What foods are good for raising hemoglobin in the blood

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-02 16:12

General weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, lack of appetite, low blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm - all these signs can indicate a low level of hemoglobin in the body. In severe cases, to get out of this painful condition, you need to take special medications. However, they are often not necessary and hemoglobin can be raised by adjusting the diet. Today we will find out which foods are useful for raising hemoglobin in the blood. We will also understand why it is important not to neglect this indicator.

The role of hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is a compound of protein with iron, which is part of the red blood cells (erythrocytes) of human blood. In the body, it can take several forms:

1. Oxyhemoglobin is a compound with oxygen that gives the bright red color of arterial blood.
2. A reducing form that forms when oxygen enters tissues.
3. Carboxyhemoglobin is a compound with carbon dioxide that gives venous blood a dark hue.

The function of hemoglobin is to deliver oxygen from the lungs to the cells of the body, bind a certain amount of carbon dioxide and transport it back to the lungs. For residents of highlands and climbers, whose body is accustomed to rarefied air with a low oxygen content, increased hemoglobin is characteristic.

Norma

To find out if you have problems with hemoglobin or not, you need to take a complete blood count. The following indicators are considered normal:

1. Men – 130-160 g/l.
2. For women - 120-140 g/l. During pregnancy - 110-140 g/l.
3. In children, everything depends on age. By the age of 18, their performance should approach the adult norm.

Despite the fact that the norm differs depending on gender and age, the products for raising hemoglobin in the blood of women and men, children and adults are the same. But more on that below.

Reduced hemoglobin: symptoms

Reduced hemoglobin content in the blood is called anemia or anemia. This is not a disease, but rather a sign of a particular pathology, accompanied by a decrease in hemoglobin and a decrease in the number of red blood cells.

Usually, anemia manifests itself in the form of such signs:

1. Sleep disorders.
2. Fatigue.
3. Excessive whiteness of the skin and mucous membranes, "cyanosis" of the lips.
4. Regulardizziness.
5. Cramps in the legs.
6. Fast onset of shortness of breath.
7. Raised heart rate with little physical activity.

Before taking measures to increase hemoglobin (the use of drugs or the selection of a suitable diet), it is necessary to deal with the cause of the problem

Lack of iron in the body

This is the most common cause of anemia. It can lead to perverse appetite, that is, a state when a person wants to eat earth, clay, paper, chalk, or breathe gasoline, paint, damp tobacco ash, and so on. In parallel with this, the mucous membranes become inflamed, and the nails acquire a concave shape. Lack of iron in the body of children leads to a slowdown in their growth and development, as well as to frequent diseases.

Among other things, in the advanced stages of anemia caused by iron deficiency, the skin begins to crack, hair falls out, and muscles weaken. The latter problem can lead to such unpleasant consequences as involuntary urination and so on. Another characteristic sign of iron deficiency in the body is sensitivity to cold. Such people have constantly cold extremities, so they are more prone to colds than others.

Folic acid (vitamin B9) deficiency

Deficiency of this element is usually due to long-term use of anti-seizure medication, alcohol abuse, or bowel surgery. Prolonged feeding of a child with goat's milk can also lead to a deficiency of folic acid in his body. The fact is that the content of this element in goat milk is not high enough.

Vitamin B deficiency_{9 manifests itself in the form of such symptoms: increased fatigue, constant weakness, shortness of breath, inflammation of the tongue, loss of appetite, headache and dizziness, memory impairment, irritability, and also icteric condition.}

Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) deficiency

Anemia caused by a lack of this vitamin is manifested mainly by impaired coordination of movements. Stiffness, clumsiness, change in gait, impaired sense of touch, sensation of false tingling of the skin - all these are symptoms of cyanocobalamin deficiency. In addition, in people suffering from this problem, the tongue takes on a bright red "varnished" color.

Other reasons

Anemia can also be caused by a number of other less common problems. The cause may be acute or chronic hemolytic anemia - a group of diseases involving the massive destruction of red blood cells, causing a decrease in hemoglobin. These diseases are accompanied by an increased activity of the body to recreate red blood cells. You can identify this problem by the yellowness of the skin and eyeballs, the delay in the development of the child, and the red or brown color of the urine. Often the same symptoms appear as in gallstone disease.

A drop in hemoglobin levels is often seenafter operations and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In the first case, due to blood loss, and in the second, due to impaired absorption of vitamins and trace elements by the digestive tract.

To get a more accurate cause of anemia, you should consult a hematologist who specializes in blood diseases and pass all the necessary tests. As a rule, it is enough to take a biochemical blood test.

In most cases, the problem can be solved by introducing foods to your diet to raise hemoglobin in the blood. In special cases, the doctor may prescribe certain medications.

Now let's find out what foods to eat to get rid of anemia.

Diet for iron deficiency

Those who suffer from this type of anemia are advised to increase in their diet the proportion of foods containing the so-called divalent heme iron, which is completely absorbed by the body. Meat food is rich in this element, especially liver (pork and beef) and kidneys. The listed products for raising hemoglobin in the blood in adults do not cause disgust, which cannot be said about children. However, there are many other options for them.

In plant foods, iron is presented in a different form - trivalent non-heme. It is abundant in buckwheat, legumes, whole grains, nettles and parsley. In order for the trivalent form of iron to be converted into a divalent form, vitamin C is needed. There is a lot of it in parsley, but it is recommended to use the rest of the listed cropsalong with vegetables rich in this vitamin. Among berries, raspberries have the highest iron content.

In addition to these products, iron deficiency will help:

• beef tongue;
• veal;
• spinach;
• oatmeal;
• wheat bran;
• apples;
• prune;
• peaches;
• plums;
• dried apricots;
• rosehip;
• cocoa;
• brewer's yeast;
• seafood;
• potato peel;
• cranberries;
• blackcurrant;
• nuts.

Doctors often recommend many of these products to increase hemoglobin levels after surgery.

You can also increase hemoglobin with a mixture of carrot and beetroot juices. They need to be mixed in a 1:1 ratio and taken half a glass a day. You can also use pomegranate juice.

It is not recommended to eat foods rich in calcium along with iron-containing foods, as it slows down the absorption of iron. It is advisable to at least partially abandon the use of black tea, cafes and cheese.

As you can see, the list of iron-containing foods is very wide, so everyone can pick up something to their liking. And even for a child at the age of 6, there will always be products to raise hemoglobin in the blood.

Folic Acid Deficiency Diet

As a rule, lovers of plant foods do not feel problems with a lack of vitamin B_{9. It is found in significant amounts inlegumes (especially sprouts), citrus fruits, vegetables (cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, turnips), cereals (millet, buckwheat), fruits (apples, bananas, grapes, pomegranates, apricots), berries (mainly currants), melons (watermelon, melon), cottage cheese, liver and egg yolk. If the listed products for raising hemoglobin in the blood are fed in sufficient quantities and folic acid is synthesized without problems by the microflora of the large intestine, then you should not worry about its lack. However, with excessive consumption of tea, coffee and alcohol, as well as regular smoking, this problem may one day occur.}

Be aware that vitamin B_{9 quickly denatures when exposed to sunlight and as a result of heat treatment. On the other hand, bean products for raising hemoglobin in the blood in fresh form contain substances that prevent the breakdown of protein and thereby inhibit digestion. Therefore, in order to ensure normal absorption and avoid flatulence, legumes should be consumed in sprouted form.}

The sprouting of wheat grains has another positive effect - it increases the content of folic acid and other useful substances in them by 4 times. Only 50 grams of these grains cover the daily requirement of the average person in vitamin B_{9. In addition, such grains contain a large amount of potassium, lithium, chromium and iron. Similar products to increase hemoglobin in the blood in men are especially popular, as they increase potency. A contraindication to their use is a stomach ulcer.}

Diet for vitamin B12 deficiency

If anemia is caused by a deficiency of cyanocobalamin, then to increase hemoglobin in the blood, you must include the following foods in your diet: veal or beef liver, herring, salmon, sardines, oysters, egg yolks and soy products. This element is also present in pork, beef, chicken, seafood, milk and cheeses, but not in such a large amount.

Vegetables and greens contain even less vitamin B_{12. Therefore, if a vegetarian is faced with a lack of it, he should include vitamin complexes in his diet.}

In order for cyanocobalamin to be well absorbed, the presence of a sufficient amount of calcium is necessary. Therefore, the diet should include appropriate foods. In addition, the source of vitamin B_{12 is brewer's yeast, which can be purchased at a pharmacy. With their systematic use, cyanocobalamin begins to be synthesized by the body.}

In diabetes, products to raise hemoglobin in the blood should be selected based on your diet. Since their range is quite wide, this is not difficult.

Increased hemoglobin during pregnancy

During pregnancy, women especially need vitamin B₉. It is responsible for regulating the formation of nerve cells in the embryo. It is important to note that the use of products to raise hemoglobin in the blood during pregnancy is usually not enough. Therefore, women take special vitamin complexes. In especially severe cases, when a woman herselfprone to hemoglobin deficiency, vitamin B_{9 start even before conception. In order for the child to develop fully, it is necessary to combine the intake of drugs and products to raise hemoglobin in the blood. Fresh air is also very important during pregnancy.}

Prevention

We have figured out which foods to increase hemoglobin in the blood in children and adults are best consumed. As you know, prevention of a problem is always easier than its solution, so it is also worth considering the main measures for the prevention of anemia.

First and most important is control. Taking a blood test at least once a year, you can find out not only the level of hemoglobin in the blood, but also a number of other, of course, important indicators. In the current ecological situation, controlling your he alth is never superfluous.

In order for everything to be in order with hemoglobin, it is worth giving up smoking. By inhaling cigarette smoke into the lungs, a person causes the binding of hemoglobin and carbon monoxide, which greatly reduces the protein's ability to transport oxygen between cells. Those who cannot get rid of a bad habit are advised to simply be more attentive to their he alth and take tests more often.

Of course, a balanced diet helps to maintain he alth and well-being. The balance of substances entering the blood depends on how the internal organs will function. This rule applies to everyone: babies and old people, women and men.

Products for liftinghemoglobin in the blood we already know. Summarizing the above, we will once again note the main ones: high-protein foods (eggs, cheese, fish, meat, nuts, etc.), cereals (mainly oats, buckwheat and millet), and, of course, a variety of fruits and vegetables.