LESLIE ELIZABETH

For years, I was a dedicated blood donor.

Giving blood was something I looked forward to because it was a simple way to help someone else (also came with a free car wash). But eventually, something changed. Every time I showed up to donate, I started hearing the same thing:

“Your hemoglobin is too low.”

At first, it wasn’t alarming. Around 2015, my doctor told me I was borderline anemic and suggested taking an over-the-counter iron supplement during my menstrual cycle. It was enough to keep my levels from dropping too far, but it never addressed the underlying problem. I remained on the edge of anemia for years.

Then everything changed after I turned 35.

When Borderline Became Severe

By 2023, I was officially anemic.

At the time, I had been following a plant-based lifestyle for 4 years. Add another 4 years, I receieved a diagnosis of fibroids after a 40 day bleeding episode which never happened to me before. Being told by a gynocologist that fibroids can not be shrink and we will just have to “wait and see.”

I did not agree with that statment and turned to the wholistic community. I adopted the raw vegan diet after being encouraged by a self-proclaimed wholistic health coach who believed it would help shrink my fibroids naturally.

I was committed. Did every thing she said. Plus I paid $1,500 for this one-on-one service. No one charges that amount of money without delivering, right?

I wanted to heal my body without surgery, and I truly believed food could be powerful medicine. While I still believe nutrition plays a major role in our health, I also learned one of the most important lessons of my wellness journey:

The healthiest diet is the one that works for your body—not someone else’s.

For me, remaining exclusively plant-based was no longer supporting my health.

Between heavy menstrual bleeding and not consuming enough highly absorbable iron, my body simply couldn’t keep up. My iron stores continued to decline until I became severely anemic.

It was a difficult realization because I had invested almost a decade into that lifestyle. But healing required me to let go of what wasn’t working. Below is how my body shifted once I released the raw vegan diet.

The Wake-Up Call

Everything became more urgent when I decided to pursue a commission in the Air Force. One of the medical requirements was having healthy hemoglobin levels. My anemia wasn’t just making me feel tired—it was standing between me and a life-changing goal.

Instead of accepting that it would take a year or more to recover, I decided to become intentional. I opened ChatGPT and asked it to help me create a three-month plan (Feburary – April 2026) focused on increasing my hemoglobin naturally alongside my physician’s recommendations.

Then I committed to following that plan consistently.

The Plan That Helped Me Recover

Recovery wasn’t about finding one miracle supplement. It was about doing several evidence-based things consistently every day. Here’s what my routine looked like.

1. Prioritized Iron Every Morning

I took my perscribed iron supplement consistently every morning and evening instead of only during my menstrual cycle. Consistency made a tremendous difference.

2. Paired Iron with Vitamin C

Vitamin C significantly improves iron absorption, so I always took my iron with perscribed vitamin C rather than by itself. Now I am proactive about my health and seeing how I can maximize my intake. I learned about liquid iron and liposomal vitamin C. Game changer!

3. Added More Heme Iron

This was probably the biggest dietary change.

After eight years of eating plant-based, I began incorporating high-quality animal proteins that naturally contain heme iron—the form of iron our bodies absorb most efficiently. Chatgpt strongly encouranged me to eat a red meat and cooked cruciferous veggstables every day.

• Bison (by law must be pasture-raised, grass-fed, and it is illegal to inject with antibiotics or hormones)
• Grass-fed Beef Liver (every friday)
• Wild-caught Salmon (weekends)
• Sustainably Caught Sardines (weekends)
• Venison (Pasture-raised, Grass-fed, no antibiotics or hormones)
• Lamb (Pasture-raised, Grass-fed, no antibiotics or hormones)

4. Increased Protein Intake

I did not focus on calories, I intentionally ate enough protein to support healing and overall health. Yes, I gained 12 lbs. and I love how I look at 150. Becoming a member at Function Health I was able to get labs done that are not available at our doctors, including the lab result for leptin.

Leptin is the hormone that shows if we are under or overeating. I was undereating. People might have looked at me and saw health at 132 lbs, but I was not. Slim does not mean healthy. If being 150 lbs at 5′ 7″ is my healthy, I will take it with a smile on my face 🙂

5. Avoided Iron Blockers Around Supplements

Being a tea lover, I had to become strategic. True teas or consuming calcium-rich foods close to when I took my iron was a NO because they can interfere with absorption. Instead, I spaced my teas and smoothies at least an hour apart from taking iron and vitamin C.

6. Focused on Nutrient-Dense Meals

Rather than chasing the newest health trend, I centered my meals around whole foods rich in iron, B vitamins, vitamin C, and other nutrients involved in healthy red blood cell production. On every plate was a protien, fiber, and healthy fat. Example: ground bison (protein), quinoa (fiber), brussel sprouts (cruciferous vegstable), and half avocado (healty fat).

Shout out to @Glampreezy who is a women’s health advocate and fibroid coach who educated me on how the protein, fiber, and fat helps with hormone and blood sugar management.

7. Exercise

Focusing on getting in shape for the military, the workouts were high intensity. For a severly anemic person high intensity workouts destroy the red blood cells quicker than it can rebuild. If I could not jog without breathing hard I had to slow down. I could not go past phase II while working out.

My red blood cells had to be given a chance to restore and build. For 3 months I used my apple watch to make sure I did not past phase II and I could hold a conversation while walk/jogging. Below is my red blood count and hematocrit

7. Stayed Consistent

The biggest lesson?

Healing wasn’t about perfection. It was about repeating healthy habits every single day for three months. Buying a large wall calendar every month made me see my goals everyday. I tracked meals, bowel movements, water consumption, and lab test results.

I was able to schedule my own tests through Function Health and did not have to wait on my doctor to put in an order. I was fully in controll!

The Results

Three months later, my blood work told a completely different story.

My hemoglobin had improved enough that I had successfully reversed my anemia.

Seeing those numbers improve monthly was incredibly rewarding—not just because of the Air Force requirements, but because I finally felt like my body was recovering. I had more energy. I wasn’t constantly exhausted.

I felt stronger.

Most importantly, I learned that healing is often less about finding a magic solution and more about consistently doing the basics well.

What I Learned

Looking back, my anemia wasn’t caused by one thing.

It was the combination of years of heavy menstrual bleeding due to diagnosed fibroids (which we will talk about in another blog) and a diet that was no longer meeting my body’s needs.

For someone else, a plant-based lifestyle may work beautifully.

For me, it didn’t.

And that’s okay.

One of the hardest parts of any wellness journey is giving yourself permission to change your mind when new information—or your body—tells you something different.

Health isn’t about proving a philosophy. It’s about listening to your body. I eat according to my blood now.

If You’re Struggling with Anemia

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia, know that recovery is possible.

Work with your healthcare provider to identify the cause of your anemia. Simply taking iron without understanding why you’re deficient may only treat the symptom rather than the underlying issue.

Track your blood work. I recommed Function Health to put you in the driver seat. Be consistent with your supplements. Support your body with nutrient-dense foods. Most importantly, don’t compare your healing journey to anyone else’s. Your body is uniquely yours.

My Biggest Takeaway

Reversing my anemia in three months wasn’t luck. It was the result of making intentional choices every day, staying consistent, and being willing to let go of a lifestyle that was no longer serving me.

Sometimes healing requires changing your habits. Sometimes it requires changing your perspective. Managing stress well. And sometimes it requires realizing that what worked in one season of life may not work in the next.

For me, reversing my anemia wasn’t just about improving a lab value. It was about reclaiming my health, pursuing my goals with confidence, and learning that true wellness begins with listening to your own body.

Life after 35 isn’t about slowing down—it’s about becoming stronger, wiser, and more intentional.

If you’re ready to prioritize your health, embrace reinvention, and build a life that feels aligned with who you’re becoming, join my community. Every week, I share practical wellness tips, honest reflections, and the lessons I’m learning along the way. I’d love to have you with us as we redefine what’s possible after 35.