Anemia and Diet, Is There A Connection?

Anemia Nutrition Deficiency

Anemia can be described as a condition in which the person affected does not have the required number of red blood cells, to carry oxygen to the body tissues. This is because the body either fails to produce the required number of red blood cells that are healthy, or the red blood cells are destroyed faster than they are replaced. It causes people to feel weak and tired most of the time. There are various forms of anemia and the causes for each form may be different. This condition could be temporary in some people and chronic in others and could range from being mild to severe.


The lack of proper nutrition is one of the most common problems that lead to anemia. Therefore anemia nutrition deficiencies can be avoided, but eating a well-balanced, healthy and nutritious anemia diet, which is very high in iron, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Some of the most common types of anemia nutrition deficiencies include Iron deficiency anemia, vitamin deficiency anemia, aplastic anemia, hemolytic anemia, sickle cell anemia thalassemia, defective hemoglobin anemia and anemia of chronic disease, to name a few.

Anemia Prevention Diet

People, who realize how damaging anemia can be, try their best to prevent the condition naturally. It is possible to avoid suffering from this condition by following an anemia diet.

Given below are tips for an anemia prevention diet:

• Red meat is very high in iron and protein and therefore, it should be consumed on a regular basis.


Eating eggs at least three or four times a day can help fight off anemia.
• There are several foods that are high in iron like green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans and pulses. All recipes can be made more nutritious, by adding beans, nuts or lentils to them.



• Cooking foods in iron pots can help increase the content of iron in foods. If the food is cooked for a longer time, the absorption of iron can be increased. This technique is especially helpful with recipes that include acidic foods such as tomato sauce.
• Drinking beverages like tea and coffee along with meals interferes with the proper absorption of iron. Therefore, tea and coffee should not be consumed for at least half an hour before and after meals.

Anemia Treatment Diet

A person suffering from anemia can treat the condition with the help of supplements or by following a specialized diet. Foods and snacks that are high in calories, but low in nutrition should be strictly avoided. Instead, snacking on nuts, raisins, dried figs and other healthier dry fruits is a much better option. Foods that are high in iron, protein, vitamins and minerals can help reduce anemia related problems. A “Blood Building Salad”, made out of ingredients like spinach, boiled eggs, raisins, carrots, prunes and avocado should be consumed, preferably on a daily basis. In addition to that, consuming iron supplements, on the recommendation of a doctor can also be helpful.

Anemia is usually accompanied by a decrease in immunity and resistance in the body and therefore, this condition should not be treated lightly, as it could prevent the body from fighting off various diseases. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor for different options to help reduce anemia.

Diet For Iron Deficiency Anemia

There are many types of anemia, but the most common cause for anemia is iron deficiency. In turn iron deficiency can be caused due to chronic blood loss during menstruation or blood loss due to excessive bleeding in the gut due to gastritis, ulcers, hemorrhoids or worm infection in children. Iron requirements are usually increased during pregnancy, lactation, children with rapid growth spurts and adolescents. Iron deficiency anemia can even occur when these requirements are not met.

Common symptoms of chronic iron deficiency anemia include weakness, tiredness, and shortness of breath or fast heartbeat. To treat any anemia including iron deficiency anemia it is important to know the underlining cause and possible try and treat the cause to treat anemia. Diet rich in food with iron and iron supplementations can also make a large difference in the treatment.

Points to remember for an iron enriched diet and iron supplementation

1. Iron from the food source is best absorbed in the body from meat especially organ meats like liver and kidney as these are the main organs where iron is metabolized. Other good sources include fish, egg yolk, cheese and commercially available fortified breakfast cereals which are enriched with easily absorbable iron.
2. To facilitate iron absorption, vitamin C plays an important role. Along with your iron fortified breakfast cereal or egg or stir-fried liver try to incorporate a glass of orange juice. This will really help in iron absorption.
3. Folic acid found in green leafy vegetables is also essential along with iron to prevent anemia. Try and include at least one serving of green leaf vegetable in a day, if necessary folic acid supplementation could also be taken.
4. Iron supplementations in the form of iron sulfate tablets are also of great help. The dosage should be adjusted depending on the severity of the deficiency with consent of a specialist. As iron absorption is better on an empty stomach, it is often recommended to take iron tablets in between meals. However if you get any side effects from these tablets like fullness, bloating or even stomach pain, then it would be wiser to take it along with the meals as it would help decrease these side effects.

1. Without consulting a dietician or a specialist do not switch over to a vegetarian diet.
2. Iron enriched cocktails generally contain very less iron and are heavy on the pockets, these can be avoided.
3. Drugs such as cimetidine should not be taken simultaneously with iron supplementation as they may inhibit iron absorption.
4. Remember you did not get iron deficiency over night; it was over a period of time. So don’t expect to fix it over night too. Continue the supplementations and iron rich diet as it would at least take 4-6 months to replenish the stores and correct anemia.