Anemia and Nutrition

Anemia is defined as a health condition in which our body do not have enough red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood to carry the function of delivery oxygen and nutrient to the tissue, including organs and cells. To read more about Anemia, click here

Our activity required certain amount of nutrients every day, intake enough nutrition with a balanced diet by by eating a variety of nutrient-packed foods, including lean meats and dairy products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains is always recommended to replace the already used energy. Unfortunately, certain diets and part of the world where meat is luxury, etc., nutritional deficiency may lead to iron deficiency cause of anemia. For people suffering from anemia, a healthy and nutritious diet becomes even more important and necessary.

Iron deficiency and anemia
Iron is defined simply as too little iron in the body for the production of hemoglobin. Anemia occurs when there isn't enough hemoglobin to transport oxygen to the body cells and organs need, leading to symptoms of irritability, fatigue, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, etc.. Approximate 2 out of 1000 people in Canada are considered iron deficiency. If your body delete the stored iron, it can cause no hemoglobin is produced, leading to iron deficiency anemia.

Symptoms
1. Fatigue and loss of energy
2. Unusually rapid heart beat, particularly with exercise
3. Dizziness
4. Weak and tired easily
5. Shortness of breath
6. Difficulty concentrating
7. Pale skin
8. Insomnia
9. Irritability
10. Etc.

Causes of nutritional deficiency
1. Diet
a. Vegetarian diet is considered one form of healthy diet if you remember that non heme iron in plant is tough to absorbed, intake vitamin C may be helpful but checking your iron is important.
b. Poor diet
In the third world, when meat is considered is luxury to many people.
c. Infant
Children have enough iron in the first 6 months after they were born, breast milk and normal formula feeding should supplement with iron rich source of foods such as cereal,...
2. Teen
Teen under growing spurt and girls start menstruation required higher amount of iron to avoid the risk of iron deficiency cause of anemia.
3. Women
Menstruation loss of certain amount of blood and pregnant women require higher amount of iron to support the grow of the fetus.
4. Internal bleeding
Internal bleeding such as ulcer, herrmorrrhoids, cancer, etc.
5. Diseases
Certain types of diseases such as cancer and inflammatory or bowel disease can reduced the body in iron absorption
6. Supplements
Certain types of minerals such as magnesium and calcium can reduce the body in iron absorption. Please take them in the different time, if you are taking iron supplement.
7. Etc.

Benefits of treating anemia
1. Pregnant women
Treating anemia is important to improve the birth outcome and the the health of the woman after pregnancy.

2. Children
a. Infants
To avoid mental delay and psychomotor development in infant, sometime it is irreversible.
b. Teen
To avoid moderate iron deficient causes of poor cognitive and academic performance.

3. Heart diseases
People with heart diseases and anemia with taking iron supplement or dieting with rich iron sources can cause the heart to work harder due to reduced red blood cells risk, leading to led swelling and shortness of breath.

4. Etc.

Treatments
1. Diet
If the cause of iron deficiency is due to lack of iron folate, B12 then diet rich of above such as red lean meat, fish, clam, oyster, etc. will be required. Intake of vitamin C can enhance the iron absorption
2. Infants
Fortified formula or iron fortified cereal for the first 6 -24 months.
3. Erythrpoietin
may be necessary for pregnant women with severe anemia.
4. Internal bleeding
Treating the bleeding.
5. Etc.


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