My Personal Story With Iron Deficiency Anemia: From Chewing on Ice to Restless Leg Syndrome and More

Greenletes Podcast

Greenletes Podcast
My Personal Story With Iron Deficiency Anemia: From Chewing on Ice to Restless Leg Syndrome and More
Jun 24, 2026
Natalie Rizzo, MS, RD

In this episode, I share my personal experience with iron deficiency anemia, from chewing ice every night and dealing with restless legs to learning how low iron was affecting my running performance. As a plant-based runner with thalassemia trait, I've struggled with iron issues for most of my life. And it's also one of the most common nutrition challenges I see among female athletes.

In this episode, you'll learn:

  •  The most common signs and symptoms of iron deficiency 
  •  Why runners (especially female runners) are at higher risk 
  •  The difference between heme and non-heme iron 
  •  The best plant-based sources of iron 
  •  How vitamin C can dramatically improve iron absorption 
  •  Foods and drinks that can interfere with iron absorption 
  •  When iron supplements may be necessary 
  •  Why low iron is not a failure of a plant-based diet 

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Have questions or want to request a show topic? DM us @greenletes

Check out Natalie's book 📕: Planted Performance



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