Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Even after having taken solid and chelated iron pills for months, I still had critical iron numbers, so I purchased this and take it along with Ferritin Tablets (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00014ECFO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00014ECFO&linkCode=as2&tag=4abettelife&linkId=05e3444c188fee00d3e841cb8fab7ae9 ) It comes in a box with a marked plastic measuring spoon (nice!). I take it on an empty stomach, at least an hour before a meal. I chase it with 12 ounces of orange juice (details below). I am careful to take it separate from calcium, or magnesium, or zinc - I understand these can interfere with iron absorption. If I take my multi-vitamins in the morning, I do the iron at night, or vice versa. Within DAYS I could tell my iron levels were improving. I could breathe more easily, my energy levels were much much higher, and I could do triple the exercises I did days before. I love this product. It's pleasant to the tongue. (I do chase it with a glass of orange juice, because iron absorbs better when taken with vitamin C, and because it prevents nausea). I will tell you though, I titrated my does (started with half the dose, then worked my way up as my body got used to it), because iron is really hard on the system (very oxidizing to the stomach and intestines). The first day I took it, I didn't take it with enough liquid and within 20 minutes I was very nauseous. But it was bearable, only lasted 40 minutes, then went away completely. Then I started chasing it with 8-12 ounces orange juice, with much less nausea. I do NOT recommend mixing the iron into the orange juice. 1. It's icky sweet together and 2. the iron can stain your teeth, or so I've read. I spoon the iron into the back of my mouth, swallow it, then drink my OJ. For a week, after each dose I had slight sternum discomfort (this is a well-documented side-effect of iron-loading, and was for me proof positive it was working. It calmed down after about a week. It has not happened since my body has built up my iron numbers.) To reduce the harsh oxidizing effects on the stomach and intestines, I also take a variety of anti-oxidants with it (omega 3, ALA, and EGCG). For maximum absorption, I also take 1 ounce of water with vitamin c because 12 oz OJ isn't enough Vit C to ensure there's enough immediately available Vit C for max iron absorption. For what it's worth, I did do research on whether the body absorbs more iron if you take higher doses, and the answer seems to be, "not so much". They even say absorption seems better if you only take it once a day, not twice. So if you have nausea on the full dose, you may do just as well iron-loading with the 1/2 dose. I do intend to update my post when I have my newest blood test numbers to show the before-and-after, but I need 3 months for that. I bought a second bottle, will purchase again. Highly, Highly Recommended.