A simple blood test can determine the amount of ferritin in your body. If your ferritin levels are low, you cannot look on the side of a cereal box or a package of frozen vegetables to see if it contains ferritin. There are no ferritin-rich foods to eat. Ferritin levels indirectly measure how much iron is stored in your body. Low levels indicate an iron deficiency, whereas high levels indicate conditions of iron overload indicating possible liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis, malnutrition, hyperthyroidism or even certain types of cancer.
Iron
Iron is a trace element in your body. Trace elements make up a very small percentage of the chemical composition of your body--particularly when compared to the more abundant oxygen, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen molecules--yet they are vital to proper functioning. Iron is a trace mineral. It comprises only 0.008 percent of your body's total mass, but you cannot live without it. Iron transports the oxygen in your blood to all parts of your body. Ferritin keeps your iron ready and available by keeping it in a dissolvable, non-toxic state.
Iron Storage
Ferritin stores iron for future use. It regulates the controlled release of iron to match what your body needs. If blood has too little iron, ferritin can release more. If there is too much iron in the blood, ferritin can help store the excess This helps your body prevent low iron levels such as anemia and high iron levels that can be toxic. The ferritin protein looks like a hollow sphere. Iron is stored as a crystalline solid inside the sphere.
Iron-Rich Foods
To increase the amount of iron in your blood and thus increase your ferritin, you can eat iron-rich foods. Iron rich foods include red meat, liver, eggs, green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, collard greens and kale, as well as wheat germ, whole grain breads, cereals, raisins, molasses, prune juice, kidney beans and chickpeas.
Increasing Iron Absorption
Often, it is not enough to eat iron-rich foods. Vitamins such as vitamin C help your body absorb these foods. Eating iron-rich foods along with citrus fruits, juices and berries can increase the amount of iron your body absorbs. In addition, cooking acidic foods in cast iron pots and skillets can increase the iron content of these foods up to 30 times. Increasing your iron intake and iron absorption will ultimately increase the amount of ferritin in your body.
Iron Supplements
Dietary iron supplements can also increase ferritin levels by increasing the iron level in your body. Iron supplements include ferrous sulfate, ferrous glutamate, and ferrous fumerate. Ferrous sulfate will deplete your vitamin E levels, so make sure you have adequate amounts of vitamin E in your diet if you supplement with ferrous sulfate. Although liquid animal-based iron supplements are the most highly absorbed by your body, they may blacken your teeth. Liquid vegetable-based iron is less absorbed than animal-based but will not blacken your teeth.
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