Anemia, a condition experienced by 20% of women, should not be ignored because its symptoms are mild. It can be dangerous enough to cause complications. Anemia occurs when the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin concentration, and blood cells are lower than average, causing the blood to thin. Red blood cells contain a protein called hemoglobin, and iron, folic acid, protein, and various vitamins are needed to make hemoglobin. If any of these are lacking, anemia can occur. So, let’s learn about anemia, which you should know.
What are the symptoms of anemia?
If you have anemia, the essential oxygen needed for the body’s organs to function is insufficient, leading to a sudden decrease in condition and feelings of fatigue. If discomfort persists, you may experience mental difficulties and lack of motivation, transforming into a lethargic state. You may also fail to perform metabolism correctly, leading to a decrease in body temperature below the expected standard and a possible pale complexion. In particular, if this affects the heart, it can cause heart failure or enlargement, among other serious problems.
Good Foods for Anemia
1. Beef
The first good food for anemia is beef. Among meats, beef is one of the foods that are good for anemia. Beef contains a large amount of vitamin B12, which is involved in the production of red blood cells, so it helps the activity of folic acid and effectively prevents anemia. Also, beef is rich in magnesium, which relaxes the muscles around the respiratory system, widens the airways, and stabilizes breathing.
2. Oysters
Oysters, known as the milk of the sea, are a representative low-calorie, high-protein food, and the content of essential amino acids is very high, so they are considered a complete food. They are also famous for being rich in iron and copper. Copper helps iron to be well absorbed in the body and is excellent in preventing tissue hypoxia. It can also help with growth, fatigue recovery, immune enhancement, and skin beauty.
3. Seaweed
Since ancient times, Korea has had a custom of feeding seaweed soup to mothers who have given birth. The reason is due to the ingredients contained in seaweed. Seaweed is rich in folic acid and iron, so when a weakened mother due to childbirth consumes it, it can help in health recovery. Therefore, if a person with anemia consumes seaweed soup, a large amount of folic acid and iron can alleviate the symptoms of anemia.
4. Tomato
Tomatoes are good for dieting because they have a high sense of fullness compared to their low calories. They also contain many essential nutrients, such as iron, folic acid, and vitamin C, making them suitable for people with anemia. Moreover, there is no nutrient destruction whether you eat it without cooking or heat it, so you can use it in various dishes such as tomato scrambled eggs, tomato juice, and tomato salad.
Bad Foods for Anemia
1. Tea Leaves
Most tea leaves contain tannic acid, which does not easily dissolve. This ingredient interferes with iron absorption in the body, causing a deficiency of iron and a decrease in the production of hemoglobin, which can worsen anemia. Also, even though it’s okay to drink a moderate amount of green tea that we often drink, if you drink too much, you can have abdominal pain, diarrhea, and anemia.
2. Coffee
Coffee, which modern people enjoy drinking, contains various ingredients, including caffeine. One of these ingredients is tannin, which has the property of reacting and binding with iron. Also, the phenolic substances of E. coli interfere with the decomposition of salts by binding with iron, inhibiting iron intake. If you have anemia, quitting coffee or drinking decaffeinated coffee for a while would be good.
3. Garlic
Garlic, when consumed in large quantities, suppresses gastric juice secretion and decreases the red blood cells of hemoglobin. Especially black garlic can cause side effects such as dizziness and various gastrointestinal diseases, so you should refrain from overeating. Also, if you take it with cold medicine, there is a possibility of bleeding, so you must be careful.
4. Fatty Foods
The last bad food for anemia is food high in fat. Fatty foods are bad for anemia because if there is a lot of fat in the body, it can affect the digestive system. Also, if you consume too much fat, it interferes with the body’s hematopoietic function. Therefore, it is necessary not to consume more than 70g per day.
How do you choose iron supplements?
When buying iron supplements, you need to check the type of iron to maximize absorption. The types of iron are divided into animal iron, ‘heme iron,’ and non-animal iron, ‘non-heme iron.’ While heme iron’s absorption rate is constant, non-heme iron’s absorption rate is flexibly adjusted to increase by up to 50% when iron storage is low. In other words, consuming non-heme iron products can effectively supplement iron if you are deficient in iron.
By. Oh Hye-in
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