subject: Cure That Iron Deficiency [print this page] ANEMIA is a disease that is growing at a rapid pace mostly in women. Unhealthy and improper diet is the major cause of anemia. Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues.
Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia is a lowered blood cell count due to a lack of vitaminB12.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
When your body does not have enough iron, it will make fewer red blood cells or red blood cells that are too small. This is called iron deficiency anemia.
Your body needs vitamin B12 to make red blood cells. In order to provide vitamin B12 to your cells:
You must eat plenty of foods that contain vitamin B12, such as meat, poultry, shellfish, eggs, and dairy products.
Your body must absorb enough vitamin B12. A special protein, called intrinsic factor helps your body do this. This protein is released by cells in the stomach.
A lack of vitamin B12 may be due to dietary factors, including:
Eating a vegetarian diet
Poor diet in infants
Poor nutrition during pregnancy
Symptoms
You may not have symptoms. Symptoms may be mild.
Symptoms can include:
diarrheaor constipation
fatigue, lack of energy, or light-headedness when standing up or with exertion
loss of appetite, pale skin
Problems concentrating
Shortness of breath mostly during exercise
Swollen, red tongue or bleeding gums
Feeling grumpy and weak
Brittle nails
Blue color to the whites of eyes
Sore tongue
If you have low vitamin B12 levels for a long time, you can have nerve damage. Symptoms of nerve damage include:
Confusion or change in mental status in severe cases
Depression
Loss of balance
Numbness and tingling of hands and feet
TREATMENT OF ANEMIA
Taking supplements and eating iron-rich foods are important parts of treating iron deficiency anemia.
Iron supplements (most often ferrous sulfate) are needed to build up the iron stores in your body. Iron supplements (most often ferrous sulfate) are needed to build up the iron stores in your body.
Iron rich foods should be included in your diet so that the deficiency can be covered up and you can be resisted from emerging again.
Iron-rich foods include:
Chicken and turkey
Dried lentils, peas, and beans
Eggs (yolk)
Fish
Meats (liver is the highest source)
Peanut butter
Soybeans
Whole-grain bread
Other sources include:
Oatmeal
Raisins, prunes, and apricots
Spinach, kale, and other greens
Everyone's diet should include enough iron. Red meat, liver, and egg yolks are important sources of iron. Flour, bread, and some cereals are fortified with iron. If you aren't getting enough iron in your diet take iron supplements.
During periods when you need extra iron (such as pregnancy and breastfeeding), increase the amount of iron in your diet or take iron supplements.
