"Tired of being tired?" If you live in the UK, you will have seen those strategically placed ads of a woman yawning.
And the answer it gives is an iron supplement.
Iron is often pedalled as a solution for many things.
Low ferritin, low energy, pale skin, brittle nails and anxiety to name a few.
“It’s your iron”, they say, “take this pill—or even go straight to an IV.”
No further questions.
No curiosity about your diet, gut inflammation, or menstrual cycle.
Just take it and swallow.
And forget the side effects of iron supplementation which are:
– Constipation
– Nausea
– Abdominal cramps or pain
– Dark or black stools
– Diarrhoea
– Metallic taste in the mouth
– Heartburn or reflux
– Vomiting (in higher doses)
– Gut microbiome disruption
– Reduced absorption of zinc, copper, and other minerals
So what's actually going on?
Welcome to the Forgotten Story of B2
The yellow coenzyme that barely gets a mention. Even though it underpins one of the most vital processes in your body: oxygen delivery.
And any guesses what food packs the most punch for correcting iron issues?
Liver.
Not a synthetic pill. Not an IV drip. Liver.
Let’s dig deeper.
Iron Alone Can’t Save You
We’ve been conditioned to zoom in on the numbers—serum iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation—and respond with quick fixes like iron supplements or transfusions.
But here’s the truth most don’t want to say out loud:
Iron is useless without the right support team.
It needs help to be moved, converted, and actually used by the body.
Analogy time:
Batman is only half the man without Robin.
Iron is the Batman. Riboflavin is Robin.
Without cofactors—like B2, copper, glycine, B6—iron stays stuck. It builds up. It causes chaos.
And what’s the most bioavailable, abundant source of all of those nutrients together?
Liver. Again.
- No B2 = No Iron Transport
- No B2 = iron can’t be converted into its transportable form
- No B2 = iron can’t be inserted into haemoglobin
- No B2 = functional anaemia, even if your iron “looks normal”
It’s not just about having enough iron.
It’s about having the machinery and the fuel to use it.
B2 runs that machinery.
Iron without B2 is like petrol in a car with no spark plug.
It just sits there unused, potentially damaging.
You won't be told you're B2 deficient, but boy you'll feel it.
Common signs include:
– Cracks at the corners of your mouth
– Burning eyes or tongue
– Light sensitivity
– Fatigue that doesn’t shift, despite supplements
– Low ferritin that won’t budge
– Or even signs of iron overload, despite strict iron intake
Why So Many Are B2 Deficient (Even If They Eat “Healthily”)
Industrialised food systems – B2 is highly sensitive to light, heat, and oxygen. Modern processing wipes it out.
Low consumption of organ meats – Liver, heart, kidney: rich in B2. Most people won’t touch them.
High-grain, low-fat diets – Riboflavin, like zinc and B1, needs fat for proper absorption.
Alcohol, antacids, hormonal birth control, stress – All increase the body’s need for B2 (and deplete other essential nutrients too).
Veganism or restrictive diets – Without careful planning, it’s easy to run short on B2. Especially without organ meats or raw dairy.
The Oath Solution: Liver, Heart & The Yellow Coenzyme
Our ancestors didn’t take riboflavin supplements.
They didn’t get anaemic from poor diet. And they replenished their strength with nose-to-tail nutrition.
Liver – among the richest B2 sources on Earth
Heart – delivers B2 and CoQ10 for mitochondrial support
Kidney – contains B2, selenium, and DAO (for histamine issues)
Egg yolks, shellfish, raw dairy – all B2-rich ancestral staples
You’ll find B2 where it’s always been:
In a proper pork and liver sausage, an Everything Burger, or nose-to-tail mince. Made the way your great-grandparents did. Not a scientist in a lab coat.
In Closing: Don’t Outsource the Blueprint
Riboflavin doesn’t just activate iron. It activates you.
Your metabolism, your energy systems & mitochondria.
It’s not a nutrient of hype—it’s a nutrient of function.
And this is why Oath Food Co. exists.
To bring back the missing foundations.
To restore forgotten nutrients.
To stop outsourcing your biology to pills and patches and potions.
We’ve written in more detail on Vitamin B2 before—but this should show you one thing clearly:
Iron might not be the problem.
But without B2, you’ll keep treating the wrong target.
Speak soon,
R, J & N