Read on to know more about anemia in detail and what measures you can take to help prevent it and deal with it.
What Is Anemia?
Anemia (or anaemia) is a condition in which the RBC count or hemoglobin levels drop below normal levels. RBCs help transport oxygen to all parts of your body (2). Hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein present in RBCs, imparts the red color to the blood cells. It also helps bind oxygen, fight infections, and prevent blood loss by inducing blood clotting. Anemia results in less oxygen reaching various parts of your body. As a result, you develop the following symptoms.
Signs And Symptoms Of Anemia
Fatigue Weakness Pale skin Shortness of breath Cold hands and feet Headache Dizziness Brain fog Chest pain Hair loss Irregular heartbeat Low stamina Difficulty concentrating
Let’s take a look at the causes of anemia.
Causes Of Anemia
A dip in RBC count or hemoglobin can occur due to three main reasons:
Your body is not producing enough RBCs. RBCs are getting destroyed by your body. Blood loss due to menstruation, injury, or other causes of bleeding.
Depending on the cause, anemia can be classified into the following types:
Types Of Anemia
Iron Deficiency Anemia
Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. Iron is essential for human beings to produce hemoglobin. Blood loss, poor diet, and your body’s inability to absorb iron from food can lead to iron deficiency (3). As a result, your body fails to produce enough hemoglobin, which leads to anemia.
Aplastic Anemia
This type of anemia is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough red blood cells (RBCs). RBCs are produced in the bone marrow every 120 days (4). When your bone marrow fails to produce RBCs, the blood count falls and leads to anemia.
Sickle Cell Anemia
Sickle cell disease, a serious blood disorder, causes sickle cell anemia. The red blood cells are flat disc-shaped or sickle-shaped in this type of anemia. The RBCs contain abnormal hemoglobin, known as the sickle cell hemoglobin, which imparts the abnormal shape to them. Sickle cells are sticky and can block blood flow (5).
Hemolytic Anemia
This type of anemia is caused when the red blood cells are destroyed before their normal lifespan is over. The bone marrow is unable to produce new RBCs fast enough to meet the body’s demand (6).
Vitamin B12 Deficiency Anemia
Like iron, vitamin B12 is also needed for the proper and adequate production of hemoglobin. Most animal products are rich in vitamin B12. But if you are vegetarian or vegan, you may have vitamin B12 deficiency. This can inhibit hemoglobin production in your body, resulting in anemia. This type of anemia is also known as pernicious anemia (7).
Thalassemia
Thalassemia is an inherited genetic disorder in which the body doesn’t create enough red blood cells. As a result, people with thalassemia can have mild to severe anemia (8).
Fanconi Anemia
Fanconi anemia is a rare genetic blood disorder that leads to bone marrow dysfunction. Fanconi anemia prevents the bone marrow from producing enough RBCs. It can also cause the bone marrow to produce abnormal RBCs. This can result in cancer and affect the organs and tissues of your body. Children who inherit Fanconi anemia have birth defects (9).
Blood Loss Anemia
Excessive bleeding during menstruation or bleeding caused by injury, surgery, cancer, or urinary tract or digestive tract dysfunction can lead to blood loss anemia (10). So, what can happen to you when diagnosed with any of these types of anemia? Here are the risk factors you must know.
Risk Factors Of Anemia
Women and children are more prone to developing anemia than men. Anemia in pregnancy is common but should not be left untreated. Candida infection can prevent your body from absorbing B vitamins, and vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anemia. Digestive issues like Crohn’s disease, ulcers, and IBS can cause anemia. Taking pain medications frequently can also be a risk factor for anemia. People over 65 years of age can develop anemia.
Looking at the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of anemia, you may jump to the conclusion that you have anemia. That may not be true. Here’s how you can find out if you have anemia.
Diagnosis
Here are the steps that your doctor will take to confirm if you have anemia.
Family History
Since a few types of anemia are genetic, your doctor may want to know if anyone in your family has anemia.
Physical Exam
Complete Blood Count
Complete blood count test checks your hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. It also checks RBCs, WBCs, platelet count, and Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV).
Other Tests
Your doctor may ask you to get a reticulocyte test (number of young RBCs) done. They could also ask you to undergo a test to know the type of hemoglobin in your RBCs and check the iron levels in your body. If your blood count or hemoglobin is low, don’t panic. You can reverse this situation and lead a healthy life. Here are the best home remedies to treat anemia.
12 Home Remedies To Treat Anemia
1. Drumstick Leaves
10-15 drumstick leaves 1 teaspoon honey
Consume it with breakfast. Drumsticks are loaded with vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, and magnesium that can help cure anemia. If you are pregnant, take your doctor’s opinion before consuming drumsticks.
2. Vitamins B12 And Folate
2 eggs ½ cup baked beans 1 cup baby spinach 3-4 blanched florets of broccoli Salt to taste
Consume it for breakfast. Vitamins play a crucial role when it comes to cell function and survival. Deficiency in vitamins can cause serious diseases, including anemia. Consuming greens, eggs, and beans on a regular basis prevents vitamin B12 and folate deficiency. You can also take doctor-prescribed vitamin B12 and folate supplements. Do not take vitamin supplements unless your doctor prescribes them. Follow the dosage.
3. Blackstrap Molasses
1 tablespoon organic blackstrap molasses 1 cup warm water or milk
It is best to consume it in the morning or in the evening about 2 hours before going to bed. Blackstrap molasses is a sweet by-product obtained from refining sugarcane. It is low in sugar but rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamin B6, magnesium, calcium, and selenium. Consuming blackstrap molasses can help increase the iron levels in your body, thereby improving your hemoglobin levels and RBC count (11). Do not consume it in excess amounts as it may cause diarrhea and loose stools.
4. Green Veggies
½ cup kale ¼ cup chopped celery 1 tablespoon honey ½ lime A pinch of salt
Consume it for breakfast or an hour before your workout. Green veggies like kale, spinach, radish greens, mustard greens, arugula, broccoli, and Swiss chard are great sources of iron. Consuming these on a regular basis can help treat anemia. Do not consume green juice or green veggies in excess. Have a maximum of 3-4 cups of greens per day.
5. Vitamin C
½ grapefruit 1 kiwi ½ apple 1 teaspoon honey ½ inch grated ginger
You can have vitamin C-rich foods for morning detox, breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Vitamin C is mostly found in citrus fruits. Fruits like orange, apple, lime, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, gooseberries, apple, and berries are loaded with vitamin C and other essential vitamins and minerals that help in the production of RBCs and hemoglobin. This drink is a good source of vitamin C and will help rev up your hemoglobin levels and iron absorption. Avoid consuming too much vitamin C in a day to prevent acidity. Also, avoid consuming it after drinking milk or any milk-based products.
6. Probiotics
½ cup yogurt 1 cup water 2 tablespoons lime juice A few chopped coriander leaves A pinch of salt A pinch of cumin powder
Consume it after lunch or dinner. It is a well-known fact that probiotics help improve digestion and gut function. That’s because probiotic-rich foods contain good gut bacteria. Scientists have found that probiotics increase the levels of vitamin B12 and iron (12). Patients with anemia can improve their low RBC count and hemoglobin levels by consuming yogurt, a good source of probiotics. You can consume yogurt as it is or prepare buttermilk and drink it. Avoid consuming probiotics in excess to prevent bloating and digestion issues.
7. Figs
2-4 ripe figs 1 cup water
Consume them in the morning. The plump and sweet figs are loaded with iron. They are also good sources of vitamin A, folate, and magnesium (13). Soaking figs helps them get digested quickly. Overconsumption of figs can lead to digestive issues. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before consuming figs.
8. Beetroot
Beetroots ½ lime Peeler Juicer Knife
Consume it for breakfast or an hour before working out. Beetroot is one of the greatest sources of iron, magnesium, calcium, vitamin A, and folate (14). A study found that giving adolescent girls beetroot juice mid-morning for 20 days showed significant improvement in hemoglobin levels (15). The lime juice not only enhances the flavor of your beetroot smoothie but also adds an extra dose of vitamin C to it. Talk to your doctor before consuming it if you are pregnant or lactating.
9. Bananas
1 medium-sized ripe banana 1 teaspoon honey
You can have bananas for breakfast. You can improve your iron levels by a significant margin by consuming green or ripe bananas. Bananas are loaded with iron, potassium, vitamin C, and folate (16). They provide your body with the essential nutrients required for generating healthy RBCs and improving hemoglobin levels. Since bananas are high in calories and potassium, consuming too many of them can cause weight gain and hyperkalemia.
10. Dates And Raisins
3-4 dates 10 raisins
Have raisins and dates in the morning by adding them to your breakfast bowl, smoothies, salads, or desserts. Dates and raisins are good sources of iron and vitamin C. Vitamin C helps boost your immunity and improves iron absorption. Dates and raisins are high in sugar and may raise your blood sugar levels.
11. Copper
A copper water bottle Water
Store water in the copper water bottle and drink it as required. Consume copper-infused water after breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Copper deficiency can also lead to anemia (17). So, you must consume enough sources of copper to keep your hemoglobin and iron levels up. You may consume up to 10 mg copper per day. Excess copper can lead to fever, nausea, and diarrhea. Tip: Consume dietary sources of copper like chicken liver, apricots, dark chocolate, lentils, chickpeas, mushrooms, sunflower seeds, quinoa, and turnip greens.
12. Black Sesame Seeds
1-2 teaspoons of black sesame seeds ¼ cup water 1 teaspoon honey
Consume it after breakfast every day. Black sesame seeds are rich in folate, iron, calcium, and magnesium and highly essential for your diet if you are anemic. They increase your iron levels and help in the absorption of iron in your system. Avoid this home remedy if you are allergic to sesame seeds. These are the 12 home remedies that you can try out to improve your red blood cell count. Here are a few iron-rich foods you can add to your diet to treat anemia.
What Are The Best Iron-Rich Foods For Anemia?
The best iron-rich foods for anemia are: You may not like some of the foods we listed above. But consume them anyway if you want to treat anemia and get back to a healthier state. You can also follow the prevention and treatment tips listed below to keep anemia at bay.
Anemia Prevention And Treatment Tips
Say No To Beverages
Red Wine
Sorry to break the news to you, but red wine is a complete no-no for now. It prevents iron absorption and interferes with your medicines and dietary approach to treat anemia.
Black And Green Tea
Despite being good for weight loss and good health, both black and green teas prevent iron absorption. So, avoid these teas.
Coffee
If you are not a coffee addict, good for you! But if you are, I totally understand the pain of seeing your favorite beverage mentioned on this list. Coffee inhibits iron absorption. But the good news is, you can have it after 2 hours of having an iron-rich meal. Avoid drinking it an hour before or after having a meal.
Exercise
Yoga And Exercises Doing yoga and exercises on alternate days can help improve blood circulation and prevent you from feeling fatigued and weak all the time. However, exercise when your condition has improved a bit and you feel stronger.
Other Tips
Take A Cold Bath
Step into a cold bath! A refreshing bath in cold water can help treat anemia. Shocked? Studies suggest that a cold water bath helps the body reach the ideal temperature needed for the proper flow of blood to all parts of the body.
Say No To Non-Fermented Soy
While fermented soy products like sauces can aid iron absorption, non-fermented ones prevent it. So, avoid non-fermented soy products until your RBC count and hemoglobin levels are back to normal.
Can you die from anemia? If left untreated, anemia can become fatal. So, you must not ignore it. Talk to your doctor, take supplements, and follow an iron-rich diet to improve your condition. How long does anemia last? Once you start consuming iron-rich foods and taking supplements, you will see an improvement soon. So, it really depends on the precautions and measures you take to prevent it. What foods to avoid if you are anemic? Avoid tea, coffee, dairy products, and foods with oxalic acid like peanuts or parsley as they may hinder iron absorption. Does lack of sleep cause anemia? No, lack of sleep doesn’t cause anemia. However, anemia has been linked to lower sleep quality and insomnia. What level of anemia is severe? Severe anemia corresponds to blood iron levels less than 6.5 g/dl. Can anemia turn into leukemia? No, anemia cannot turn into leukemia. But individuals dealing with leukemia are at an increased risk of developing anemia.
