As one of our International Women’s Day event sponsors, we chat to Head of Marketing for Active Iron, Claire Lynch about the importance of iron intake, what International Women’s Day means to them and the brand plans for the year ahead.

Claire, thanks so much for joining us today for this Q&A with Active Iron. Firstly, can you tell us why is iron so important for women especially?

Thank you for having me! I'm very excited to talk to you about the importance of iron and how it can support us women’s everyday health. 

Women’s bodies rely on iron in order to support several key bodily functions, including supporting energy levels, a healthy immune system and transporting oxygen via red blood cells. Getting the right amount of iron is crucial to a woman’s physical health and mental performance, and those of reproductive age are especially vulnerable to low iron levels, as menstruation and pregnancy are both leading factors in iron depletion. In fact, a woman can lose up to 250mg of iron during her period each cycle!

1 in 4 women have low iron levels¹ and 64% of women experience menstrual fatigue². Menstrual fatigue is a symptom that is often overlooked because we can blame our tiredness on so many things, but it could be the result of low iron levels - and not everyone makes the connection between the two. 

How do you think the markets changed when it comes to really understanding iron intake and its benefits?

There is great awareness of the importance of iron and its benefits but people are often unaware of how little iron we can actually absorb from our diet, especially from plant sources. Iron supplements are still very much seen as a taboo supplement. People are generally scared to take iron because it has such a huge reputation for causing horrible side effects like nausea or constipation due to poor absorption, but Active Iron is different. Its groundbreaking whey protein formula protects the iron as it passes through the stomach, this means it avoids oxidation and safely passes to the site of iron absorption, the DMT-1, allowing for 2X better absorption of iron sulphate³. Active Iron is clinically proven to increase iron and energy levels whilst being gentle on the stomach, helping to avoid the common side effects of iron⁴. 

How much iron should we take daily? 

Having the correct amount of iron depends on several factors such as gender, age, and diet. Women aged between 19 and 50 need 14.8mg of iron per day. During pregnancy, the need for iron increases to 30mg. When women reach menopause, the need for iron decreases, requiring 8.7mg of iron per day. 

How long after taking Active Iron should we see the benefits? 

Active Iron is clinically proven to increase iron levels by 94% within 6 weeks, so you should start seeing the benefits within 30 days of routine supplementation⁴. The most common benefit is an increase in energy levels - something we all need! 

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

We love working with so many amazing women and International Women’s Day provides us with a day that we can dedicate to celebrating our female partners, consumers, colleagues and friends. Our brand is so passionate about women’s health and nutrition. Our purpose is centred around empowering women to embrace the energy from within. Iron disproportionately affects women, and we pride ourselves in being a brand that truly supports women and wants women to feel the best version of themselves. 

What’s the focus for 2023?

Through our Better Days. Period. campaign we want to help break down the stigma behind periods and change the narrative about symptoms, like menstrual fatigue, which 64% of women admit to having. We also want to educate women on the importance of iron, and drive awareness of Active Iron as a solution that can help increase iron and energy levels without compromise. 

Where should our readers keep up to date with all the latest news from Active Iron?

Follow us on our socials @activeironworld on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our email list via our website  to get great women’s health content from our experts as well as some fantastic offers and discounts!

Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. Iron contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

¹NICE. Anaemia – iron deficiency. September 2018. ²Active Iron Survey 2021. N = 2,400 ⁵Wang et al. 2017, Acta Haematologica, 138: 223-232. ⁴Ledwidge et al. 2021. Data on file.