Home remedies for anemia
Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein present in red blood cells and is responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body It is necessary to maintain normal levels of hemoglobin in your blood for your body to function properly.
The decrease in hemoglobin level may cause weakness, fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath, dizziness, poor appetite, and rapid heartbeat and the significant decrease can lead to Anemia.
Usually, a low hemoglobin count is due to an iron deficiency, however, there may be other reasons for it too, like excessive dieting, living an unhealthy lifestyle, some diseases, and cancers. You must visit a doctor to get a more accurate diagnosis of the cause.
There are many types of diseases. The first type is the one where you need to undergo extensive treatment to get back to a normal life. Examples are cancer, AIDS, and broken limbs in accidents.
The second type of disease is if you make changes in your lifestyle you can remain happy, healthy and prevent their re-occurrence. Anemia is one of the diseases which can be cured with food. The condition occurs when the blood contains a low number of red blood cells below the required level.
There are many symptoms of anemia. Some are mentioned below
- Weakness in muscles
- Fatigue
- Changes in moods
- Brain fog
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Pale skin
- Irregular heartbeat
- Low stamina
- Reduced endurance
- Chest pains
If left untreated, the condition can lead to complications including the vital organs in the human body such as the heart, brain, and kidneys.
Anemia can also be described as the lack of a required level of hemoglobin in the body. It is the constituent that gives the blood its red color.
It also assists the cells to carry oxygen to all parts of the human body from the lungs. This is the main reason, why anemic individuals suffer from fatigue. The reason, their body cells do not receive much oxygen.
Haemoglobin also does other functions such as prevention of bleeding during injury, clotting blood, and fights the infections along with WBC. Iron is the main constituent required for hemoglobin production.
The best way to find the symptom is to take a hematocrit test and hemoglobin test.
It is advised that you have to avoid these foods
- Processed grains
- Sugars/sweeteners
- Chocolate – now we can see the anger in your eyes! Choc! Are you gasping? But yes! It can remove the iron from the body.
- Conventional Dairy Products – Calcium, the mineral that binds to iron in the digestion process. The result is the poor absorption of iron.
- Soda – This liquid may possess a high quantity of sugar. But it lacks nutritional ingredients. And It blocks the absorption of iron.
- Coffee/BlackTea – If you drink too much coffee, then the absorption of iron is less. So it is better to have a cup of coffee only one time a day.
Diet Plan For Anemia
The plan includes changes in diet. In other words, you have to include recipes rich in iron and also the items which promote absorption of the vital ingredient (iron).
Please note, that there are two types of iron. The names are heme iron and the second type is nonheme iron. The first type, you can find is seafood, meat, and poultry.
The second type, you can find mostly in plant varieties. Although the human body can absorb both types easily, heme iron is the easily absorbed one.
A normal human being requires at least an iron of 150 to 200 milligrams every day. If you find that the food you eat is insufficient, opt for over-the-counter iron supplements.
You can include the below-mentioned foods in the diet to take the fight to the altar regarding iron deficiency and anemia.
1. Leafy greens
Yes, as the name suggests, it is difficult to cook these greens and leaves. But they are considered the best for non-heme iron. Some of the most popular are –
- Kale
- Collard greens
- Spinach – Does it remember you of “Popeye”? One of the best foods for the treatment of anemia. If a normal person consumes spinach in a week, then it can prevent anemia. It contains Vitamin A, calcium, B9, iron, and beta-carotene. Other than maintaining the amount of iron in the body, it also helps to balance the immunity levels.
- Swiss chard
The collard and Swiss chard possess folate. If a human body is low in folate, then it will cause folate-deficiency anemia. The other sources are beans, citrus fruits, and grains. When you take these greens, ensure that you also eat citric fruits. Some are red peppers, oranges, strawberries.[1]
2. Meat/Poultry
Both the above-mentioned items contain in low amounts, heme iron. The best sources, however, are lamb, venison, and red meat. However, when you partake with leafy greens and citrus fruits, the iron will be absorbed easily.[2]
3. Liver
Usually, it has never been the norm to like organ meats by more people, but they contain more quantity of iron. The best source is the liver, rich in folate and iron. Some of the other organ parts are the beef tongue, kidney, and heart.[3]
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4. Seafood
The Japanese live longer because they consume seafood rich in nutrients. They select the seaweeds rich in iron. There are also sea organisms that possess a good quantity of iron such as clams, oysters, and clams. The fishes, possessing a rich content of iron are –
- Fresh tuna or canned tuna
- Fresh salmon
- Fresh haddock
- Halibut
- Tuna
When it comes to salmon, it has got a good account of iron as well as calcium. The major disadvantage is calcium can bind with iron thus reducing the absorption of this constituent.
So it is necessary to avoid consuming foods rich in calcium and iron at the same time. The foods rich in calcium are –
- Raw milk
- Kefir
- YoghurtBroccoli
- Tofu
- Sardines
5.Vegetarian Foods
Are you a vegetarian on some days? Don’t you touch food these days? In such cases, opt for foods rich in Vitamin C and iron. Some of the examples are orange juice, cereals, white bread, pasta, cornmeal, and white rice.
6. Beans
Beans, take the first place if you are a pure vegetarian. Some of the best options are –
- Soybeans
- Kidney beans
- Chickpeas
- Peas
- Black beans
- Lima beans
7. Nuts/Seeds
You can also include this type in the diet. When mixed with salads/yogurt, they taste great. It is better to consume them raw. The best sources of the component, iron are
- Cashews
- Hemp seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Pistachios
- Sunflower seeds
- Pine nuts
Oh Yes, we forgot almonds. However, kindly note they are rich in calcium. But they do not possess the capability to enhance the iron levels in the body.
8.Beetroot
Did the vegetable remind you of your grandparents? Because many of us grew up with stories around beetroot that the vegetable is filled with red juice. But the truth – it contains good levels of iron and can eliminate anemia in a short time.
9.Tomatoes
Tomatoes have the necessary quotient, Vitamin C required for the absorption of iron from other foods. Other ingredients are Vitamin E, beta-carotene as well as fiber. And the consumption of tomatoes is good for hair and skin.
10.Peanut Butter
You would have used this item as a side dish in the party event. But you never thought of it as a medicine to fight and prevent anemia? Consume peanut butter with two spoons daily. Not fond of the taste? Consume it with peanuts.
11.Eggs
One of the best easy nutritious food available everywhere. It can give essential ingredients to the body. And the best part, it has valuable constituents that help in cell repair and also enhances the growth of hair.
12.Raisins and Dates
It is really surprising, the way the world is created. Dehydrated food items contain good iron compared to fresh and hydrated items. Just compare the list – apricots, dates, and raisins.
13.Stress
The one factor which easily binds everyone in a single domain. It is everywhere, in the children because of the pressure to fare well in exams, in professional life because of rife competition in the workforce, etc.
But, consider the disadvantages. Stress leads to anger and emotional disconnect with the cosmos. It also leads to negative feelings in your body. The spleen and liver will be the most affected. In the process, you may become anemic. So invest time for relaxation. Do fun activity every week and healthy hours of sleep is a must.
The main reason, why we have pointed out, is it is not the foods that matter, but also your moods and the way you behave in life. There is a famous proverb – If you are comfortable with yourself, you will be comfortable with others. Every food you consume has to get digested, and then only the energy will get released to all parts of the body. You will remain healthy and happy.
If you harbor negative feelings, irrespective of the high nutrient food consumed, the improvement process will be slow, very slow. So, accept every day as one, and leave the rest to the Supreme Power.
14.Exercise
There are many wrong notions about exercise. Many associate it with only fitness. But there are umpteen benefits. Just imagine, although you fall asleep, some organs in the human body never stop work.
And when you wake up, all the organs start work again. You have plenty of electronic appliances in the home. You give maintenance service every six months to a year.
Don’t you give your bike or car for service every six months? Similarly, exercise is the best way to maintain all the body organs in proper condition.
15. Eat Iron-Rich Foods
Eat red meat, shrimp, tofu, spinach, almonds, dates, lentils, fortified breakfast cereals, almonds, oysters, and asparagus. You can also take an iron supplement as per your doctor’s consultation.
16. Increase Vitamin C Intake
Eat foods rich in vitamin C like papaya, oranges, lemon, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli, grapefruit, tomatoes, and spinach. You can also take vitamin C supplements after consulting your doctor.
Eat foods rich in vitamin C like papaya, oranges, lemon, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli, grapefruit, tomatoes, and spinach. You can also take vitamin C supplements after consulting your doctor.
17. Take Folic Acid
Some good food sources of folic acid are green leafy vegetables, rice, sprouts, dried beans, wheat germ, fortified cereals, peanuts, bananas, broccoli, and liver.
18. Beetroots
- Cook 1 to 2 beetroots along with their peels in a microwave or roast them on the stove.
- Allow them to cool and peel them before eating.
- You can prepare a healthy juice with 1 medium-sized beetroot, 3 carrots, and 1/2 of a sweet potato.
- Drink it once daily.
19. Apples
- Eat at least 1 apple (if possible, opt for green apples) with its skin daily.
- You can also prepare a glass of juice by mixing 1/2 cup each of apple juice and beetroot juice.
- Add a little ginger or lemon juice and drink it twice daily.
20. Blackstrap Molasses
- Mix 2 teaspoons each of blackstrap molasses and apple cider vinegar in 1 cup of water.
- Drink this once daily.
Conclusion
There are other reasons also for anemia. Eating raw rice granules can lead to anemia. So if you have a child suffering from anemia, kindly check if he/she is eating raw rice granules without your knowledge.
We hope that the above-mentioned tips are enough to cure anyone of anemia and other related problems. However, one caution. Before adhering to a certain diet,
kindly check if you can consume every greens or fruit, or vegetable mentioned in the article. Please note that the diet can vary according to the situation.
If you are suffering from dysentery, it would be foolish to consume foods with greens. The reason, the food will aggravate the situation. So, if you have some pre-existing problems such as diabetes, consume the foods accordingly with the advice of your physician.