Nutritional Prescription for Anemia

The recent increase in gasoline and fuel products is expected to create a domino effect on other commodities. In a few days, it is expected that the price of meat, fish, and vegetables and fruits in the market will just the same change and augment. When basic needs, such as food becomes unreachable to some, dietary and health needs of the body are affected. Anemia, brought about by deficient diet, is not a remote possibility to some Filipinos.

What is Anemia?

Anemia affects millions of Filipinos, mostly children. Adults, both male and female, are not spared from the condition. One suffers from anemia when there is a reduction in either the number of red blood cells or the amount of hemoglobin in the blood.

What happens if you have anemia?

The red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood carry oxygen to the muscles and to the different organs and parts of the body, including the brain. When the amount of oxygen available for the cells of the body is deficient, their normal function and important processes are affected. Muscular activity is affected. Cellular building, recovery, and repair become less efficient and are slowed down.

What are the usual signs and symptoms that point to anemia?

A person with anemia will obviously feel weak and less productive. When the oxygen to the brain is less or is decreased due to the condition, you will feel dizzy and your mental faculties become less sharp.

Aside from deficiency from food, what are the other causes of anemia?

Other causes of anemia are as follows: Blood loss (profuse bleeding, such as in wounds and menstruation, pregnancy), decreased production of hemoglobin and increased in the destruction of hemoglobin that may be brought about by some exotic conditions that are inborn.

Natural treatment for Anemia

Include the following in your diet: Fruits and vegetables that are rich in iron (bananas, broccoli, okra, peas, raisins, prunes, asparagus, purple grapes, apples, squash, 'ampalaya', 'malunggay', and variety of green leafy vegetables), egg yolks, whole grains and cereals (oat meal, oat meal cookies), rice bran, and wheat bread. Chicken meat and chicken liver also contain high amounts of iron that can increase hemoglobin in the blood. You can even use liver spread for your wheat bread. A glass of milk per day contains enough iron for the body.

What foods and drinks should you avoid if you have anemia?

Avoid beer, alcohol, caffeine, sugary foods, candy bars, and soda (soft drinks) because they interfere with iron absorption.