Subscribe to NutritionFacts.org’s free newsletter to receive our B12 infographic that covers the latest research takeaways and Dr. Greger’s updated recommendations: https://nutritionfacts.org/subscribe/ DESCRIPTION: Iron is a double-edged sword. If we don’t absorb enough, we risk anemia, but if we absorb too much we may increase our risk of cancer, heart disease, and a number of inflammatory conditions. Because the human body has no mechanism to rid itself of excess iron, one should choose plant-based (non-heme) sources over which our body has some control. This is another reason why Plant Protein is Preferable (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/plant-protein-preferable/). For more on iron, see Iron During Pregnancy (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/iron-during-pregnancy/) and Are Iron Pills Good For You? (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/are-iron-pills-good-for-you/). For more on nutrient bioavailability, see yesterday’s NutritionFacts.org video-of-the-day New Mineral Absorption Enhancers Found (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/new-mineral-absorption-enhancers-found/), along with Garden Variety Anti-Inflammation (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/garden-variety-anti-inflammation/), Take Vitamin D Supplements With Meals (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/take-vitamin-d-supplements-with-meals/), Calcium Absorption: Soy Milk Versus Cow Milk (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/calcium-absorption-soy-milk-versus-cow-milk/), Raw Food Nutrient Absorption (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/raw-food-nutrient-absorption-3/), and Forgo Fat-Free Dressings? (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/forego-fat-free-dressings/). For more on breast cancer see Relieving Yourself of Excess Estrogen (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/relieving-yourself-of-excess-estrogen/), Flax and Fecal Flora (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/flax-and-fecal-flora/), Broccoli Versus Breast Cancer Stem Cells (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/broccoli-versus-breast-cancer-stem-cells/), and 49 other videos that touch on breast cancer (http://nutritionfacts.org/topics/breast-cancer/). There are also videos on more than a thousand other topics at http://nutritionfacts.org/topics/. Have a question for Dr. Greger about this video? Leave it in the comment section at http://nutritionfacts.org/video/risk-associated-with-iron-supplements/ and he’ll try to answer it! Image Credit: Søren Niedziella and Thirteen Of Clubs via flickr. Images have been modified. https://NutritionFacts.org • Subscribe: https://nutritionfacts.org/subscribe • Donate: https://nutritionfacts.org/donate • Podcast : https://nutritionfacts.org/audio • Facebook: www.facebook.com/NutritionFacts.org • Twitter: www.twitter.com/nutrition_facts • Instagram: www.instagram.com/nutrition_facts_org • Books (including the NEW How Not to Diet Cookbook): https://nutritionfacts.org/books • Shop: https://drgreger.org