What is anemia?

Anemia is a fall in hemoglobin. Nutritional anemia is the most common cause of anemia in Indian women.

Haemoglobin, the component in red blood cells that helps blood carry oxygen throughout the body, is made up of iron, a mineral found in the human body. If you don’t get enough iron, your body won’t be able to produce haemoglobin, and you’ll get anemia. Fortunately, anemia can be cured by consuming specific foods.

What exactly is iron?

In the human body, iron is a mineral. It is a component of hemoglobin, a molecule found in red blood cells that aids in the transport of oxygen throughout the body.

Your body can’t manufacture hemoglobin if you don’t have enough iron. If this happens, you could get anemia, a condition caused by a lack of hemoglobin in the blood. When you have anemia, you are considered to be anemic.

Anemia can be caused by a variety of factors. The most frequent type of anemia is iron deficiency nutritional anemia. Anyone can get iron deficiency anemia, although the following people are at a higher risk:

Women

Iron-deficiency anemia, the most prevalent type of anemia, is defined as a decrease in the number of red blood cells caused by a lack of iron. Your body can’t manufacture enough hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that allows them to deliver oxygen to the body’s tissues if you don’t get enough iron. You may feel weak, exhausted, and irritable as a result. For women, such things happen during childbirth and menstruation.

People over the age of 65 are more prone to having iron-deficient diets

Especially those taking blood thinners such as aspirin, Plavix®, Coumadin®, or heparin.
People with kidney failure (especially those on dialysis) have a hard time producing red blood cells.

In elderly people causes of iron deficiency anemia are:

• Diet
• Blood loss
• Renal Failure

Is it possible to treat iron deficiency anemia?

Yes. This type of anemia is treatable and curable. Your healthcare professional will first assess if the anemia is due to a poor diet or a more serious health issue. Anemia caused by a lack of iron can be addressed with iron supplements or by eating foods high in iron. Diet plays an important role in treating anemia.

Approximately 20% of women, 50% of pregnant women, and 3% of men do not have enough iron in their bodies. In many circumstances, the solution is to eat more iron-rich foods.

How does your body utilize iron from food?

When you eat iron-fortified foods, iron is absorbed primarily through the upper portion of your small intestine and utilized by the bone marrow.

Which foods are high in iron?

Animals and plants are both sources of iron in meals. Heme iron comes from animal sources and is present in meat and fish. Non Heme iron comes from plants and can be found in certain vegetables as well as iron-fortified meals like morning cereals. The body absorbs heme iron better than non heme iron.

The following foods are important sources of iron:

• Shrimp
• Leg of lamb
• Chicken liver
• Oysters
• Beef (chuck roast, lean ground beef)
• Eggs
• Clams
• Beef liver
• Tuna
• Turkey leg

Nonheme iron (from plants) can be found in the following foods:

• Beans (kidney, lima, Navy)
• Spinach
• Brown rice
• Raisin bran (enriched)
• Instant oatmeal
• Tofu
• Lentils
• Molasses
• Whole wheat bread
• Peanut butter

Non Heme iron is found in plant foods like lentils, beans, and spinach. This is the type of iron found in meals that are iron-fortified or iron-enriched. Non Heme iron is more difficult for our systems to absorb, although nonheme iron makes up a large portion of dietary iron.

To improve iron absorption, combine nonheme iron meals with vitamin C (for example, a glass of orange juice).

A good diet and abstinence from tobacco and alcohol can help improve hemoglobin levels.

Keeping track of your blood health is essential. HOCC provides comprehensive treatment for patients with blood disorders and blood cancers. If you’re showing any symptoms, consult the team of experts at HOCC without any delay.

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