Deficiency: What you should eat to cure anemia

Anaemia is characterised by the deficiency of the quality and quantity of hemoglobin, a molecule found in the red blood cells. Red blood cells are one of the major components of blood.

Friday, March 01, 2013
Dr. Joseph Kamugisha

Anaemia is characterised by the deficiency of the quality and quantity of hemoglobin, a molecule found in the red blood cells. Red blood cells are one of the major components of blood. Haemoglobin is important as it carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues in the human body. When the haemoglobin is unable to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues, the body develops anaemia. An individual who has anaemia may experience symptoms such as incessant fatigue, insomnia (sleeplessness), dizziness, pale skin, shortness of breath, a loss of regular menstrual cycle and unusually rapid heart beat.It is important to understand that if one is diagnosed with anemia, he or she should seek advice from the doctor to figure out which iron rich medication is best to treat the anaemia. Anaemia occurs in varying stages. So you should consume the exact amount of iron that your doctor prescribes to specifically tackle it and avoid a fatal iron overdose.So, once you have figured out how much iron you need per day to treat the anaemia, you can decide to take foods that are rich in iron and are quite effective at treating it rather than taking iron-containing tablets.Fruits such as apples and tomatoes are great to eat when treating anemia. You can either eat apples or tomatoes; drink 100 percent pure apple and tomato juice to treat the condition. Also, fruits that effectively treat anaemia are plums, bananas, lemons, grapes, oranges, carrots when eaten in large quantities.Honey is a potent source of iron, copper and manganese. When these elements are combined they aid in hemoglobin synthesis. Honey is therefore a powerful weapon against anemia. You can eat honey with slices of apples or bananas for iron and energy when treating anemia.Red meat such as kidney, heart and liver are iron-rich and effective in treating the ailment. Poultry and fish are equally effective.Some vegetables such as spinach are not only rich in iron but also Vitamin B-12 and folic acid, energy boosting nutrients that the body needs to heal from anaemia. Beetroot is also an iron-rich vegetable juice that those suffering from anaemia can drink as a tonic against fatigue and lethargy.Legumes and nuts such as pulses, almonds, whole grain cereals, dry dates, peanuts and walnuts are effective against the symptoms and causes of anaemia.Treating anaemia is a matter of how much food we eat that aid in haemoglobin synthesis. In general, to treat the ailment, focus should be placed on foods that are good sources of iron, copper, zinc, folic acid, Vitamin B-12 and protein. People suffering from the disease need energy as a lack of iron deprives the body of stored energy that the body always has.It is important to consider that iron is one of the key dietary minerals necessary for normal bodily functions. This nutrient is necessary for the production of haemoglobin, the red blood cells that carry oxygen to the body. Iron deficiency can lead to the dangerous disease.Besides the role of iron in formation of haemoglobin, it is important in brain development, regulation of body temperature, muscle activity and catecholamine metabolism. One of the major benefits of iron is that it increases energy.Iron facilitates the binding of oxygen to the blood cells, which in turn contributes to cell respiration. It also helps in increasing the immune system of the body. So, eating it in enough quantity can help an individual to fight against infections. If the iron level is low, the dietitian may advise you to take iron rich foods or multivitamin tablets. There are two types of iron found in foods; heme and non-heme iron. Although iron is found in a variety of foods and supplements, its availability to the body varies significantly depending on the type of iron present in the food. Heme iron is found largely in meat, fish and poultry while non-heme iron is found primarily in fruits, vegetables, dried beans, nuts and grain products.It is however important to avoid high quantities of tea and coffee as they inhibit iron absorption.