How can iron levels be corrected?
If your iron levels are too low, then eat foods that contain
iron and take iron supplements. If you cannot correct low iron by
diet alone, you should see a doctor. You certainly want to see a
doctor if your low iron levels are accompanied by dark urine or
black and tarry fecal matter. Those symptoms could indicate
internal bleeding which could be caused by ulcers, internal
injuries, or cancer, among other serious things.
If your iron levels are too high, then stop any iron supplements
and remove some foods with high levels of iron from your diet. If
you have a disease like hemochromatosis that causes you to have
excessive iron levels, then chelating drugs, frequent blood
donations, or phlebotomy (bloodletting) may be required. Your
doctor should tell you what to do in that case. Women of
childbearing age rarely have excessive iron levels unless they
overdose on supplements, since menstruation removes blood from
their systems.