You might have recently (or not so recently) been diagnosed with anemia and not know WHY. While there might be several contributing factors,  but it all comes down to the fact that you have an iron deficiency. Whether you are fat or thin does not matter. Read on….

What is anemia?

Anemia or anaemia which literally means “without blood,” is a lack of red blood cells and/or hemoglobin. The main impact of anemia is a reduced ability for blood to transfer oxygen to the tissues. Anemia can occur in men or women without any discrimination, and can occur alone or in conjuction with other diseases or ailments.

Potential causes of anemia:

1. excessive blood loss (hemorrhage),
2. excessive red blood cell destruction (hemolysis)
3. below normal count of red blood cells
4. lack of oxygen in the red blood cells
5. iron deficiency
6. poor diet
7. disease
8. reactions to medications like chemotherapy

Anemia can be mild or severe, temporary or chronic. In the worst-case scenario, anemia can create a serious oxygen deficiency in bodily organs that can lead to heart attack.

Symptoms of anemia
Symptoms might start off as almost unnoticeable, but increase as the condition worsens. Women have a higher anemia risk due to:
1. heavy menstrual periods
2. pregnancy
3. suffering from internal bleeding due to ulcers or various forms of cancer
4. an iron-poor diet 
5. vitamin B12 deficiency
6. disease that interferes with the process of manufacturing blood
7. the side effects of chemotherapy

Treatment of Anemia
Anemia is treatable through various means depending on the cause. Some treatments consist of little more than dietary adjustments and exercise. When a more serious underlying disease causes anemia, it might be a question of management rather than cure. In some cases, herbal supplements given by specialists can cure anemia naturally .

(While this article provides general information, it is not intended as a diagnostic tool and should not be considered medical advice. If you need any medical advice, please consult with your physician.)

*Poor diet. Your body needs iron and vitamins to produce sufficient numbers of red blood cells. Your diet should be well rounded to provide your body with the vitamins, minerals, nutrients and calories necessary to create a healthy body.

*Intestinal disorders. Intestinal disorders can affect the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine and impact whether your body adequately processes the iron in your diet.

* Menstruation. In general, women are at greater risk of iron deficiency anemia than men because women lose blood and with it iron every month during menstruation. Women need to be aware of this fact and make an effort to increase her intake of iron rich foods during this time of month. Wheatgrass is an especially effective supplement during menstruation.

*Pregnancy. Pregnant women should adjust their diets to include more foods which contain iron ingredients so that the iron is balanced to both mother and the growing fetus.

*Chronic conditions. For example, if you have cancer, kidney or liver failure, or another chronic condition, you may be at higher risk as these conditions tend to lead to a shortage of red blood cells.

* Family history. If your family has a history of inherited anemia, you are also at increased risk of the condition so it is imperative to take precautions to mitigate your risks.

Many types of anemia can’t be prevented. But with proper education, diet and preparation, it is possible to relieve, if not entirely negate, the symptoms. The most effective strategy to avoid iron deficiency anemia and vitamin deficiency anemia is to eat a healthy, varied diet that includes foods rich in iron, folate and vitamin B-12.

The best sources of iron are beef and other meats. Other foods rich in iron include beans, lentils, iron-fortified cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, dried fruit, nuts and seeds. Folate, and its synthetic form, folic acid, can be found in citrus juices and fruits, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes and fortified breakfast cereals. Vitamin B-12 is plentiful in meat and dairy products. Foods containing vitamin C help increase iron absorption. Wheatgrass has been identified as the best single source for of these vital nutrients.

Eating plenty of iron-containing foods is particularly important for people who have high iron requirements, such as children, iron is needed during growth spurts, and pregnant and menstruating women. Adequate iron intake is also crucial for infants, strict vegetarians and long-distance runners.

You can get iron supplements or multivitamins containing iron for people with high iron requirements. But iron supplements are appropriate only when you need more iron than a balanced diet can provide. Don’t assume that if you’re tired that you simply need to take iron supplements. Overloading your body with iron can be dangerous.

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