Hello,

This is my first post on this forum, though I've been reading it for a long time.

I am a 26 year old French male.

I just received the results from my blood analysis (which is routinely done here in France when beginning to work in new job), and there are two points that caught my attention:

- quite high LDL cholesterol (2.8 g/l), as well as total cholesterol (3.5 g/l). I think that's OK though, as I don't really fear high values in these categories.

- SKY-HIGH FERRITIN LEVEL! 580 mcg/l (normal values: 20~250) (and it was only at 180 in 2004. I started a raw meat diet in 2008)

I don't know what to think of this ferritin level. Ferritin is a protein that transports iron. It can be a sign of iron overload (much iron = much ferritin), but not always. Sure, I eat a lot of raw red meat, raw liver, etc., like many on this forum, but hey, not MEGATONS of it. I don't eat much seafood (rich in iron), though I craved (but haven't eaten yet) mussels and scallops lastly.

It can also be a sign of inflammation. I used to have a bad case of periodontitis, which worsened on high raw milk intake, but it progressively getting better without it. My gums are mostly pink again, after a long time of them being red.

Also, could be a sign of poor liver function, which is quite possible, as I still feel my liver is very weak.

I want to add that I have rather poor sleeping patterns, which I'm working on improving. Lack of sleep is a cause of general inflammation.

So, it could be a sign of much things, and I am undergoing further tests to refine the etiology of this high ferritin thing.

But it raises one question to me: would eating raw red meat (and liver) regularly be a dangerous thing to do, because of the high level of iron that could result (especially for men: no periods)? Isn't the body clever enough (when given the proper raw fuel) to get rid of the possible excess iron? Is ingesting some blood here and there such an UNNATURAL thing to do that one would get ill from two years of doing so?

If anyone has an answer to these questions... or maybe a thought or remark... I would be glad. Especially when one knows that a ferritin level above 250 makes one hypogonadic and stunts one's growth when in puberty. Among other health delicacies.

I don't feel eating less meat and liver would be a bright dietary perspective, so, I'm researching this iron overload (or h(a)ematochromatosis) thing. I read lex_rooker said having parasites might be a way to get rid of excess iron. As a raw pork organ meats eater, I'm doing my best, isn't it?

And also (this post has no end... Sorry), it is quite possible that my body is just completely exhausted from insomnia and such, and full of crap from my past life, etc., and is just lazy at regulating itself as a result. Will work on this too.

Summarized post: "iron overload on raw meat diet: likely or not?"

Thank you for reading