardening, raising chickens, and a wide range of home fermentation projects.
Read more from Scott Webb
Jesus The Vampire Slayer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Magic Of Glinda Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTrump Versus Glinda Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Conspiracy Theory Diet Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOccupy Le Baño Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Low Ferritin
Related ebooks
Wholey Cow It Works!: A Holistic Guide To Eating And Recovery From Iron Deficiency Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Thyroid Debacle Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Thriving with Hypothyroidism: The Holistic Guide to Losing Weight, Keeping It Off, and Living a Vibrant Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Energy Effect: How to Create more Energy in your Life – You only have 4000 weeks! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I Just Want to Function!: Functional Medicine: The Basics of Feeling Better Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBody on Fire Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Unexpected: Finding Resilience through Functional Medicine, Science, and Faith Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBefore The Change: Taking Charge of Your Premenopause Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Living Well with Hypothyroidism, Revised Edition: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...that Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My Unremarkable Brain: A Fat-Fueled Adventure into the World of Epilepsy and the Ketogenic Diet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Curing my Incurable Eczema: My Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW) Journey Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLeaky Brain Diet: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Leaky Brain Symptoms Through Diet With Recipes and Meal Plan Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIrritable Bowel Syndrome: Heal Your Gut Naturally in 90 Days! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIt’s Not Your Fault It’s Your Hormones: Amazing New Diet Program for Women Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummary of Judson Somerville's The Optimal Dose Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Chronic Cough Enigma: How to recognize Neurogenic and Reflux Related Cough Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Link between Nutrition, Glutathione and Covid-19: What They May Not Have Told You Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummary of Alan Christianson's The Thyroid Reset Diet Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Hashimoto's Handbook Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBenefits of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Hormone Replacement Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAgainst All Grain: by Danielle Walker | Conversation Starters Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Zone: Revolutionary Life Plan to Put Your Body Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The 30-Day Thyroid Reset Plan: Disarming the 7 Hidden Triggers That are Keeping You Sick Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rethinking Hypothyroidism: Why Treatment Must Change and What Patients Can Do Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat Makes Olga Run?: The Mystery of the 90-Something Track Star and What She Can Teach Us About Living Longer, Happier Lives Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNutrient Power: Heal Your Biochemistry and Heal Your Brain Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Follow Your Gut: The Enormous Impact of Tiny Microbes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Medical For You
The Lost Book of Simple Herbal Remedies: Discover over 100 herbal Medicine for all kinds of Ailment, Inspired By Dr. Barbara O'Neill Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina: Separating the Myth from the Medicine Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Adult ADHD: How to Succeed as a Hunter in a Farmer's World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body's Most Underrated Organ (Revised Edition) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Diabetes Code: Prevent and Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Living Daily With Adult ADD or ADHD: 365 Tips o the Day Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mediterranean Diet Meal Prep Cookbook: Easy And Healthy Recipes You Can Meal Prep For The Week Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Women With Attention Deficit Disorder: Embrace Your Differences and Transform Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Peptide Protocols: Volume One Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This Is How Your Marriage Ends: A Hopeful Approach to Saving Relationships Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Medical Billing and Coding For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5"Cause Unknown": The Epidemic of Sudden Deaths in 2021 & 2022 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/552 Prepper Projects: A Project a Week to Help You Prepare for the Unpredictable Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Herbal Healing for Women Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5ATOMIC HABITS:: How to Disagree With Your Brain so You Can Break Bad Habits and End Negative Thinking Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Invisible Rainbow: A History of Electricity and Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Holistic Herbal: A Safe and Practical Guide to Making and Using Herbal Remedies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Low Ferritin
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Low Ferritin - Scott Webb
A book, written to teach what to do for a cold or a sore throat and which herbs and vitamins to take for a particular malady, doesn’t convey the whole truth. I am not interested in remedies for nasal congestion, constipation, heart burn, headaches, allergies, PMS or pre-menopausal symptoms. For I no longer have any of these problems.
-- Tonya Zavasta,
Your Right to be Beautiful
Low Ferritin
Understanding Performance Issues with Long Distance Runners and Student Athlete Competitors
Scott Wright Webb
Smashwords edition, copyright 2014
Low Ferritin
Webb, Scott Wright
2014, All rights reserved.
Cover photo by Lisa Churitch, taken of Coleman Churitch, Brentwood High School, 2013
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Contents
Welcome
Introduction
How to Read This Book
Chapter One
Chapter Two
What is Ferritin and the Medical Map?
Chapter Three
Low Ferritin Exposed
My Background
Appreciating the Human Liver
Chapter Four
The Role of Probiotics in Iron Uptake
Antibiotics and liver damage
The Internal Sequence of Iron Uptake in the Presence of Microbes
Putting It All Together
Chapter Five
Suggestions for Runners with Low Ferritin
Kombucha
Goat Milk Fermented Products
Miso
Chapter Six
In the Future
Product Photos
Additional Print Resources:
Water
Author Bio
Welcome
The author believes that learning about how the human body functions amidst an increasingly civilized world is a fascinating and worthwhile topic to explore. Always keep in mind that this information should not be construed as advice for self-diagnosis nor as treatment for disease. This book describes personal experiences and product information which are not a substitute for competent medical care. Therefore, consult with a professional health care provider before attempting any treatment or taking any dietary supplement which could affect your health. Any adverse reaction arising directly or indirectly from this material is not the responsibility of the author, publisher, distributors, or any bookseller.
Introduction
How to Read This Book
The topic of low ferritin can be as simple as one would like it to be or it can get quite complex. I’ve taken it to its complexity.
I think that it’s important to understand why something so fundamental to human health, iron assimilation, has gone wrong and then become so epidemic. I believe that I understand why, but the explanation requires a systemic approach. That includes the description of various micro-processes taking place inside the human body which happen without thinking. Then, the macro-issues extending to diet and culture may be connected, but for most people, habitual behaviors are done without thinking, either.
I propose we unwrap it or suffer the consequences of not knowing what’s going on. It’s right in front of us, but the blinders have got to come off for the meaningful improvement of low iron stores in student athletes.
Student athletes are also just kids. The question might be, What’s happening today to kids and their health?
Now we discover that Americans from all walks of life are low in iron, low in calcium, high in other things, and generally ill.
I do not presume to write the book to end all books on the topic of low ferritin. I’m not medically trained and only come to the topic by accident. My role in writing about low ferritin is to point readers in a direction which they may not have considered, which may accelerate and hone their search for answers and for hidden culprits.
Here’s the challenge as an author: you can say prebiotics are good,
and probiotics are critical for iron uptake,
and these things are not so good, but some readers might want proof. There has to be some underlying depth in the analysis. Then, the analysis doesn’t make for very interesting reading unless one is a microbiologist.
My approach is to start general. Eventually, you are going to read some foreign terminology and some really big words. I’d suggest that this is a book to be quickly skimmed, then set aside. Total agreement is not as important as just saying, Huh!
In short, there’s a lot here to swallow.
I’ve written commentary for each chapter, then inserted results from my own Internet searches. When I first heard about low ferritin in student athletes, I said, Oh, that’s simple.
It’s this, then that, then that, then this, then that.
This book is the support behind a simple paradigm, which places us on the map. I’m saying what I surmise, then show you, the reader, what I pulled-up searching the topic. The methodology here is to introduce the methodology, actually, so the reader can know what I know, then learn and go on to know more than I know. In other words, there’s a method to finding one’s way out of the madness, called study it yourself.
It’s not: Here’s the answer. Here are the pills. You’ll be fine.
Some of the Internet content herewith goes into great detail, which most high school students could get lost while reading. Skip through the words that refuse to be pronounced. They are there because critical analysis requires them to be there. If a reader wants to study deeper, any one of those words can be further researched to better appreciate their meaning. Or, gloss through, and hopefully, I will explain the more difficult passages after they end. Take a general impression from the material.
I believe that explanation is better than prescription. This book then is written for teachers and students and not for mere puppets.
Enjoy!
Scott W. Webb
April 20, 2014
Chapter One
Recent research indicates that as many as half of all competitive runners may suffer from an iron deficiency which can hamper overall performance during workouts and in races. Despite the rather epidemic nature of this condition, conflicting information, fluctuating results, and mystery surround the successful treatment of it.
Without appreciating the key factors underlying the condition, widespread prevention of it will be a mystery too.
Most experts state that by monitoring iron intake in the diet and supplementing if needed, runners can effectively boost performance and prevent gaps in training. The formula which has evolved across the running community is one part education, one part medical testing, and one part supplementation; while this approach is only half-the-equation. And the process is often conducted on the fly, such that the key variables are overlooked or ignored.
One mother writes of her daughter’s struggle with low iron:
My 17 year-old daughter is, or I should say was, a very competitive runner. This hard-charging, All American started to struggle just to finish races. We had her evaluated. She was told her serum ferritin was a 10, with normal hemoglobin. Her