Anemia – what is it and how to eat with anemia of various degrees of severity
In people suffering from this disease, the symptoms of the disease, as they say, are “obvious": the skin is very pale, has a bluish tint, in the expression of the eyes there are all signs of fatigue and malaise. Along with the treatment prescribed by doctors, it is important to know how to eat with anemia in order to replenish the supply of necessary substances in the body.
Anemia severity, causes and symptoms
This pallor in patients who have had a myocardial infarction does not help to hide either a seasonal tan or cosmetic tricks. Such pallor is one of the signs of anemia: a classic example of the state of the body when "we are missing something again." In this case, the symptoms of anemia appear due to the fact that the body lacks hemoglobin. Various types of anemia are detected in 10-20% of the population, most often in women. In 90% of cases, the problem lies in iron deficiency, but there are other anemias – for example, associated with a lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid.
So what is anemia medically? Doctors give a clear answer: with a decrease in hemoglobin concentration less than 130 g / l in men and 120 g / l in women and hematocrit less than 39% in men and 36% in women. Usually, the number of red blood cells – erythrocytes – also decreases at the same time. It is red blood cells that contain hemoglobin, an iron-containing pigment that gives blood a picturesque red color and carries oxygen from the lungs to all tissues of the body. And the fewer red blood cells, the greater the load on the heart: it has to “pump” more blood.
There are three degrees of severity of anemia: mild – hemoglobin above 90 g / l, medium – hemoglobin in the range of 90-70 g / l, severe – hemoglobin less than 70 g / l.
Anemia has many faces: it reminds of itself with unmotivated general weakness, increased fatigue, decreased performance, irritability, drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, flashing “flies” before the eyes, as well as palpitations and shortness of breath that occur even with minimal physical exertion or at rest. But in order to make an accurate diagnosis, a doctor's examination and a general clinical blood test are necessary with the obligatory determination of a number of parameters, primarily the number of erythrocytes, reticulocytes and hemoglobin.
Proper nutrition for anemia
Along with drug therapy, special attention should be paid to the diet for anemia.
1 First of all, enter into the diet a sufficient amount of complete proteins that promote the synthesis of hemoglobin and red blood cells. In case of severe anemia – up to 130 g per day, of which 80-95 g of proteins should be of animal origin (beef, veal).
2 Moderately limit fat (up to 70-80 g), as against the background of anemia, changes in the liver and bone marrow obesity are often noted, and fats inhibit blood formation. Proper nutrition for anemia includes the mandatory use of easily digestible milk fats, as well as sunflower and other vegetable oils.
3 Add brewer's yeast dishes to your diet daily (not to be confused with baker's!). To prepare a yeast drink, dilute 50-100 g of yeast with a little water and brew.
4 Every day or every other day, eat about 100 g of beef or pork liver.
5 The amount of carbohydrates for a rational diet with anemia corresponds to the physiological norm – 400-500 g. It is better to get them in the form of various cereals, honey, vegetables, fruits and berries. In addition, there are a lot of vitamins in plant foods that the body needs very urgently in case of anemia: we are talking about vitamin C and B vitamins. Therefore, eat potatoes, white cabbage, eggplant, zucchini, melons, pumpkin, onions, garlic, rose hips, sea buckthorn, blackberries, hawthorn, lemons, oranges, apricots, pears. The food menu for anemia should include millet porridge, especially with yellow pumpkin, corn (all yellow fruits, vegetables and root crops contain a large amount of vitamins). It is good to eat 100 g of grated carrots with sour cream or vegetable oil every morning on an empty stomach.
6 Remember: microelements are involved in hematopoiesis – iron, cobalt, manganese, zinc. They are found in meat, eggs, liver, lungs, caviar, yeast, hematogen, wheat flour, mushrooms, as well as in oatmeal and buckwheat.