Red-blooded grub
Question
What kind of food should I eat to help combat anaemia?
Answer
Anaemia is an umbrella term for a number of disorders of the red blood cells. To produce red blood cells, which contain haemoglobin - responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood - the body needs iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid. A lack of any of these can result in anaemia. Symptoms of anaemia can include tiredness, lethargy and dizzy spells. Treatments for anaemia will vary, but diet can play an important role.
The most common form of anaemia is iron deficiency. Foods that are rich in iron include liver, beef, wholemeal bread, cereals, eggs and dried fruits, leafy greens (such as broccoli) and strawberries. These are also good sources of folic acid, as are asparagus, oatmeal and raw fruit and veg.
Vitamin C helps the body to absorb iron so drinking orange and cranberry juice is also recommended. Lean meat, fish and low-fat dairy products are a good source of vitamin B12, although a lack of this in the diet is very rare.
You can get recipe books aimed at people with anaemia, such as Anaemia: Over 100 Recipes for Overcoming Iron-deficiency by Jill Davies (ISBN 0722529147).
You might also want to discuss this subject with your local doctor (GP). They could also give you a referral to a dietician or nutritionist who can discuss this with you in more depth.
Updated: 06/06/2011
Question answered by bss
