Cure That Iron Deficiency

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.