Anemia is a common blood disorder and is a decrease in the level of red blood cells in the blood. It is colloquially referred to as anemia. Anemia can occur for many different reasons, it can be short-term or long-term. Some anemia is mild or the person may not notice it, but some forms of anemia can be very severe.
Anemia Symptoms: Anemia; It manifests itself with symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, palpitation, loss of appetite, nausea, frequent illness, more chills, difficulty in concentrating, pallor in the face, eyes and palms. Symptoms such as swelling in the ankles, diarrhea, vomiting, nose bleeding can also be seen.
CAUSES OF ANEMIA
Insufficient iron intake; It is seen in the deficiency of iron taken through food during normal diet.
It is more common in societies with low socio-economic level, people with wrong eating habits.
In infants; Late initiation of complementary foods, feeding with cow’s milk instead of breast milk may cause anemia. Especially 6-24. It is common between months.
In adults, vegetarianism, improper weight loss regimens and eating disorders can also cause anemia. In addition, excessive menstrual bleeding can lead to anemia.
Causes related to childbirth; Conditions such as frequent births, multiple pregnancies, frequent births of 2 years or more than 4 births may cause anemia.
Situations where iron requirement increases; The body’s need for iron increases during periods of rapid growth such as ulcer bleeding, menstrual bleeding in women, parasitic infections, especially in the first age of babies and adolescence, and anemia may occur in cases where this increased need cannot be met from food alone.
Conditions where iron absorption is impaired; Prolonged diarrhea, chronic infections, disorders in the digestive system can cause anemia by impairing the absorption of iron taken into the body.
Lead poisoning; Lead poisoning caused by the mixing of lead in fuel into the air, especially in urban centers with heavy vehicle traffic, can also cause anemia.
Anemia Treatment: In the treatment, primarily the factors causing anemia are tried to be eliminated. If there are causes such as hemorrhoids and excessive menstrual bleeding, they are treated. If the cause of anemia is iron deficiency as a result of malnutrition, iron deficiency is tried to be eliminated by consuming foods rich in iron and vitamin C. In case of advanced anemia, drug therapy is applied. If the patient has lost a lot of blood, a blood transfusion may also be required.
Grapes, mulberry and carob molasses, bee pollen, honey are very useful as blood-forming foods. In addition, one of the measures that can be taken against anemia is to avoid tea, coffee, cigarettes, alcohol and cola, which reduce the body’s iron absorption.
Since anemia is common in pregnancy, children and infants, attention should be paid to the adequate and balanced nutrition of pregnant women and children, and iron supplementation if necessary. Since anemia in pregnancy, children and infants can cause developmental disorders, great care should be taken.
Nutrition recommendations in the treatment of anemia:
Eat lots of red meat, dried legumes, dried fruits (such as raisins, dried figs), green leafy vegetables, and molasses.
Take Vitamin – C (100 milligrams per day). Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron from the intestines.
Eat foods rich in iron (legumes, lentils, millet, chickpeas, dark green vegetables, molasses, iron-enriched cereals, dried apricots, dried peaches, pumpkins, sunflower seeds, peanuts, walnuts, almonds, soybeans) like beans).
It is beneficial for those who take iron pills to take yogurt. The lactic acid in yogurt facilitates the storage of iron in the body.
Avoid foods that reduce iron absorption: caffeinated beverages, milk, and bran (like wholemeal bread).
If you do not have iron deficiency anemia, you do not need iron.
