[ ] THE REVIEW This is a great product. What I found amazing is that it also contains 400 mcg of Folate (not folic acid) 100% daily allowance. This is important because it is almost impossible to get Folate as a supplement. The Folate is produced as part of the whole food process in creating the supplement. This is a great bonus!! Taking too much folic acid can be harmful because the body needs to convert folic acid to Folate. Folate, on the other hand, is what is found in foods and it is what our bodies metabolize. As we age, our body converts less folic acid to Folate thereby leaving more folic acid in the body. As the folic acid builds up, it can cause problems of its own (google it). Therefore, especially if you are getting older, pay attention to how much folic acid you consume through supplements. Because this is Folate, it is already in the natural form that would be ingested as with any foods we eat. Great product for Iron, but also great product for Folate!!! This is just one example of why GOL is a superior company for supplements. Note: I am confident the Folate is derived from the whole food process and not "Folate (as Folic Acid)" as you will see on other supplements. But, I wanted to confirm it, so I call GOL product support and the representative I talked to said that their science team did verify the Folate is the natural form of Folate being produced from the whole food process (i.e., not synthetic Folic Acid being added as Folate). [ ] WHAT MAKES A GOOD IRON SUPPLEMENT? We've heard about nutrition being more "bioavailable." For example, coenzymed vitamins are in a form that is ready for cells to use which makes it more bioavailable. Minerals are chelated in advance to allow them to be absorbed through the intestinal wall which makes them more bioavailable. So what makes iron more bioavailable? Well, I figured this out and the answer is small particle size. You see, I found out that a very, very small amount of iron is used within the hemoglobin structure (i.e., the red blood cell). In fact, this structure is composed of four polypeptide chains with each chain containing only 1 atom of iron meaning 4 iron atoms is all that is needed to make one red blood cell. Yep, you read that right - 4 atoms. So, knowing that, what makes iron more bioavailable is small particle size. The smaller the particle size, the more surface area that is available for "an atom" of iron to be pealed off the "chuck" of iron (in relative terms even a small shaving of iron is a huge chunk when we are only talking about 1 atom). This is why I believe GOL to have a superior iron supplement. Because GOL uses a whole food process, only the smaller particles of iron are picked up by the cells (in the whole food process when creating the supplement) because it makes sense that a cell can't absorb large particles. When the supplement is digested in the human GI tract, the particles of iron are at the "right" size for bioavailable consumption. Then single atoms are pealed away to be available to be used in creating red blood cells. For iron, bioavailability is all about physics. The smaller the particle size, the more surface area available to peel off single iron atoms. I also suspect the smaller iron particle size is why this product is less likely to upset the stomach because there is less "left over" iron for your body to expel after single atoms are pealed away. [ ] IRON ABSORPTION (8/1/2018 update) I talked to Lee, the garden of life representative. The GOL iron in this supplement is non-heme iron in the form of Ferrous Sulfate. This typically has an absorption rate of 2-20%; however, GOL reports that combining the iron in a whole food process increases the absorption such that it is possible to absorb the full 120%. For example, I have read that digesting Iron with Vitamin C can increase Iron absorption by 30%. Note that each person's absorption rate will vary; for example, a person with Iron deficiency will absorb more Iron than someone not deficient. Therefore, it would be virtually impossible to state the actual absorption of the product for any one individual. GOL states that they provide the constituents to maximize Iron absorption up to the 120%. I did some searching about this subject, and there is little specific information on how the non-heme iron actually gets absorbed. I suspect that it acts similar to other minerals in that it needs to bind to a substance to be pulled across the intestinal wall much like other minerals that need to be chelated to amino acids to be absorbed. The iron in this product is Ferrous Sulfate, which is ionic (meaning it needs an electron). Vitamin C has an extra electron. Normally this extra electron is pulled from the Vitamin C when it is acting as an antioxidant. However, I suspect that this extra electron binds it to the ionic Ferrous Sulfate Iron. When the Vitamin C gets absorbed, so does the iron. I suspect this is why Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron, but it's just a guess on my part. [ ] HEME vs. NON-MEME IRON (8/1/2018 update) Heme Iron is found in meat/animal products. This type of iron is already is already bound to a protein, which makes it easier to be absorbed by the small intestine. Because it is found in animal tissue, the iron is already broken down to a single atom (i.e., the animal that digested the non-heme iron did the work of breaking down the iron into a single atom to be used). Non-heme iron is found in plants, and is considered elemental iron. The body has the ability to regulate the absorption of non-heme iron better than heme iron; therefore, for most people, it would be safer to digest a plant based non-heme iron, which is what this product contains. [ ] GOL MAKES ANOTHER GOOD IRON SUPPLEMENT: Garden of Life makes another good iron supplement in addition to this one. It is Garden of Life Iron Complex - Vitamin Code Raw Iron Whole Food Vitamin Supplement, Vegan, 30 Capsules . This iron complex has 22 mg of iron with a serving size of 1 capsule. It also has more Vitamin B12 with 500 mcg 8330% DV. So, if you prefer to take only 1 capsule instead of 2 and 22 mg (120% DV) is sufficient or you want a little more B12 with your iron supplement, then this product is also a good choice. If you found this review helpful and clicked the helpful button, you might also find the review I wrote for this product helpful as well. Too much? :) [ ] A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: 6/22/2017 update This is a personal experience that attests to this product's quality. I have had a condition for years in which my liver causes me discomfort. For some reason beet juice would correct it, at least for a while. I eventually put 2 and 2 together and figured out what might be affecting my liver are low iron levels since beet juice (freshly made) is a good source of iron, and I already have been tested and do have low iron levels (on the low side but still within the normal range). I then started taking this supplement along with Alpha Lipoic Acid and Milk Thistle (which help with liver regeneration). When I add this iron supplement to these other supplements, I notice a difference in how fast I recover from a liver episode. Remember that this is all anecdotal. My point is not to provide proof; rather, to give an experience that maybe might allow someone else to use this information to their benefit if they also have liver issues. Because I notice a difference when I take this product, I at least know the iron is being absorbed properly when I take it. I hope this helps someone. [ ] FOLIC ACID vs. FOLATE: 7/9/2017 update I also wanted to add a note about Folate vs. folic acid. Folic acid is not found in nature; it is made synthetically. Our bodies convert Folic Acid to Folate. I think the issue is not the product of the conversion (i.e., the conversion yields the same Folate molecule structure), but whether all of the Folic Acid IS getting converted. Because Folic Acid is synthetic, whatever does not get converted then needs to be flushed out of the body. So, there is an intake process, a conversion process, and a flushing process all going on at the same time. If the conversion process does not keep up with the intake process, then too much Folic Acid can build up in the system. This is primarily why there is an upper limit for Folic Acid as noted of this government fact sheet: "Folate that is naturally present in food is not harmful. Folic acid in supplements and fortified foods, however, should not be consumed in amounts above the upper limit, unless recommended by a health care provider" (Source1, Can folate be harmful?). As a person focused on nutrition, I look at all the ingredients listed on my supplements. The problem is that you would be surprised at how many supplements "sneak" Folic Acid into their supplement. For example: I take a Methyl B-12. The 5,000 mcg formula includes Folic Acid (100% Daily Value), but the 1,000 and 10,000 mcg formulas do not. Therefore, I take the 10,000 mcg not because I need the extra 5,000 mcg, but because 1,000 is too low and I don't want the extra Folic Acid in the 5,000 mcg formula. It is surprising how many foods and supplements include Folic Acid. It is therefore not surprising that this over abundance of Folic Acid in the foods and supplements we ingest might be causing some problems as noted in some studies on the web. With Folate, there is no issue because it is a "B" vitamin which is water soluble ("B" vitamins flush very easily out of the body). Now you might then ask, why doesn't Folic Acid flush as easily. I don't know, but I would suspect that it is because Folic Acid is not a "true" B-vitamin (remember, it is created or synthesized in a lab and then "converted" into a B-vitamin). I hope this helps. [ ] BLACKSTRAP MOLASSES - High in iron: 9/5/2017 update I now take Blackstrap Molasses along with this product. Blackstrap Molasses has 20% iron in one tablespoon. This helps supplement the iron with more bio-available iron from a natural food source. Start out taking only a teaspoon because it can be a little overpowering (i.e., on the sweet side). After you do that for a couple of days, you should be able to increase to a tablespoon without any issues. I take one tablespoon in the morning. This is the product I would recommend: Plantation Blackstrap Molasses, Organic, 15 oz (Pack of 2) [ ] KEEPING MY IRON LEVELS UP: 10/6/2017 update I have been taking both Vitamin Code Healthy Iron and Blackstrap Molasses, and I feel the combination of the two really helps my iron levels. When I stop taking these, my liver symptoms return. Then I start taking both, and my liver symptoms clear up again. This has happened multiple times, so it seems clear these two correlative events are linked. [ ] FOODS THAT INHIBIT IRON ABSORPTION: 5/11/2018 update Since the whole point of taking iron is to have it be absorbed into your body, I thought it would be nice to know foods that inhibit iron absorption. I checked out Live Strong and thought I would list the foods they report as being iron inhibitors: - Eggs - contains phosvitin, which binds iron together thereby preventing absorption. - Calcium-rich Foods - Does not affect absorption if less than 50 mg; 300 to 600 mg taken daily can inhibit iron absorption. - Oxalate-rich Foods - Commonly found in tea. So if you are a heavy tea drinker, do not combine with foods or supplements. - Polyphenol-rich Foods - Primarily cocoa and coffee. Cocoa can inhibit up to 90 percent, and coffee up to 60 percent. - Walnuts - contain phytates that can inhibit iron. Now take this all with a grain of salt (nope, salt doesn't inhibit iron). I personally wouldn't stop eating these foods just to get more iron absorption. I would use it more as a guideline such as if you are a heavy tea or coffee drinking then maybe not a good idea to take this supplement while drinking coffee all day long to stay awake at work. I would suggest to take this supplement right before bedtime since that is when your meal has mostly been digested (of course not with a calcium supplement). This is all just information to be used with some common sense when reviewing daily eating and supplement intake habits. It is good to note that even though these foods might prevent iron absorption, the information is not very specific meaning they don't say how much of a food is needed to impact absorption (except for the calcium). I hope this helps. It helped me since I do drink tea heavily at times. GIVE Reviews - this is my standard for writing reviews - thank you for clicking the helpful button! [G]enuine - This is a review that is honest, trustworthy with no reason other than to help people in the Amazon family. [I]nformational - This review needs to provide information related to this product in a concise matter. [V]aluable - This review needs to provide value to the reader such that it helps him or her determine if this product is for them. [E]nlightening - This review needs to go beyond product information such that the reader learns something they did not otherwise know. ps. Don't forget to up-vote if you liked this review, or you think this review will help others

Preemptive tl;dr: If you found your way here for relief, be it from vitamin deficiency or from menstrual issues, then you need to BUY THE D*MN BOTTLE. Actually, buy two. I recommend taking half a dose (bottle says 2 pills daily) because these have an insane amount of B12. I take one a day. It changed my life. For nearly a decade, I had an undiagnosed vitamin deficiency while doctors chalked my symptoms up to stress and anxiety. They all told me my blood test results were perfectly normal. At the time I had pretty epic menstrual cycle issues that caused major mood disruptions, migraines, ovarian cysts, the list goes on and on. I had severe depression, panic attacks so regularly I couldn't function, and heart palpitations. I took blood test after blood test, had a brain scan, wore a heart monitor, was prescribed beta blockers to control the heart palpitations (I was 35 yrs old at the time, they were terrible, I stopped taking them very quickly), was told I should have a heart monitor implanted in my chest because all my other tests came back "normal" (I did not go through with this because I knew it was ridiculous). I had all normal test results, yet I was falling apart. For the life of me I could not get any doctor or therapist to listen to me when I said, "I know my body, something is wrong. This isn't stress." I thought it might be metabolic, maybe even a hormone imbalance. My PCP, cardiologist, neurologist, gynocologist, and even my therapist rolled their eyes at me, telling me my symptoms were psychosomatic due to severe GAD and depression. Well, after finally realizing I could review my own test results online, it turned out that I not only had major vit deficiencies that my doctors failed to notice (iron, vitamin D, and B12...B12 had an actual footnote staying that even low range deficiencies of b12 could cause psychology disturbances) but my OB/GYN had ALSO given me the wrong test results a year prior (she told me I was essentially premenopausal, but in reality I have hormone markers for PCOS, plus my new Gyno tells me all my cycle symptoms check out). So I did some research on my results. All my symptoms checked out. Every. Single. One. A friend with anemia recommended Vitamin Code and liquid Vitamin D. I started taking one Healthy Blood pill a day along with 1000-2000 IU of vitamin D daily. Within three months, everything changed. Nearly a decade of my life was spent managing panic attacks and depression. Ten years of thinking I was broken and being told that I had to accept that this was just who I was and I had to cope with it. EFF ALL OF THAT NOISE. This little pill completely changed my life. I haven't had a panic attack in nearly 2 years. The constant, overwhelming, painful, EMBARRASSING anxiety and all the mental health issues that came with it: GONE. My heart is perfectly fine. I barely get cycle related migraines any more (they were like clockwork for years), and my cramps are nothing to write home about. I'm no longer locked in a bathroom, crying through yet another panic attack. I'm healthy, and happy, and actually in control of my body for the first time ever. If you suspect something is wrong and your doctors aren't listening to you, check your own test results. And buy the d*amn vitamins. Take them every day. Read about possible contraindications first and make sure you're fully informed before self medicating. I hope you feel better. <

I'm currently fighting Multiple Myeloma @ age 36 and I take 2 a day! Despite getting sick my blood levels (immune and WBC) stayed in normal range even with all the chemo! My labs are always good and recently was told there is no MM in my blood! I am in remission which inwas told wasn't possible for MM patients. GOD IS BIGGER! He created food for our benefit and using this I am positive has made a huge difference

This is the iron supplement that saved me during my first pregnancy! First of all, Garden of Life is a great brand. Secondly, this supplement has Vc to help the absorption. I know some people say the liquid iron has better absorption rate but I prefer the capsule to the nasty taste. Thirdly, the price here is lower than WholeFoods even after the $3 off coupon in the store. One thing to keep in mind is that, Do Not take this together with your prenatal multivitamin! Calcium hinder the absorption of iron. What I did was to take it before bed time when my stomach is almost empty, as I heard that's when your body absorbs iron more efficiently

I absolutely love this supplement! I'm anemic, and at one point had to have blood transfusions. Now, later in my life and sans blood transfusions, I need something to help regenerate the red blood cells. This supplement does an amazing job at helping to replenish lost minerals, iron, red blood cells, etc. I oftentimes feel so energized after taking them, and for some reason sleep very well. They've helped to improve the appearance of my skin also! Great supplement for slow release of iron, and additional minerals/vitamins the body needs. ***UPDATE*** As of October 2018 I had my annual physical, and with it, some routine blood work done. I'm no longer categorized as anemic, and my platelets, hemoglobin levels, red blood cell counts, etc. we're all exemplary! I can't testify from a medical standpoint because I'm not a physician, but I can attest to this supplement having a positive impact on my overall health and well being. I eat relatively healthy, but definitely know this supplement helped. Hope this all helps

Depending on when your body needs iron, you will definitely know! I don't feel the effects all the time but I am ok with that since my dizziness, fatigue, and headaches have gone down. One morning after drinking coffee and a small breakfast, I was outside working around the house in 40 degree weather. I was so cold and tired that I just didn't feel like moving. I went inside and searched for something to take and decided on these. After 20 minutes I had energy and so much circulation through my body, that I had to take my coat off and just felt completely balanced and felt a strong sense of vigor! Of course I don't feel that all the time when taking these which is probably because my iron levels are more balanced now after taking these since I don't eat meat. At times, I like to do half a dose so I am not overdoing it or will intentionally skip a day or 2 to give my body a rest from supplementation. Overall one of my favorite garden of life products

I've been using this iron for years. Usually, I get it from my local store, but they were out of it, so I ordered online. This was a really good price (saved a couple of dollars compared to where I usually buy it), and the seller was prompt so I wasn't without iron forever and a day. I like this particular iron as it is extremely easy on my stomach and does not constipate. I am sure I actually could take it on an empty stomach if I dared, but I just haven't needed to test that theory. However, even with only a small amount of food (piece of bread, a cookie, etc) it does not irritate or upset my stomach. I like that it is not a super high mega dose of iron, and I can control the dose. Two caps = 28mg, which is good when I am definitely anaemic and need a powerful boost fast. One cap is 14mg, which is a good maintenance dose for me - generally every other day. It acts pretty fast, too. If I have forgotten my iron for a while (or ran out for long enough) and anaemia hits hard (short of breath, fatigued, etc)... this kicks in within an hour of taking it (for me). That's pretty cool, really! I also like that this is a capsule. I cannot swallow a tablet to save my life, but capsules I can. Most "food" vitamins seem to be in tablet form (and smell to high heaven like dog food) - but this one is low/no odour and an easy to swallow capsule. So, extra plus, for me... and I think one reason that it kicks in so fast (capsules can dissolve faster than tablets in most cases). I actually have a health condition where anaemia is a problem, and I have to maintain iron levels beyond what food provides. Iron is a supplement that you should check with your doctor before taking and make sure that you need - if you do not need it, it can cause problems for you. So, always double check. If you do need supplemental iron, this one is amazing

I have taken many multi-vitamins B4, and none of them match Healthy Blood! I have so much more energy, and a much better overall feeling than I ever had. I struggle with depression, and my overall mood has also improved. Just to be sure I could make this claim, I took Healthy Blood for a month, then stopped for a month. I felt great during the month I took it, and slowly went back to how I was B4 I took it. I have now been back on Healthy Blood for just over a week, and the improved mood and energy are back! I recommend this product very highly to anyone who wants the same result

I have celiac and so easily get anemic. I also drink lots of green tea, which inhibits iron from being absorbed, plus I also take a lot of magnesium for digestive issues (which also prevents iron absorbtion) So I definitely have iron issues. Most iron products stop me up, which is totally intolerable - but Garden of Life vitamins are great and I never have that problem with them. However that being said - I like the Raw Iron much better than the Healthy Blood. I feel like it just works better. I actually feel the energy from it. The Healthy Blood one doesn't seem to have the same effect. I recommend Raw Iron by Garden of Life over Healthy Blood

Rarely am I driven to write a review for product, particularly one with some many reviews already. After stopping breastfeeding my son, I had a really long, heavy period (6 weeks) and began to feel awful. My body was exhausted, I could barely walk up the stairs without a break. My doc said my CBC looked normal, but I was skeptical and decided to try this to give myself a boost. Within a few days I felt a dramatic shift. More energetic, no lightheaded ness, no longer dizzy, etc. My only regret is that I didn't try these sooner. Definitely going to add this to my routine during my cycle