Ferritin measures the iron your body has in storage. A low result means your reserves are running down, even when your haemoglobin still looks normal and you are not classed as anaemic. Symptoms such as fatigue and hair shedding can start at this stage. Your GP interprets the number alongside your symptoms, and some people, including endurance athletes, are managed at a higher target.

This varies. Symptoms often ease within weeks of consistent treatment, but refilling stored iron takes considerably longer, which is why your GP usually rechecks your bloods a few months in. Stopping early is the most common reason levels fall again. Ongoing loss, such as heavy periods, also slows progress until the cause is addressed.

Yes, with planning. Plant sources such as lentils, chickpeas, tofu, tempeh, wholegrains, nuts and fortified cereals provide non-haem iron, which your body absorbs less readily than iron from meat. Combining them with vitamin C, soaking or sprouting legumes, and spacing out tea and coffee all improve uptake. Your dietitian works out the quantities you realistically need each day.

Iron that is not absorbed stays in your gut and irritates the lining, causing nausea, cramping, constipation or dark stools. Higher doses do not always mean better absorption, and taking iron less frequently can improve both tolerance and uptake for some people. Do not change your dose on your own; talk to your GP or dietitian about the form, timing and amount.

No. You can book directly. A GP referral under a Chronic Disease Management plan may give you a Medicare rebate for a set number of visits each year if you meet the criteria. Private health extras cover dietetics depending on your policy. Bringing recent blood results to your first appointment means your dietitian can be specific from day one.

It can contribute a small amount, particularly with acidic foods like tomato-based sauces that draw iron from the pan surface. The amount varies widely with the pan, the food and cooking time, so treat it as a bonus rather than a treatment. Food choices, absorption timing and any prescribed supplement do the real work.