Diet Plan for Patients of Anemia

Anaemia is a condition that develops when our body does not receive enough oxygen to fulfill its needs. The lack of oxygen occurs due to deficiency of red blood cells or low levels of hemoglobin pigment that binds with oxygen.

The deficiency of red blood cells could be due to low count of RBC's due to destruction or due to abnormality in the RBC structure.

What Foods To Consumed

Add these foods to your diet to get more iron and help fight iron deficiency anemia:

Green leafy vegetables

Dark leafy greens—such as spinach, Swiss chard, and kale—are natural sources of non-heme iron, as are peas, string beans, Brussels sprouts, and sweet potatoes. Figs, dates, and raisins are a good source of iron, as are other dried fruits like apricots. In addition, some options—especially citrus—are particularly high in vitamin C, which can help lessen the negative effects of phytates—compounds that reduce iron absorption.

Grains

Whole grain breads, cereals, and pastas are high in phytates. However, these foods (and the flour used to make them) are often fortified with iron.

Meat and poultry

All meat and poultry contain heme iron. Red meat, lamb, and venison are the best sources. Poultry and chicken have lower amounts. Eating meat or poultry with nonheme iron foods, such as leafy greens, can increase iron absorption.

Dessert

Maple syrup, honey, corn syrup, and black-strap molasses are sweet iron sources that can be used for baking. Adding dark chocolate, dried fruits, raisins, or nuts to cookies or cakes can add a little iron as well.

Beverages

Coffee, tea, and wine contain polyphenols, which can inhibit iron absorption. You may want to limit your intake of these drinks altogether, or at least avoid having them with an iron-rich meal.

Fortified foods

Many foods are fortified with iron. Add these foods to your diet if you’re a vegetarian or struggle to eat other sources of iron:

•  fortified orange juice
•  fortified, ready-to-eat cereals
•  foods made from fortified refined flour such as white bread
•  fortified pasta
•  foods made from fortified cornmeal
•  fortified white rice

Beans

Beans are good sources of iron for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. They’re also inexpensive and versatile. Some iron-rich options are:

•  kidney beans
•  chickpeas
•  soybeans
•  black-eyed peas
•  pinto beans
•  black beans
•  peas
•  lima beans

What Foods To Avoid

•  Foods containing caffeine like coffee and colas.
•  Tannin-containing foods such as tea, grapes, corn, and sorghum.
•  Foods that contain phytates or phytic acids, such as brown rice and whole-grain wheat products
•  Foods that contain oxalic acids, such as peanuts, parsley, and chocolate

Tips to increase iron absorption in the body:

•  Refraining from eating foods rich in calcium or phytates with those rich in iron.
•  Eating iron-rich foods alongside those rich in vitamin C.
•  Cooking foods for shorter periods.
•  Cooking food in Iron vessels.