Anemia: Causes, symptoms and nutritional need

The common iron-related problem you will see in infants, pre-school children, adolescent girls, and women is Anemia. We all must have heard this name. But have you thought how dangerous it can be if you don't give a look at him? 

With the help of food, you can overcome the situation and can live a healthy life. Only the things you have to include and exclude you should look for them. 

It's not hard, You just have to look at the food items. Let me explain it too!!!

Nutritional Anemia or anemia is the condition in which is caused by iron deficiency. Iron deficiency anemia is a major public health problem. 

The causes of anemia can be blood loss due to any disease or due to infection, inflammation of the respiratory or genitourinary tract, or menstruation or blood donation or surgery, or any trauma. 

The other reasons which can cause anemia are decreased iron absorption or utilization. In this condition, the body is unable to absorb the iron and which is directly link with deficiency. 

Another reason for anemia can be the requirement of the body needs for iron is full fill by the food. 

Now the target group which has anemia:

1. Infancy- The weight at the time of birth is less and leads to a preterm baby, multiple births, the introduction of food time is late, the folate absorption is not taking place.

2. Childhood- The diet is not enough for the child and leads to deficiency, common infection seen in the child is hook warm infection and due to that blood loss occurs, the female child is neglected in the family, or any long-term intestinal blood loss disease. 

3. Adolescence- Growth of the girl/boy with less iron in the diet, gender discrimination, at the time of menarche, early marriage with pregnancy, a large amount of blood loss during menstruation, iron depletion with intensive exercise. 

4. Pregnancy- Low iron through diet, low maternal age, infections, cultural food.

5. Adults- Long time infection, surgery of gastrointestinal track, faulty diet habits like a high amount of oxalate and tannins. 

6. Old age- Diet low in folic acid, infections, drugs, poor absorption, psychological problems, chronic inflammatory disease. 

These are the reasons from which the age group can cause anemia. 

Symptoms- The person becomes lazy he/she doesn't want to do anything. They just want to lay down and do nothing at all. 

The concentration power is very less, their attention span is also less, they have very little interest in the study. This leads to poor academic study. 

The other symptoms in anemia are edema, hair loss, spoon-shaped nails, fatigue, and paleness of conductive. 

The types of anemia. Basically, there are three types of anemia

1.Hypochromic and Microlytic Anemia- The hemoglobin and red blood corpuscles are affected by this anemia. The cells are very small in size as compared with other RBCs.

2.Megaloblasic Anemia- In this, vitamin B12 and folic acid are having the main role. A deficiency of this vitamin deficiency can occur. But the size of these cells is large and they also irregular in size. 

3.Dimorphic Anemia- If both iron and either folate or vitamin B12 have a deficiency. The size can be big but the color is less. 

Diagnosis- With a simple blood test report, one can find in which type he/she is coming from. 

Now as for the dietary concern. It depends on the type of anemia you are having. According to that, the treatment is done. 

Iron-rich foods are garden cress seeds, cauliflower green, niger seeds, colocasia leaves, rice flakes, soybean, cowpea, all the green leafy vegetables, liver, rajma, egg. 

Vitamin B12 rich foods are liver sheep, liver goat, shrimp, egg yolk, goat meat, mutton, egg hen whole, skim milk powder, and curd of cow's milk. 

Free folic acid sources are liver sheep, spinach, gingelly seeds, cluster beans, amaranth tender, bengal gram whole, ladies finger, wheat whole, and green gram dal. 

For Iron deficiency anemia

In this anemia, the first thing is to give iron-rich food to overcome the deficiency. 

The best time of iron intake is when the stomach is empty. but in this condition can causes irritation, so along with other vitamins like B12 and folate should be given. 

Vitamin C is the best option for iron. Because Ascorbic acid increases iron absorption and maintains iron in a reduced state. 

The iron therapy should be continued for several months for the body to store the iron. Along with iron, the diet should also contain folate in a good amount. 

For Megaloblastic anemia

In this anemia, a high protein diet is useful with a high-calorie diet. 

There delay in gastric emptying there should less amount fat in the diet and food items like fried foods, high-fat sweets should be no inclusion of these food items. 

Vitamin C also a good option in this condition. The citrus fruits are the only option from vitamin c should be given only. 

Milk beverages are also a good option as they are high in protein and they also good if the person is malnourished. 

Folate deficiency anemia

Folic acid-rich food items should be given in this anemia. 

Along with folic acid, Iron-rich food should be given. 

From the diet point of view in all anemia, the diet should be rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. If you take a proper diet then anemia can be prevented from taking oral iron through diet. But in conditions like pregnancy, there is a need for supplementation is occurred. But consult your doctor first for doing anything. After that, you should start any supplementation. 

Having anemia then the education awareness should be created through giving them lectures on food items. Promotion of consumption of pulses, green leafy vegetables, and other vegetables rich in iron and folic acid, meat products can be helpful in pregnancy and lactating mothers. For vitamin B12 the food items like meat, curds, or eggs should be consumed. 

The thing in every disease is to keep aware and from proper diet, everything can be cured. 

Stay healthy and stay safe