NOW Foods Iron 36 mg Double Strength (90 Veg Capsules) – Gentle, Non-Constipating Ferrochel™ Iron for Energy & Red Blood Cell Support
If you feel tired, sluggish, or worn out by midday, low iron levels might be keeping your body from making the energy it needs. NOW Foods Iron 36 mg Double Strength delivers a bioavailable, stomach-friendly form of supplemental iron designed to fuel healthy red blood cells and support physical stamina.
Unlike cheap drugstore iron pills that frequently cause severe nausea, stomach cramps, and constipation, this advanced formula uses patented Ferrochel™ Ferrous Bisglycinate. By wrapping elemental iron in two molecules of the gentle amino acid glycine, Ferrochel™ passes peacefully through your stomach so your intestines can absorb it like a natural protein.
Quick Specs Snapshot
✓ Active Form & Potency: Delivers 36 mg of elemental iron per single vegetarian capsule (derived from 180 mg of patented Ferrochel™ Ferrous Bisglycinate Chelate, supplying 200% of the Daily Value).
✓ Primary Cellular Target: Directly fuels hemoglobin synthesis in red blood cells, myoglobin in muscle tissues, and mitochondrial energy (ATP) production across all body cells.
✓ Supply & Value Math: 90 vegetarian capsules provide a complete 3-month (90-day) supply in one bottle, giving you twice the potency of standard 18 mg iron pills at an affordable daily cost.
✓ Formulation Purity: 100% Vegan/Vegetarian; non-GMO; free of wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, and sesame; produced in an audited Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) facility.
Smart Buyer's Guide: Ferrochel™ Chelate vs. Cheap Drugstore Iron
Most low-cost iron supplements sold at big-box retailers rely on inorganic iron salts like ferrous sulfate or ferrous fumarate. When these cheap salts hit your stomach acid, they break apart into electrically charged, free iron ions (Fe2+). These free ions irritate your stomach lining like battery acid, trigger intense nausea, and dry out your digestive tract into rock-hard stools.
Ferrochel™ is completely different. Scientists chemically bind the iron atom to two molecules of glycine, creating an electrically neutral organic ring. Because this molecular shield stays intact through the stomach, the iron never touches your stomach lining and absorbs smoothly in your small intestine without irritating your gut or locking up your bowels.
Is This Formula Right for You?
Ideal For Shoppers Who:
✓Struggle with Stomach Sensitivity: Anyone who had to stop taking drugstore iron pills due to nausea, dark hard stools, acid reflux, or painful constipation.
✓Experience Fatigue or Heavy Blood Loss: Menstruating women, distance runners, frequent blood donors, and plant-based eaters whose daily food intake lacks easily absorbable heme iron.
✓Want Maximum Value & Potency: Shoppers who need a true double-strength dose (36 mg elemental iron) in a single, easy-to-swallow daily capsule rather than taking multiple weak pills.
Consider Another Option If:
✗You Are an Adult Male or Post-Menopausal Female with Normal Iron: Men and post-menopausal women do not lose blood monthly and can build up dangerous iron stores in the liver if iron is taken when not medically needed.
✗You Have an Iron Storage Disorder: Anyone diagnosed with hemochromatosis or hemosiderosis must avoid all supplemental iron.
✗You Seek a Low-Dose Daily Multivitamin: If your blood iron levels are already optimal and you only desire baseline nutritional insurance, a balanced multivitamin with low or zero iron is a better match.
Risk-Free Assurance: Every purchase at VitaNet®, LLC is backed by our unconditional 100% money-back guarantee. If this gentle iron formula does not agree with your stomach or meet your expectations, we will refund your purchase and cover return shipping, even on opened bottles.
How Ferrochel™ Iron Works Inside Your Cells
Think of red blood cells like millions of tiny delivery trucks driving through your bloodstream. To carry cargo, every single truck needs a set of magnetic shelves. Iron is that magnet. Without enough iron, your body cannot build the shelves, and your cells are starved of oxygen.
1. Building Hemoglobin: The Cellular Oxygen Carrier
Roughly 70% of the iron in your body lives inside hemoglobin, a specialized protein inside your red blood cells. Each hemoglobin molecule contains four iron atoms (Fe2+). When you inhale fresh air, these iron atoms bind tightly to oxygen molecules (O2) in your lungs. The red blood cells then travel through your arteries and deliver that oxygen to your brain, heart, and working muscles [1]. When your iron runs low, your body cannot make enough hemoglobin, which leads directly to fatigue, cold hands and feet, and pale skin [2].
2. Fueling Myoglobin & Muscular Stamina
Iron also powers myoglobin, a special oxygen-holding protein located directly inside muscle tissues. Myoglobin stores a quick reserve of oxygen that your muscle fibers tap into whenever you climb stairs, lift groceries, or go for a run [3]. Having adequate iron ensures your muscles receive steady oxygen during exertion, preventing premature muscle burn and heavy limbs.
3. Generating Cellular ATP Energy in the Mitochondria
Beyond blood transport, iron is an indispensable worker inside your mitochondria, the cellular engines that produce energy. Iron forms the core of iron-sulfur clusters and cytochrome enzymes in the electron transport chain. These microscopic enzymes use iron to convert the foods you eat into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the universal fuel your cells burn to keep your heart beating, your thoughts sharp, and your energy high [3].
4. The "Trojan Horse" Absorption Advantage (PEPT1 Pathway)
Normal iron supplements must use a crowded intestinal doorway called the DMT-1 transporter. Other minerals like calcium, zinc, and dietary phytates constantly crowd that same door, blocking the iron from absorbing. In contrast, Ferrochel™ acts like a clever "Trojan Horse." Because the iron is shielded between two glycine amino acids, your digestive tract treats it as a digested protein fragment (a dipeptide). It bypasses the crowded mineral doorway completely and absorbs smoothly through dedicated peptide channels (PEPT1) [4, 5]. This allows Ferrochel™ to absorb up to 2 to 4 times better than standard iron salts while leaving your stomach completely at ease [1, 2].
Scientific Reference Monographs:
[1] Pineda, O., & Ashmead, H. D. (2001). Effectiveness of treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in infants and young children with ferrous bis-glycinate chelate. Nutrition, 17(5), 381–384.
[2] Coplin, M., et al. (1991). Tolerability of iron: a comparison of bis-glycino iron II and ferrous sulfate. Clinical Therapeutics, 13(5), 606–612.
[3] Beard, J. L. (2001). Iron biology in immune function, muscle metabolism and cognition. The Journal of Nutrition, 131(2), 568S–580S.
[4] Layrisse, M., et al. (2000). Iron bioavailability in humans from breakfasts enriched with iron bis-glycinate chelate, phytates and polyphenols. The Journal of Nutrition, 130(9), 2195–2199.
[5] Milman, N., et al. (2014). Ferrous bisglycinate 25 mg iron is as effective as ferrous sulfate 50 mg iron in the prophylaxis of iron deficiency and anemia during pregnancy. Journal of Perinatal Medicine, 42(2), 197–206.
Daily Dosing, Timing & Synergy Protocol
Optimal Timing & Meal Pairing
Adults take 1 capsule daily. Because Ferrochel™ is gentle on digestive tissue, you can take it with a light meal or even on an empty stomach with a glass of water. If you have an exceptionally sensitive stomach, taking your capsule alongside food provides extra comfort.
Circadian & Morning Dosing Strategy
The best time to take your iron capsule is in the morning or early afternoon with breakfast or lunch. Your body produces a natural hormone called hepcidin, which acts like an internal brake on iron absorption. Hepcidin levels are naturally lowest in the morning and rise as the day goes on. Taking your dose in the morning takes full advantage of this natural biological rhythm.
Smart Synergies & The 2-Hour Spacing Rule
To get the most out of your iron supplement, keep these simple pairing rules in mind:
Helpful Synergy (Vitamin C): Taking your iron capsule with a source of Vitamin C (such as an orange, strawberries, bell peppers, or a 250 mg to 500 mg Vitamin C supplement) helps keep iron in its soluble state for maximum absorption.
Coffee & Black Tea (Wait 2 Hours): Coffee and tea contain strong plant polyphenols and tannins that bind to minerals and can slow down absorption. Separate your iron capsule from your morning cup of coffee or tea by at least 2 hours.
Dairy & Calcium Supplements (Wait 2 Hours): High concentrations of calcium compete directly with iron for digestive uptake. Avoid taking your iron capsule with large glasses of milk, cheese, or high-dose calcium pills.
Prescription Medications (Wait 2 to 4 Hours): Supplemental iron can bind to thyroid medications (like levothyroxine) and certain antibiotics (tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones). Always space your iron supplement at least 2 to 4 hours away from prescription drugs.
Timeline of Typical Results
Week 1 (Digestive Ease & Uptake): Bioavailable iron enters your bloodstream without the stomach burning, dark hard stools, or constipation caused by conventional iron salts.
Weeks 3–4 (Red Blood Cell Renewal): Your bone marrow actively utilizes the absorbed iron to manufacture fresh hemoglobin and new red blood cells. Most users notice steady daytime energy, warmer hands and feet, and better exercise stamina.
Months 2–3+ (Restoring Deep Ferritin Stores): Consistent daily supplementation rebuilds your body's deep iron storage banks (ferritin) in your liver and bone marrow, establishing durable, long-term vitality and immune resilience.
NOW Foods packages this formula in a small, smooth, two-piece vegetarian capsule (made of hypromellose plant cellulose). Unlike large, chalky tablets that feel scratchy in your throat, this vegetable capsule glides down easily with a swallow of water. If you struggle to swallow pills, you can gently pull the two capsule halves apart and stir the fine powder into applesauce or fruit juice (avoid mixing into dairy milk or yogurt).
Aroma, Taste & Natural Color Notes
Because this product is 100% free of artificial flavors, sweeteners, and synthetic food dyes, the capsules have a neutral, faint earthy scent. The vegetable capsule shell keeps the mineral powder sealed so you never experience the unpleasant metallic aftertaste common with chewable or liquid iron products. The powder inside ranges from light tan to greyish-brown; slight color variations from bottle to bottle are completely natural and reflect authentic raw mineral lots.
Other Ingredients Demystified
Every non-active ingredient in this bottle serves a clean, functional purpose:
Rice Flour: A natural, hypoallergenic plant powder used to fill out the capsule volume evenly so every single capsule delivers the exact same active dose.
Hypromellose (Cellulose Capsule): A 100% plant-based vegetarian capsule shell made from natural wood pulp cellulose that dissolves quickly and cleanly in stomach fluids within 15 minutes.
Stearic Acid (Vegetable Source): A clean, plant-derived fatty acid that lubricates encapsulation machinery, preventing fine powders from sticking during manufacturing.
Silicon Dioxide: A naturally occurring mineral compound found in rocks and plants, used in tiny amounts to absorb moisture and keep powders flowing freely into capsules.
Bottle Storage & Critical Child Safety
Store your bottle tightly closed in a cool, dry place away from heat and moisture (avoid storing supplements in damp bathroom medicine cabinets).
WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.
NOW Foods Lab Purity Standards & Strict Contaminant Constraints
Minerals originate deep in the earth, which means raw mineral ingredients can easily carry natural background contaminants like toxic heavy metals if suppliers do not screen them rigorously. Many discount brands sold in big-box stores or through anonymous online third-party sellers skip expensive laboratory screening to cut costs. NOW Foods maintains one of the largest and most advanced private testing complexes in North America, running over 31,000 analytical tests every single month.
NOW operates over 40,000 square feet of state-of-the-art testing facilities in Bloomingdale, Illinois and Sparks, Nevada. These laboratories hold official ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation through the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). This globally recognized standard confirms that NOW's analytical instruments, calibration methods, and PhD chemists meet the same strict protocols required of forensic and pharmaceutical laboratories.
2. ICP-MS Heavy Metal Screening at Parts-Per-Billion (ppb)
To shield consumers from toxic environmental contaminants, NOW screens raw mineral shipments and finished capsules using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). This ultra-sensitive instrument vaporizes samples in a plasma torch at over 6,000° Kelvin, identifying and counting individual metal atoms down to single parts per billion (ppb). Every production run must meet strict safety thresholds that beat standard industry requirements:
✓Lead (Pb): Screened well below California Proposition 65 limits (<0.5 mcg/day) and standard United States Pharmacopeia (USP ⟨2232⟩) ceilings.
✓Inorganic Arsenic (As): Strictly monitored to ensure complete safety and purity.
✓Cadmium (Cd) & Mercury (Hg): Verified non-detectable at toxicological thresholds.
3. FTIR & Albion™ TRAACS™ Chelate Verification
Unscrupulous manufacturers sometimes take cheap iron sulfate, blend it with loose glycine powder in a mixer, and falsely label it as "chelated." NOW uses Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) alongside Albion's patented TRAACS™ (The Real Amino Acid Chelate System) testing methodology. This test inspects the molecular bonds, proving that 100% of the iron is chemically bonded to the glycine molecules before the batch is released for bottling.
Automated microbial assays confirm the complete absence of hazardous pathogens, including Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. NOW's manufacturing facilities are certified for Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) by UL Solutions and the Natural Products Association (NPA), giving you complete confidence in the purity of every capsule.
Verified Supplement Facts & Retailer Integrity
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 Veg Capsule
Servings Per Container: 90
Description
Amount Per Serving
% Daily Value
Iron (elemental) (from 180 mg Ferrous Bisglycinate) (Ferrochel™)
36 mg
200%
Other Ingredients: Rice Flour, Hypromellose (cellulose capsule), Stearic Acid (vegetable source) and Silicon Dioxide.
Allergen Free: Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
Caution: For adults only. Do not exceed recommended dosage unless directed by a physician. Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.
Ferrochel™ and the Albion Gold Medallion designs are trademarks of Albion Laboratories, Inc. NOW® Double Strength Iron has twice the Iron (36 mg per capsule) as in our regular strength product (18 mg per capsule).
Curator's Quality Note: Why Buy From VitaNet®, LLC?
Where you purchase your supplements matters just as much as the brand you select. Mass open marketplaces frequently co-mingle products from unverified third-party liquidators, leaving shoppers vulnerable to heat-damaged inventory, near-expiration batches, and counterfeit products.
VitaNet®, LLC has served customers as an independent, family-owned natural health retailer since 1995. With over 31 years of continuous experience in human biochemistry and supplement curation, we guarantee:
Direct Manufacturer Sourcing: All products are ordered directly from authorized brand facilities and shipped straight to our climate-controlled retail warehouse in Hartville, Ohio.
Unconditional 100% Money-Back Guarantee: We want you to try this formula with complete confidence. If you are unsatisfied for any reason, we refund your purchase and pay for return shipping, even on opened bottles.
A+ Better Business Bureau Rating: VitaNet holds an A+ accredited rating with the BBB, reflecting over three decades of exceptional customer service and honest business practices.
Real Human Support: Have a question about an order? Our experienced wellness staff answers the phone directly at (330) 877-8786 during retail business hours.
Store Address: VitaNet, LLC, 887 Edison Street Northwest, Hartville, Ohio 44632. Phone: (330) 877-8786.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Frequently Asked Questions About NOW Iron 36 mg
Why is Ferrochel™ called "gentle and non-constipating" compared to regular iron pills?
Standard drugstore iron pills use inorganic iron salts like ferrous sulfate. In your stomach, these salts dissolve into free, charged iron ions that irritate the sensitive stomach lining, trigger nausea, and cause hard, dry stools. Ferrochel™ is ferrous bisglycinate, meaning the iron atom is chemically bonded between two neutral glycine amino acid molecules. This organic shield stays intact through your stomach and absorbs smoothly in your small intestine through peptide pathways, preventing the stomach cramps and constipation common with older iron pills.
Can I open the vegetarian capsule and mix the powder into food or drinks?
Yes. These are two-piece vegetarian hypromellose capsules that can be gently pulled apart. You can stir the fine powder directly into applesauce, fruit puree, or a morning smoothie. Because Ferrochel™ is an organic chelate, it has far less metallic flavor than crushed iron salts. However, do not stir the powder into dairy milk, yogurt, or calcium-fortified plant milks, because high amounts of calcium can compete with iron absorption.
Why does this formula provide 36 mg of iron (200% Daily Value)?
The baseline Daily Value for iron is set at 18 mg, which is sufficient for maintaining general health in individuals with optimal iron stores. NOW Foods Double Strength Iron provides 36 mg specifically for individuals who have depleted iron reserves, experience heavy menstrual blood loss, follow strict vegetarian diets, or engage in intense athletic training. A 36 mg dose provides the higher physiological support needed to rebuild deep ferritin storage pools without requiring you to swallow multiple pills.
Can I take this iron capsule with my morning coffee or a glass of milk?
It is best to separate your iron capsule from coffee, tea, and milk by at least 2 hours. Coffee and black or green tea contain natural polyphenols and tannins that bind to iron molecules, while the high calcium content in dairy products competes with iron for digestive uptake. For maximum absorption, take your capsule with a glass of water or citrus juice, and enjoy your morning coffee or dairy breakfast two hours later.
Will taking this iron supplement break an intermittent fast?
No. A single vegetarian capsule of NOW Iron 36 mg contains virtually zero calories, zero carbohydrates, and zero fat. It will not cause a spike in blood sugar or trigger an insulin response, meaning it will not break a metabolic fast. While Ferrochel™ is gentle enough to be taken during a fasting window, if you ever experience mild stomach awareness, taking it alongside your first balanced meal of the day is completely fine.
