Iron & red cells
Iron stores are low while the blood count still looks fine
Ferritin is down but the red-cell numbers on this report have not followed yet. This is the stage where correcting it is easiest, and symptoms (tiredness, hair fall, breathlessness on stairs) often exist without "anaemia" on paper.
- Ferritin22 ng/mL
27% below the lower limit of 30 ng/mL
- Hemoglobin14.2 g/dL
Know more · what to do · what to ask
Note the threshold has moved: haematology guidance now treats a ferritin at or below 30 as iron deficiency rather than the older 15, so a result in the twenties counts. Ferritin is the protein that warehouses iron in your body. Low ferritin with normal hemoglobin means you're running on reserve; finding the cause at this stage matters. Common reasons for a low Ferritin: Low iron intake or absorption; Blood loss.
What to do
- Pair iron-rich foods with vitamin C in the same meal — dal or spinach with lemon, or a citrus fruit after. That single habit changes how much iron you actually absorb.
- Keep tea and coffee out of the hour either side of meals: the tannins bind iron. This is the most-missed habit at the table.
- Ask your doctor to look for WHERE the iron is going before you start supplements — in adults the usual checks are diet, periods, and the gut.
Retest: Recheck in 8–12 weeks — red cells take about that long to turn over, so an earlier test can't show progress.
Don't start iron on your own. It is one of the few supplements with a real overdose risk, it upsets the gut at the wrong dose, and taking it blindly can hide the cause.
Food & habits · Ferritin
Eat more
- Dal, rajma, chana, and legumes
- Citrus fruit, tomatoes, or amla
- Leafy greens like spinach and methi
- Jaggery in moderation
Go easy on
- Tea or coffee right after meals
- Dairy with iron-rich meals
Best avoided
- Calcium supplements taken with iron-rich meals
- Skipping meals for long stretches
Move
- Gentle to moderate activity is fine, but low iron can leave you breathless or tired faster than usual.
- 3-4 days: a 15-20 minute walk
- 2 days: gentle yoga or stretching
People with heavy periods, pregnancy, kidney disease, or a diagnosed iron overload condition should treat ferritin changes under a doctor's guidance. A raised ferritin often comes from inflammation, liver disease, obesity or alcohol rather than iron overload (MedlinePlus, WHO); the iron-limiting food advice matters mainly if your doctor confirms iron overload.
Ask your doctor: “My stores are low but my haemoglobin isn't — do we treat this now or recheck first, and what caused it?”