[ ] 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

Flavor y'all...omg...but I also did break the capsule open into water for a possibly quicker absorbency..it worked but omg..I wanted to gag after each swallow lol but what do you expect..it's HEALTHY not tasty. I suffer from severe Anemia and it comes and goes. I never know when to expect to be pale, cold, blue and etc. it scares me when it happens. But I ordered these the night I ran out of my iron pills which weren't doing so great, these arrived A DAY LATER not even a full day either. I was in emergency need and not expecting these for a while and they came so quick I cried as soon as I got them I was so happy. I haven't had any issues with these so far. My levels are up with no signs of dropping soon either! Dr said it sounds like this vitamin had everything my body wanted and needed for iron absorbing and any lack of nutrient. I'm never buying another heme iron again. These non heme iron pills are basically what I've been missing and will always order again

The results were subtile but after about 4 months my craving to chew ice was gone! I also have more energy and this is non-binding. I realized one day that I no longer craved ice to chew and learned that that was caused by an iron deficiency (a form of pica). This was a surprise benefit that I really didn't anticipate! I'd recommend this supplement to anyone. The price is reasonable and it works

My daughter has had Anemia for a while. This is the first thing to bring her blood levels up. It works!!

So far, so good. It's giving me energy and taking away the feelings of being tired from moderate Anemia. I will update once more time passes by, but so far, I am satisfied. The probiotics also is keeping me regulated with going to the bathroom once a day. I hope by taking this and eating lots of beans and lentils every day, I will overcome the Anemia. I only take one pill a day because I am eating foods with iron, and the iron amount per day for an adult woman is 18 mg, so one pill is enough

I found out my ferritin levels were at 15 a couple months ago, which I guess explains me almost losing handfuls of hair every time I washed my hair. I'm only 26, so I'm sure you can imagine how dreadful it's been. :( So far so good...I have IBS (constipation), so most iron supplements would constipate me when I already had issues going in the first place. I could never stick to taking iron because of this. Still waiting to see if my hair will revert back to “normal” post Anemia. I was taking an amazing iron supplement from Canada (unfortunately only sold in Canada) that was working miracles for my hair, but I figured I'd give these ago since the other supplements were so hard on my already irritable stomach. So far it's been about two weeks, I need the iron regardless, just judging to see how well my hair reverts... that's really the most important thing for me. Also, not painful if taken without food and no iron-metallic after taste

Excellent product. Highly recommended

I took this supplement for years to help with my Anemia. My iron levels and energy did improve. For some reason I cannot remember, I switched my iron supplement and noticed my anxiety improved. I didn't make the connection to this supplement at all until I started taking it again and felt the low-level constant anxiety reappear. I was also snacking a lot and short-tempered (prob a side effect of anxiety). I can't be sure what ingredient it is but something doesn't agree with me. Everyone reacts differently but I can't recommend this, based on my experience

These helped me to raise my iron during my pregnancy, without getting constipated, I took them 4 times a day

Best resolution to my Anemia problem ever! For years I didn't know I was anemic, but I was always experiencing fatigue, dizziness , and brain fog. Vitamin Code for Healthy Life completely changed my energy level. No more brain fog and fatigue. It even helped to normalize my blood pressure, which was borderline prehypertension. I felt a difference within 2 weeks of starting this vitamin and I never want to go without it again