Iron: The Most Toxic Metal

I got this book because I have iron toxicity from medical mismanagement of anemia and I'm trying to figure out how to heal from it. Someone on the Root Cause Protocol blog recommended this book as one of the primary volumes to read for information to help on this journey. It delivered, as it gave the needed info on how to detox from iron overload, but it gave far more than that. I raced through it yesterday evening after it arrived, so (at least to those of us interested) it's very readable, but it still manages to cover a lot of ground. The author knows his stuff, and he explains iron-related mechanisms of action that I haven't seen explained elsewhere. But mostly what he is doing is reporting, explaining and cataloging the many (many!) research studies that exist on iron and iron toxicity but that are mostly ignored by mainstream medical practitioners and our government, as pertains to treatment for iron deficiency anemia and iron fortification of our food. These scientifically conducted, peer reviewed, journal-published studies prove the case against excess iron: it contributes to if not causes most of the "diseases of civilization" - cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimers, and others. Our bodies are efficient at absorbing iron from dietary sources and have an amazing ability to recover and recycle most of the iron that is left after the breakdown of spent red blood cells, what it does not have is the ability to excrete excess iron. We live in a time of abundance of iron, actually a toxic overabundance due to the fortification of our grains and processed foods, and it has become a serious and crippling problem to our individual health and that of our nation, but most of our medical experts appear clueless to that. What the book does not go into in any depth is what IS actually wrong when "iron deficiency anemia" is diagnosed. (I recommend the explanation and advice on the "Root Cause Protocol" website. Hint: it's not lack of iron.)The author gives a brief but thorough education on the absolutely necessary role(s) of iron in the human body, its amazing benefits (some which are only recently uncovered/understood - which is another reason to read the book), and its dangers, as well as the history of iron fortification of our food. He supplies context and ample ammunition for anyone desiring to take an activist stand against fortification (if one is inclined to try to talk sense to elected representatives). He also gives a lot of info on how to avoid iron overload, and how to get rid of excess. (There are dietary ways to avoid excess intake, such as eating phytate-rich foods and avoiding high iron-high vitamin C combinations or alcohol, but primarily avoiding fortified foods; there are drugs for chelating iron, mostly prescribed to patients with hemochromatosis; and there is blood donation, which is highest recommended in most cases, but again I think the Root Cause Protocol has more info on that than even this book does.)I think the value of reading "Iron: the Most Toxic Metal" lies in the abundance of evidence it documents, both for personal affirmation and for presenting to your doctor with confidence, or for introducing the subject to the skeptical. If you're simply looking for ways to treat "anemia" or detox from iron overload, without having to wrap your head all the way around the subject, the Root Cause Protocol may be all you need. But if you appreciate a physical book with all the info and references in one place, this book is definitely worth the read.

Author's heart is in the right place. He's is trying to help you understand and protect yourself from iron overload syndrome. Author provides lots of scientific references, and outlines the important issues.Why 4 instead of 5 stars? Because author seems like a young guy who is in the process of breaking out of conventional thinking patterns. Great scientists tend to be more arrogant, and opinionated. Young guys like this tend to be more thoughtful about what they say, and a little bit verbose. If you are interested in iron overload syndrome -- and you should be -- if you want to understand neurodegeneration, and oxidative stress, and ferrous redox cycling -- then you will find this book quite helpful.The explanation of ferrous redox cycling is the most useful part of this book.Once you've read this book, check out the research of Douglas Kell PhD. You will freak out at how important iron overload syndrome is, and about how few PhD's or MD's know anything about it.The Lauffer book on iron and the Weinberg book on iron are also good. Gregory Sloop MD's book on atherosclerosis explains the benefit of therapeutic phlebotomy for reducing blood viscosity.After middle aged or older man has studied iron metabolism, the next thing to do is to check your blood ferritin, and figure out if you should donate blood. I did.Patients with increased iron in their brains on MRI are at increased risk for cognitive impairment.At my you tube channel "Peter Rogers MD" (I'm a neuroradiologist) I have videos on "Preventing Alzheimer's" and "Reducing risk of Parkinson's disease" that relate to iron metabolism.

Five stars due to the profound value of the research Jym Moon has done in this area. Very hard to find information that is critical to our health. thanks to this book I am forearmed in how to reducer my Iron intake, mostly by avoiding refined foods.

Good book!

Thank you

Excellent book! This book is a must read.

Nicely written

One of the most important books out there that could literally save your life. Most Americans and Canadians are getting way too much iron in their diets or with supplements (in other words are being poisoned with iron), as victims of the profit logic that is written into the foundations of the system. This book has a strong scientific basis - Jym Moon, PhD, is an expert toxicologist that has been researching this field for decades. Sadly this information keeps being ignored despite vast efforts by concerned scientists.

This is the best place to get all information to kick start your research into why Iron is not what they say it is and how disregulation is the cause of so many diseases. Could have got a perfect score if he spoke more about the relationships with other metals, specifically copper.

We are living in the era when our bodies are bombarded with extra iron that is added to most of our foods. Everyone should read this book to better understand another piece to the puzzle why we are getting sicker despite of governments spending more than ever on healthcare.

Das Buch hat mir gut gefallen. Ich würde das Buch wieder Kaufen und werde es immer wieder neu als Nachschlagewerk benutzen.

Very interesting & insightful book, delivered as promised on time. Thanks !