Anemia – 6 foods to eat
Anemia is caused by the lack of healthy red blood cells (RBCs) to carry sufficient oxygen to the tissues. This can be due to acute blood loss, the body’s inability to make RBCs, or the destruction of these cells. The condition can be managed by making changes in lifestyle and eating habits. Since proper food intake is crucial for alleviating anemia, let’s look at the recommended foods for those with this condition.
Foods to eat
Dark leafy greens like spinach
Kale, spinach, collard greens, Swiss chard, and dandelion greens are all great sources of nonheme iron, which is essential for healthy living. Swiss chard and collard, specifically, are also high in folate. Eating folate-rich foods is necessary to avoid folate deficiency anemia.
Organ meat like liver
Liver, heart, kidney, and beef tongue are some popular organ meat choices rich in iron. That said, it is essential to ensure that the meat is hygienic, sustainably sourced, and toxin-free.
Seafood like tuna
Seafood is known to be a good source of heme iron. Fish like tuna, mackerel, pompano, fresh perch, salmon, or even mahimahi are rich in heme iron. Those who articularly like shellfish can have oysters, clams, crabs, shrimps, and scallops, as these too are good sources of iron.
Blackstrap molasses
Studies show that molasses are rich in vitamin B6, magnesium, selenium, and calcium. All these are essential nutrients that help keep anemia symptoms at bay.
Beans
Beans are a preferred choice for getting protein and iron for vegetarians. They are easy to cook and can be stored in the pantry or freezer for several weeks or months. Kidney beans, chickpeas, pinto beans, peas, lima beans, black-eyed peas, black beans, and soybeans are some of the popular choices to add to one’s meal regimen.
Meat and poultry
It is essential to incorporate venison, lamb, and red meat into one’s meals to get heme iron.
