| Anything that causes a deficiency in the formation or | | | | hidden disease, because the symptoms can easily go |
| production of red blood cells, or that leads to the | | | | unrecognized. The first signs of developing anemia |
| too-rapid destruction of red blood cells, can result in | | | | may be: |
| anemia. | | | | * Loss of appetite |
| Some things that can lead to anemia: | | | | * Constipation |
| * Drug use | | | | * Headaches |
| * Hormonal disorders | | | | * Irritability, and/or difficulty in concentrating |
| * Chronic inflammation in the body | | | | Established anemia can produce such symptoms as: |
| * Surgery | | | | * Weakness |
| * Infections | | | | * Fatigue |
| * Peptic ulcers | | | | * Coldness of extremities |
| * Hemorrhoids | | | | * Depression |
| * Diverticular disease | | | | * Dizziness |
| * Heavy menstrual bleeding | | | | * Overall pallor |
| * Repeated pregnancies | | | | * Most noticeable in pale and brittle nails |
| * Liver damage | | | | * Pale lips and eye lids |
| * Thyroid disorders | | | | * Soreness in the mouth |
| * Rheumatoid arthritis | | | | * In women, cessation of menstruation |
| * Bone marrow disease | | | | Herbs that are good for anemia: |
| * Dietary deficiencies (especially deficiencies of iron, | | | | * Alfalfa |
| folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12) | | | | * Bilberry |
| There are also a number of hereditary disorders, | | | | * Cherry |
| such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia, that cause | | | | * Dandelion |
| anemia. | | | | * Goldenseal |
| Pernicious anemia is a severe form of anemia that is | | | | * Grape skins |
| due to vitamin B12 deficiency. Persons with this | | | | * Hawthorn berry |
| disorder cannot absorb any form of vitamin B12 from | | | | * Mullein |
| the gastrointestinal tract. | | | | * Nettle |
| Millions of Americans suffer from anemia, a reduction | | | | * Oregon grape root |
| in either the number of red blood cells or the amount | | | | * Pau d'arco |
| of hemoglobin in the blood. The results in a decrease | | | | * Red raspberry |
| in the amount of oxygen that the blood is able to | | | | * Shepherd's purse |
| carry. | | | | * Yellow dock |
| Anemia reduces the amount of oxygen available to | | | | Include the following in your diet: |
| the cells of the body. As a result, they have less | | | | * Apples |
| energy available to perform their normal functions. | | | | * Apricots |
| Important processes, such as muscular activity and | | | | * Asparagus |
| cell building and repair, slow down and become less | | | | * Bananas |
| efficient. When the brain lacks oxygen, dizziness may | | | | * Broccoli |
| result, and mental faculties are less sharp. | | | | * Egg yolks |
| The most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency. | | | | * Kelp |
| Iron is an important factor in anemia because this | | | | * Leafy greens |
| mineral is used to make hemoglobin, the component | | | | * Okra |
| of red blood cells that attaches to oxygen and | | | | * Parsley |
| transports it. | | | | * Peas |
| Red blood cells exist only to oxygenate the body, | | | | * Plums |
| and have a life span of about 120 days. If a person | | | | * Prunes |
| lacks sufficient iron, the formation of red blood cells is | | | | * Purple grapes |
| impaired. | | | | * Raisins |
| Iron-deficiency anemia can be caused by insufficient | | | | * Rice bran |
| iron intake and/or absorption, or by significant blood | | | | * Squash |
| loss. The latter is commonly seen in women who | | | | * Turnip greens |
| suffer from menorrhagia (heavy or prolonged | | | | * Whole grains |
| menstrual bleeding), which in turn may be caused by | | | | * Yams |
| a hormonal imbalance, fibroid tumors, or uterine | | | | Also eat foods high in vitamin C to enhance iron |
| cancer. | | | | absorption. |
| Women who use intrauterine devices for | | | | Blackstrap molasses is a good source of iron and |
| contraception are also at a higher risk of blood loss, | | | | essential B vitamins. Consume at least 1 tablespoon |
| as are those who overuse anti-inflammatory | | | | of blackstrap molasses twice daily (for a child, use 1 |
| medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen, which can | | | | teaspoon in a glass of milk or formula twice daily). |
| cause blood loss through irritation of the digestive | | | | Avoid beer, candy bars, dairy products, ice cream, |
| tract. Excessive aspirin usage, particularly by elderly | | | | and soft drinks. Additives in these foods interfere |
| people, may cause internal bleeding. | | | | with iron absorption. For the same reason, avoid |
| Of those suffering from anemia, 20 percent are | | | | coffee (which contains polyphenols) and tea (which |
| women and 50 percent are children. It is often a | | | | contains tannins). |