Quotations by Preston Estep III

The peril posed by iron is unique among all dietary minerals. It's the most abundant and potent oxidant in the body but your body doesn't have a way to get rid of excess iron, unlike other minerals. Iron in food and supplements appears to be one of the most--if not the most--potent dietary drivers of increased cancer risk. In an alarming study of over 300,000 people in Taiwan, cancer risk increased with increasing serum iron. Other, smaller studies also show increased risk of certain cancers with increasing body iron stores. [2016] - Preston Estep III

Limit Iron Intake: The 18 milligram Daily Value applies only to menstruating females and teenage males. The Daily Value for other adults is 8 milligrams. However, a more reasonable estimate of Daily Value for most people--especially those over the age of fifty--is 3 to 5 milligrams (depending on body size). When you're buying packaged foods, check the ingredients list carefully. If it contains the word "enriched" (like white rice) and/or the word "ferric," "ferrous," or "iron," skip it. In the Framingham Heart Study, vitamin C intake is strongly associated with high body iron stores, including iron overload. [2016] - Preston Estep III