Treat Iron Deficiency Anemia with 5 Natural Remedies
Iron deficiency anemia is a disorder that develops when hemoglobin levels in the blood decrease due to iron deficiency. As a result, oxygen cannot be transported properly to tissues and cells, triggering quite a bit of chaos in the body. Do you know how to treat iron deficiency anemia naturally?
Medical professionals often treat iron deficiency anemia by prescribing dietary changes and iron supplements. However, other remedies contain natural substances with properties that help relieve this condition.
Keep reading to find out what they are.
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5 Natural Remedies to Treat Iron Deficiency Anemia
Iron deficiency anemia can occur due to a decrease in the ability to absorb iron through food or a deficit of this nutrient in the diet. Also, it can be the result of internal bleeding or excessive bleeding during menstruation, among other reasons.
Many people are unaware that they have this type of anemia since the primary symptoms are mild or are confused with other conditions. However, sometimes this condition involves prolonged fatigue, pale skin, shortness of breath, weakness of hair and nails, and other more obvious symptoms.
People with severe iron deficiency anemia should receive medical attention because it could lead to other complications.
However, if the patient is only mildly or moderately affected, he or she can improve simply by making some dietary changes and other natural solutions.
Below, discover 5 remedies to treat iron-deficiency anemia.
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5 Natural Ways to Treat Iron Deficiency Anemia
1. Spinach
In addition to being rich in iron, spinach contains vitamin C, which is essential for the proper absorption of this mineral.
One of the best supplements to treat iron deficiency anemia is none other than spinach. This wonderful vegetable can provide up to 3.6 mg of iron per 100 grams. Also, it’s an important source of vitamin C, a key nutrient for proper iron absorption.
What to do:
Spinach can be added to many different recipes. However, it’s recommended that you consume it raw, either in smoothies or salads. Try adding some spinach leaves to a mango and banana smoothie and you won’t even taste the spinach!
2. Red beet to treat iron deficiency anemia
For many years, red beets have served as the basis for anemia remedies. Every 100 grams of this vegetable contains up to 1.80 mg of iron. Furthermore, red beets provide vitamin C and folates, giving them additional anti-anemic properties.
What to do:
- To start, peel and chop a red beet into several cubes.
- Then, blend it in the food processor along with a carrot and half a glass of orange juice.
- Consume this juice in the middle of the morning for 2 weeks in a row.
3. Rooibos tea
In addition to plenty of minerals, rooibos tea contains no caffeine or other stimulants.
Rooibos tea, or South African red tea, is a natural beverage that has been popularized worldwide for its numerous medicinal properties. It can be useful for treating iron deficiency anemia since it contains small amounts of iron and vitamin C.
What to do:
- Prepare some hot rooibos tea and drink it twice a day.
- Note: This tea can sometimes mimic human estrogen in the body, so it could interfere with certain treatments or medications. Consult your primary care practitioner before use.
4. St. John’s wort tea
No studies have confirmed the benefits of St. John’s wort in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia yet. In spite of this, drinking St. John’s wort tea may be beneficial since it provides significant amounts of vitamin C, a nutrient involved in iron absorption.
What to do:
- First, add a tablespoon of dried St. John’s wort in a cup of boiling water.
- Then, cover the drink and let it stand for 10 minutes.
- Finally, filter it with a strainer and consume it after your main meals.
5. Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain antioxidant compounds such as lycopene, which can provide interesting benefits to your health.
Believe it or not, tomatoes are one of the fresh vegetables that help you obtain iron if you have anemia. Their antioxidant compounds are very beneficial for disorders that affect blood health since they minimize the negative impact of free radicals and toxins.
What to do:
- Eat cold tomatoes through salads or cold soups. If you prefer, prepare a tomato juice with parsley and lemon and take it in the middle of the morning.
- Keep doing this until you feel an improvement in symptoms.
Have you been diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia?
Follow the treatment recommended by your doctor and make sure to try the remedies here as a supplement or preventative measure. Keep in mind that you should not use these recipes to replace the treatment prescribed by your health care provider.
In fact, you should ask your doctor before trying any of these recipes, in case there is a chance for interference with the effects of your treatment.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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- Raiola, A., Rigano, M. M., Calafiore, R., Frusciante, L., & Barone, A. (2014). Enhancing the Health-Promoting Effects of Tomato Fruit for Biofortified Food. Mediators of Inflammation. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/139873
