Diet for Anaemia
Anaemia occurs when your body doesn’t have enough iron, folate, vitamin B 12, or vitamin A to produce sufficient haemoglobin or healthy red blood cells. Haemoglobin is the part of red blood cells that carry oxygenated blood throughout your body.
Signs and symptoms may include:
- Extreme fatigue and weakness
- Pale skin
- Fast heartbeat or shortness of breath
- Headache, dizziness or light-headedness
- Cold hands and feet
- Inflammation or soreness of tongue
- Brittle nails
- Unusual cravings for non-nutritive substances, such as ice, dirt or starch
Pregnant and menstruating women, infants and children, and vegetarians are at increased risk of anemia. India ranks 170 out of 180 countries for anaemia among women. In the last two decades, the prevalence of anemia among Indian women of reproductive age has been 20 per cent more than the world average. Certain medical conditions like bleeding peptic ulcer, hiatal hernia, colon polyp or colorectal cancer, celiac disease, intestine surgery are some of the other reasons for anemia.
Anaemia due to nutritional deficiency can be addressed by a good diet.