Red blood cells are incredible important for the functioning of the entire body , they are charged with the job of delivering oxygen to the every cell while pick up carbon dioxide and other waste products. Anemia is a condition where the body either does not produce enough red blood cells or those blood cells contain too little of an iron-rich protein called hemoglobin. This can lead to problems like severe fatigue and poor oxygenation and is especially common in women of childbearing age, since they lose blood each month in the menstrual process and can also easily developing anemia while pregnant due to the demands of the fetus. The good news is that diet can go a long way to helping this condition. The following foods can help correct this and redress the imbalance in the body.
Foods with Iron
Iron helps in the manufacture of hemoglobin and foods that are iron-rich are a great choice for helping to treat anemia with diet. High iron food include vegetables like lentils, beans and other legumes, dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach or kale, eggs, dried prune or raisins and of course red meats and liver. (Reference)
Food with Folic Acid
One of the B-complex vitamins, folic acids helps the body to make new red blood cells as well and having low levels of this nutrient does put someone at risk for developing anemia. The good news is there are plenty of dietary sources of folic acid, including many nuts, legumes like beans and peas, dark leafy vegetables and enriched bread products.
Foods with Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-12 deficiency is a common nutritional problem and without it production of red blood cells in the bone marrow cannot take place. Fortunately, though, there are also a variety of foods which are rich in this nutrient. Animal-based sources of this include red meats, organ meats, fish, milk and dairy products as well as plant-based sources like fortified cereals and nutritional yeast. Be aware, however, that if someone has a condition called pernicious anemia, their body lacks to ability to absorb Vitamin B-12 from the digestive tract, so monthly injections of it may be necessary to maintain good health.
Anemia is a serious problem, particularly for women in their childbearing years as it can be a risk factor, among other things, for infant and maternal death and lead to a number of other health problems as well. The good news is that for many people, dietary changes which increase the intake of the nutrients above can help boost the body’s production of red blood cells and put the body back into balance. More good news: most of the foods listed above are really delicious and easy to include in the diet!
More From Mayimina
6 Natural Alternatives to Sugar
5 Dangerous Food and Drug Combinations
Top 5 Natural Herbs for Liver Health
