Table of Contents

• Anemia meaning
• Anemia causes
• Anemia symptoms
• Anemia diagnosis
• Anemia effects
• Anemia types
• Anemia food to eat
• Anemia food to avoid
• Anemia medications to avoid
• Anemia ayurvedic medicine
• Anemia home remedies

Anemia Meaning

Anemia is a very common disease nowadays, especially in females. In India, one in every two females has anemia. In anemia, one’s body will lack the required healthy red blood cells. And thus the blood cells are not good enough to carry an adequate amount of oxygen. Anemia can differ in stages, it can be very mild or very severe. And based on its severity, it can be temporary or lifelong.

Anemia Causes

Anemia can be either congenital (present from birth) or acquired (developed after birth). The causes of anemia are as follows:

• Your body is unable to make the required amount of red blood cells.

Conditions- bone marrow & stem cell problems, iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency (especially folate or b12), chemotherapy, leukemia, lead poisoning, Crohn’s disease, sickle cell, old age, hyperthyroidism, lupus, advanced kidney disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis.

• Your body itself destroys red blood cells.

Conditions- hemolytic disease, thalassemia, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, enlarged spleen, infection, kidney disease, hypertension, clotting disorders.

• You lose more red blood cells while bleeding than when it is made

Conditions- ulcers, hemorrhoids, gastritis, cancer, heavy menstruation.

Anemia Symptoms

• Weakness
• Irregular heartbeats
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Cold hands and feet
• Tiredness
• Pale or yellowish skin
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Headaches
• High blood flow during regular periods
• Ulcer symptoms
• Blood in stools
• Gastritis

Anemia Diagnosis

Anemia can be diagnosed only by taking blood tests. So your doctor can suggest you below-listed blood tests to diagnose anemia and also to find out which type of anemia you have.

• Complete Blood Count (CBC), will find out the number, size, volume, and hemoglobin content of red blood cells.
• Blood Iron Level and Serum Ferritin Level will find out your body’s total iron stores.
• Levels Of Vitamin B12 and Folate are the required vitamins for the synthesis of red blood cells and you can know their amount in your body.
• Reticulocyte Count, Bilirubin, and Other Blood and Urine Tests to get information about how frequently your blood cells are made.

Anemia Effects

• Brittle nails
• Hair loss
• Change in taste buds
• Tinnitus (Ringing in the ears)
• Feeling tired or cold
• Irregular heartbeats
• Enlarged heart
• Depression
• Pica
• Undeveloped motor skills
• Weight loss
• Premature birthing by females

Anemia Types

There are many types of anemia that aren’t iron-deficiency anemia. These are caused by different deficiencies, conditions, and ailments.

• Hemolytic anemia

This type of anemia is caused when the body makes weak red blood cells that are destroyed very easily. It takes more time for your body to make the red blood cells than to destroy them.

• Sickle cell anemia

This anemia is a genetic disorder where the shape of hemoglobin is not round as usual but like crescent moons or sickles. This causes coagulation in the blood vessels.

• Pernicious anemia

This anemia is caused by the deficiency of Vitamin B12. With the lack of B12 in the body, it can not develop healthy red blood cells. 

• Aplastic anemia

This type of anemia is caused when the bone marrow is damaged. In this condition, the bone marrow is unable to produce the required amount of red blood cells.

• Fanconi anemia

Fanconi anemia is somewhat similar to aplastic anemia. Here also the damaged bone marrow can not make enough red blood cells. It is a very rare type of anemia.

• Cooley’s anemia

This type of anemia is related to thalassemia where the body does not make an adequate amount of hemoglobin and also they die quickly. That is why this is also referred to as beta-thalassemia major.

Anemia Food To Eat

An iron-rich diet can help in controlling anemia. Though it is not stated that it completely cures the disease, it can help a lot. Every anemia patient is advised to take 150-200 milligrams of iron every day.  Here is a list of iron-rich foods in different categories:

• Fruits and Vegetables

• Spinach
• Red and yellow peppers
• Lemon
• Dandelion greens
• Oranges
• Sweet potatoes
• Pomegranates
• Key lime
• Watercress
• Beet greens
• Strawberries
• Indian gooseberry

• Meat and Fish

• Chicken
• Lamb
• Tuna
• Liver
• Shrimp
• Salmon
• Perch
• Venison
• Shellfish
• Oysters
• Halibut
• Haddock

• Beans and Pulses

• Soybeans
• Kidney beans
• Black beans
• Lima beans
• Black-eyed peas
• Chickpeas

• Nuts and Seeds

• Almonds
• Cashews
• Walnuts
• Peanuts
• Pistachios
• Pine nuts
• Hazelnut
• Pumpkin seeds
• Sunflower seeds
• Hemp seeds

• Other
  • Eggs
  • Blackstrap Molasses
  • Quinoa
  • Oats
  • Whole wheat
  • Kamut
  • Iron-fortified foods

These foods can help you in controlling anemia but you shouldn’t solely rely on them. If you have any of the aforementioned symptoms, consult a doctor. Especially if you are pregnant, have a history of chronic disorders, or anyone in your family has anemia or intestine issues. 

Anemia Food To Avoid

You already know that iron-rich foods are essential for an anemic patient. But do you know that certain foods can interfere with iron absorption?

You need to avoid the below-listed food items if you have anemia:

• Tea
• Coffee
• Grapes
• Corn
• Milk
• Sorghum
• Brown rice
• Peanuts
• Parsley
• Whole-grain wheat
• Chocolate
• Products having tannins
• Legumes
• Nuts
• Gluten products
• Yogurt
• Cheese
• Apples
• Walnuts
• Alcohol

Anemia Medications To Avoid

The below-listed medicines can destroy red blood cells when consumed and also cause hemolytic anemia.

• Cephalosporins
• Dapsone
• Levodopa 
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Penicillin and its derivatives

Before taking any of these medicines don’t forget to consult your doctor.

Anemia Ayurvedic Medicine 

Ayurveda also helps immensely in anemia. Lohasava is one such ayurvedic liquid medicine that is used to treat anemia. In anemia, iron is much needed. Here, the ‘loha’ in Lohasava represents its richness in iron. 

Ingredients in Lohasava

• Amalaki
• Bibhitaki
• Haritaki
• Vidanga
• Pipali
• Maricha
• Yavani
• Mustaka
• Shunti
• Dhataki
• Nagarmotha
• Chitraka
• Lauha bhasma
• Jala
• Madhu
• Guda

Benefits of Lohasava

• Fulfills iron-deficiency
• Restores hemoglobin levels
• Helps in indigestion
• Reduces fatigue & tiredness
• Regulates breathing problem
• Improves appetite
• Promotes sleep
• Increases blood circulation
• Corrects irregular heartbeats
• Prevents damage to liver cells
• Regenerates taste buds
• And many more!

How to use Lohasava

• Consume 15-20 ml of the syrup
• Mix it with an equal quantity of lukewarm water
• Take it after meals
• Advisable to take twice a day or as prescribed by the doctor 

Side effects of Lohasava

There’s no noticeable side effect of Lohasava except constipation. And that too only when taken in higher doses or if a person has a history of constipation. If the problem persists, consult with your doctor immediately. 

Anemia Home Remedies

Home remedies work wonders for anemic patients. You can try these below-listed easy remedies at your home:

• Eat green leafy vegetables as they are a good source of iron. You can have spinach soup, lettuce salad, kale smoothies, swiss chard, and collard greens. Eat them at least thrice a week to fight anemia.

• Have honey daily. Honey helps in increasing the hemoglobin in the blood. It is rich in iron, copper, manganese, calcium, and zinc. You can drink honey tea without milk or start your day by drinking honey in lukewarm water.

• Consume good fruits, especially citrus fruits. Apple, plum, ripe banana, lemon, grape, and orange are best for an anemic patient. You can directly wash and eat them, or make fruit juices.

• Everyone knows the goodness of beetroot. It is an iron-rich vegetable. Those who are suffering from anemia can drink beetroot juice as a tonic against fatigue and lethargy. It also helps in increasing the hemoglobin level.

• Blackcurrants are rich in iron. They help in fighting fatigue caused by anemia and also make extra red blood cells. You can soak the blackcurrants overnight. Remove their seeds and have them for 3-4 weeks early in the morning.

Try these but remember to be consistent. Be disciplined and see the difference within weeks.

So this was all about anemia! Now you must have got all the basic knowledge of anemia. Thank you for reading, and happy healing!