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Iron Rich Foods to Prevent Anemia

What is Anemia ?

This is caused by deficiency of hemoglobin, the red pigment in the red cells responsible for transport of oxygen. Anemia is usually caused by both malnutrition and prolonged blood loss. Often they go together and the poor diet cannot make up the hemoglobin loss. Repeated pregnancies also cause anemia. Another common cause of prolonged blood loss is hookworms. In women, heavy menstrual flow plus dietary deficiency makes anemia a very common disease. Sickle cell anemia and thalassaemia are more common in this state.

What are symptoms of Anemia?

Severe anemia causes general pallor (Pale color of skin) and edema (excessive amount of fluid in around cells) of feet. Often, especially if anemia is moderate or severe, pallor of conjunctiva  (unusually lightness of eyes) the tongue and the nails is enough to make out a diagnosis. The patient may present with signs of heart failure.

How is Anemia Diagnosed?

Complete Blood Picture:

Often, the first test used to diagnose anemia is Complete blood count(CBC). The CBC measures many parts of your blood. This test checks your hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. The CBC also checks the number of RBC, Platelets in your blood. CBC looks at Mean Corpuscular Volume. MCV is a measure of the average size of your red blood cells.

Other blood tests:

Reticulocyte count:

This test measures the number of reticulocytes in blood. Reticulocytes are young, immature cells. Over time, reticulocytes become mature red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout body.

Peripheral smear:

For this test, a sample of your blood is examined under a microscope. If you have iron deficiency anemia, your blood cells looks smaller and paler than normal.

Serum Iron: 

Serum Iron test measures the amount of iron in your blood.

What are different types of Anemia?

Iron deficiency anemia: Iron deficiency anemia can be caused by inadequate dietary intake, inadequate GI absorption, increased iron demand (e.g Pregnancy), blood loss and chronic diseases.

Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia: This is caused by inadequate dietary intake, decreased absorption and inadequate utilization. Deficiency of intrinsic factor cause decreased absorption of vitamin B12.

Folate-deficiency anemia : Folate deficiency anemia can be caused by hyper- utilization due to pregnancy, chronic inflammatory disorders, long term dialysis. Drugs can cause anemia by reducing absorption of folate eg. Phenytoin, Methotrexate.

Thlassaemia: Thalassaemia are inherited blood disorders which cause the body to make fewer healthy red blood cells and less hemoglobin.

Sickle-cell Anemia:

Sickle- cell anemia is a serious disease in which body makes Sickle-shaped ("C"- shaped) red blood cells. Normal red blood cells are disk shaped and move easily through blood vessel. Sickle hemoglobin causes the cells to develop a sickle, crescent shape, they tend to block blood flow in blood vessels of the limbs and organs. Blocked blood flow can cause pain and organ damage. It can also raise the risk of infection.

Patient education

All patients with anemia need to increase eating of foods that contain iron. For example green leafy vegetables, bajra, ragi, beans, jaggery, meat and fish.

What are different foods that fight Anemia?

Green leafy vegetables:

Dark green leafy vegetables are especially good sources of iron, even better on a per calorie basis than meat. Iron absorption is increased markedly by eating foods containing vitamin C along foods containing iron. Vegetarians do not have a higher incidence of iron deficiency than do meat eaters.

Bajra

Bajra is high in proteins with a good amount of amino acids, it is a good source of iron, which helps formation of hemoglobin in blood thus preventing anemia. It is a moderate source of Vitamin B1, which is required for a healthy nervous system. Keeping anemia at bay. This iron rich food maintains body temperature and protects you from cold weather too.

Ragi

Ragi is a good source of natural Iron. Ragi consumption helps in a condition of anemia. Ragi is rich in amino acids which are vital in normal functioning of body and are essential for repairing body tissues. Finger millet contains Tryptophan, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine and Methionine amino acids. Isoleucine helps in muscular repair, blood formation, contributes to bone formation, and improves skin health.

Beetroot:

Beetroot can be mixed with other leafy vegetables as well as vegetables like carrot, capsicum, tomatoes and so on to make a good salad. Consume this everyday to fight anemia. You can also crush one or two beetroot in a juicer mixer to prepare a glass of beetroot juice. Having this glass of juice every day in the morning along with breakfast will improve the RBC count.

Sea food:

Fish will help in preventing anemia as it contains iron. Some of the popular fatty fishes like Salmon, tuna as well as sea foods like mussels and oysters are rich in Iron. It is said that pacific oysters contain 7.2 mg of iron per 100 gram serving. You can take roasted or baked salmon once in two days to boost iron levels in your body.