The diet for anemia should consist of increasing the consumption of foods rich in iron, vitamin C and vitamin B12 that facilitate the absorption of iron by the body.
Meat iron is better absorbed than the iron found in vegetables, but both must be present in meals to increase the iron supply for the anemic patient.
A good tip for the anemia diet to work is to avoid eating foods rich in calcium such as cheese and milk at the main meals that are the richest in iron, so the anemia diet is more efficient. Eating a fruit rich in vitamin C for dessert such as strawberry or even fresh tomato with the meal makes the Iron from beans or present in the sautéed zucchini peel for example are better absorbed.
Check out in the video below what to eat to cure anemia faster:
Menu for anemia
On the menu for anemia the best sources of iron are at lunch and dinner so you should not forget to:
- Include foods such as offal (liver, heart, kidney) that are rich in iron and not just meats; Accompany meals with raw and cooked vegetables; Use citrus foods such as orange, kiwi or strawberries as a side dish or dessert as they are good sources of vitamin C; Avoid accompanying the meal with milk or yogurt as a dessert.
Sometimes, when anemia is very severe, diet alone is not enough to cure or revert the diet to anemia, in which case iron supplements in capsules or drops are necessary.
The iron rich diet is very important especially to prevent anemia from returning. It is common for girls to develop mild anemia when they menstruate for the first time or even for pregnant women to have a slight lack of iron in their blood and the doctor should always assess to decide whether it is necessary to take supplements or just change eating habits.
Can iron cause constipation?
Iron supplements can cause constipation in some people, in which case the best solution is to increase the amount of fiber in the diet with fruits and cereals and to do some physical activity regularly, such as walking. An abdominal massage can be another good alternative for those who suffer from a stuck intestine.
Useful links:
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How to Treat Anemia in Pregnancy
