Types of Anemia and Diet for Iron Deficiency Anemia

There are many forms of anemia but the most common form being iron deficiency anemia. Anemia is a disorder related to blood. Iron deficiency anemia occurs when there is not sufficient hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells is essential to carry oxygen to different parts of the body from your lungs. As your body needs iron to make enough hemoglobin it is essential to include iron rich foods in your diet to correct iron deficiency anemia. Remember other inherited form of anemia, anemia due to blood loss, vitamin B-12 or folic acid anemia needs other modes of treatment. In this answer I have discussed the common form of anemia that is iron deficiency anemia. If you have any other form of anemia then it is important to diagnose the cause and get an appropriate treatment. Try the following dietary tips to deal with your iron deficiency anemia –

Anemia Guidelines for Treating Anemia

Iron deficiency anemia can be due to growth spurts, pregnancy, lack of iron rich foods in your diet, or blood loss. To treat your anemia it is very important to know the cause for it. For instance if it is due to pregnancy or lactation or low iron intake then it can be corrected by adding iron rich foods in your diet. There can be two sources of iron in your diet – haem iron and non haem iron. Good sources of haem iron include beef liver, pork liver, chicken liver, mussels, clams, oysters, sardines, beef, turkey, and shrimps. Non haem iron sources include fortified or enriched breakfast cereals, blackstrap molasses, black dates, canned beans, pumpkin seeds, garden cress seeds, enriched pastas, cooked lentils and beans, canned asparagus and baked potato with skin. If you are pregnant or lactating then avoid the consumption of liver as it is high in vitamin A and large amounts of this fat soluble vitamin can be harmful to the baby.

Haem iron is well available to the body as it is easily absorbed than non haem iron. To enhance the absorption of iron in the body you can add other foods that influence iron absorption that is foods rich in vitamin C. Certain foods when consumed with iron rich foods can enhance its absorption in the body. These include orange or orange juice, cantaloupe, lime, strawberries, grapefruit, broccoli, tomato, Brussels sprouts, red or green peppers, potatoes and white wine. Certain foods when consumed with iron rich foods can inhibit its absorption in the body these include tea, coffee, red wine, spinach, beet greens, and sweet potato and soy products.

You can also take some iron supplements as they will help to deal with anemia along with an iron rich diet, but only after consulting your health care specialist.