What to Do When Your Doctors Says You Have Anemia
By Rudy Silva, Natural Nutritionist
Anemia Iron Deficiency and What to Do When Your Doctors Says You Have It
So many times a client has come to me and says “I have anemia, what do I eat so I can get more iron?� Foods that have a large supply of organic iron are hard to find. Organic iron is they type of iron you want, since it is not toxic for your body. So what is anemia and why is it important not to let this condition exist too long? It estimated that 10% to 30% of the adult population in the United States has anemia. In 2004 it was estimated that over 1 billion people worldwide had anemia. Anemia is considered one of the most prevalent conditions worldwide. Anemia is a mineral iron deficiency. When you have an iron deficiency, you have a deficiency in hemoglobin, since you need iron to form the hemoglobin molecule. Iron is the center of the hemoglobin molecule and oxygen attaches itself to iron, as the hemoglobin molecule passes through the lungs. Hemoglobin is a protein that contains an iron center in red blood cells. A red blood cell contains 200 to 300 million hemoglobin molecules. Each hemoglobin molecule contains 4 iron ions and each iron has oxygen attached to it. This means one red blood cell can carry 800 million to 1,200 million oxygen molecules. The function of red blood cells is to transport oxygen to all parts of your body and to remove some of the carbon dioxide that results
when oxygen is burned inside your cells. It transports this carbon dioxide to the lungs where it can be release through your lungs and breath When you have a decrease in stored body iron, you create anemia. This can come about from: • not eating enough iron food • In babies, un-supplemented breast or bottle feeding • Rapid growth in children • Iron mal-absorption from having celiac disease, chronic diarrhea • Blood loss from ulcers, or cancer • Pregnancy, since iron goes to the fetus • Heavy menstrual periods • Lack of Vitamin B12 Anemia reduces your ability to perform physical activities, since muscles lack the oxygen needed for energy. Anemia can cause many other symptoms besides lack of energy, such as: • Weakness and faintness • Shortness of breath • Increased heart rate • Headaches • Sore tongue • Nausea and loss of appetite
• Dizziness • Gum bleeding • Confusion • Cold intolerance • Behavioral disturbances in children • Rigid fingernails • Natural Remedies for Anemia If you have anemia here are some natural remedies that you can add to your diet or supplementation: • Folic acid – this is needed for cell replication and growth. It helps red blood cells regenerate quickly • Vitamin B12 – is used by your body to make red blood cells in your bone marrow. B12 injections may be necessary, if no improvement is seen with B12 capsules. • Vitamin C - helps the body absorb iron • Trace minerals – such as copper, 2 mg, zinc, 30 mg, selenium, 200 mcg are needed, since they help reduce the effect anemia has on normal blood cell function. • Fish oil and Vitamin K – helps to reduce the inflammatory molecules which attack the red blood cells
• Iron supplement – should only be prescribed by your doctor and the best type to use is iron succinate. Alert: Excess iron supplementation can cause massive free-radical reactions, which set into motion diseases like cancer, heart disease, and neurological degeneration. Foods which have iron Most foods have very little iron and this is not good for Anemia. Meat has more iron than vegetables and is in the form of heme iron, the most bio-available form. The highest foods in iron are dulse, kelp, and rice bran, greens such as spinach, celery, chicory, Ash gourd, dried fruits, black cherries and liquid chlorophyll. Other foods which have iron are almonds, blackberries, black walnuts, raisins, prunes, figs, kale, and goat milk. Iron is extremely volatile and cooking vegetables will eliminate up to 50% of the iron unless the liquid of this food is also eaten. Many people are low in iron since processed foods and cooking destroy most of the available iron. People with cold hand and feet, arthritis, or low energy and weakness are most likely low in iron. Using the supplementation and natural remedies listed here and eating more iron foods will help your increase your body’s iron storage and will help you recover from anemia and help prevent it.
What to Do When Your Doctors Says You Have Anemia
By Rudy Silva, Natural Nutritionist