This is neither novel nor groundbreaking, just thought I'd share an easy anecdote because I think a LOT of women are walking around unknowingly anemic.

I was always very sensitive to cold and would shiver easily and feel unbearably cold (same as my female relatives). Restaurants, movies, and hospitals especially, as a kid I would cry with how painfully cold my arms were.

I'm a figure model now and this has always been a problem because it's especially bad if I'm nude or holding still, which is the entire job. I needed heating pads or hot air blowing on me, and even then I would start to shiver.

I was diagnosed with anemia for other reasons and started taking supplements and increasing my iron via diet. I've been consistent for about a year now.

My iron is still low and other symptoms persist, but my cold tolerance is so much better now, which it hadn't occurred to me to expect. I don't have to ask clients for heat. I can get out of a hot bath and air-dry instead of immediately cocooning.

I can shovel snow so much easier now. I got a towel warmer for Christmas and I'm delighted, but haven't even used it.

Conversely, I've lost my heat tolerance, but what are ya gonna do.