Anaemia

Anaemia Diet

Diet is of the utmost importance in the treatment of anaemia.



Refined foods like white bread, polished rice, sugar and desserts rob the body of the much-needed iron. Iron should always be taken in its natural organic form in food, as the use of inorganic iron can prove hazardous. It may cause destruction of protective vitamins and un¬saturated fatty acids, serious liver damage, miscarriage during pregnancy and delayed or premature births.

The diet should be predominantly alkaline. The em¬phasis should be on raw fruits and vegetables, which are rich in iron. Iron rich vegetables are spinach, green onions, squash, carrots, radishes, beets, celery, yams, tomatoes and potatoes (with jackets). Fruits which are rich in iron are bananas, apples, dark grape, apricots, plums, raisins and strawberries. Bananas are particularly beneficial as they also contain, besides easily assailable iron folic acid and b 12 both of which are extremely useful in the treatment of anemia.

Other iron-rich foods are whole wheat, brown rice, beans, soyabeans, sunflower seeds, crude blackstrap molasses, eggs and honey.



Honey is also rich in copper, which helps in iron absorption. The diet should also be adequate in proteins of high biological value such as milk, homemade cottage cheese and eggs.

Vitamin B-12 is a must for preventing or curing anemia. This vitamin is usually found in animal protein and especially in organic meats like kidney and liver. A heavy meat diet is often associated with a high haemoglobin and high red cell count but it has its disad¬vantages. One cause of anaemia is intestinal putrefac¬tion, which is primarily brought on by a high meat diet. Moreover all meats are becoming increasingly dangerous due to widespread diseases in the animals, which are slaughtered. There are however other equally good sources of vitamin b 12 such as dairy products

Like milk, eggs, cheese and peanuts, wheat germ and soyabean also contain some B 12. Vegetarians should include ade¬quate amount of milk, milk products and eggs in their diet. For prevention of anaemia it is essential to take the entire b complex range which includes B-12 as well as the natural foods mentioned above.



Eating lacto-ovo pro¬ducts which are complete proteins containing vitamin 8-12 is good insurance against the disease. A liberal in¬take of ascorbic acid is necessary to facilitate absorption of iron. At least two helpings of citrus fruits and other ascorbic acid rich foods should be taken daily. Ention must be made of beets, which are extremely important in curing anaemia. Beet juice contains potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulphur, iodine, iron, copper, carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, B2, niacin, b6 C and vitamin p. With its high iron content beet juice regenerates and reactivates the red blood cells and supplies the body with fresh oxygen. According to dr. Fritz keitel of Germany, "the juice of red beet strengthens the body's powers of resistance and has proved to be an excellent remedy for anemia, especially for children and teenagers, where other blood forming remedies have failed."

The anaemic person should commence the dietary treatment by an exclusive fresh fruit diet for about five days. During this period, he should take three meals of fresh juicy fruits at five-hourly interval. This may be followed by fruit and milk diet for about 15 days. In this regimen, the meals are exactly the same as for all-fruit diet, but with milk added to each fruit meal. The patient may begin with two pints the first day and increase by half a pint daily up to four or five pints a day, after the fruit and milk diet, the patient may gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet based on three basic food groups, namely seeds, nuts and grains vegetables and fruits.

TREATMENT CHART FOR ANAEMIA:

A - DIET

I. An all-fruit diet for five days. Take three meals a day of fresh juicy fruits at five-hourly intervals and use warm water enema during this period.

II. Fruit and milk diet for further five days, adding milk to each fruit meal.

III. Thereafter, adopt the following diet: -

1. Upon arising:

25 black raisins soaked overnight in water along with water in which they are soaked and the water kept overnight in a copper vessel.

2. Breakfast:

Fresh fruit, a glass of milk sweetened with honey and some nuts, especially almonds.

3. Lunch:

A bowl of freshly prepared steamed vegetables, two or three whole wheat wheat tortilla, butter and a glass of buttermilk.

4. Mid-afternoon:

A glass of carrot or apple juice

5. Dinner:

A large bowl of fresh green vegetable salad and alfalfa or green gram bean sprouts.

Note:

An exclusive fruit diet for three days, followed by fruit skimmed milk diet for further three days should be repeated at regular intervals. It is advisable to avoid meats, sugar, white flour, tea, coffee, refined and processed foods, soft drinks, fried foods, condiments and pickles.

B - OTHER MEASURES:

1. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water.

2. Cold water bath twice daily, cold friction and wet abdomen pack once daily.

3. Massage once a week.

4. Brisk walks, yogic asanas, breathing exercises, fresh air and sunbath.

5. Adequate rest and sleep.