Assimilating iron and
other nutrients are essential. But you can also offer your body some natural
stimuli that invigorate the blood.
Muscle fatigue, pale
skin, and mucous membranes, a racing heart, withdrawal menstruation... are some
of the symptoms of anemia, a decrease in the volume and number of red blood
cells in the blood.
The most frequent anemias are caused by deficiencies of iron, folic acid, or vitamin B12.
The
treatment could be as simple - or complicated, depending on how you look at it
- as giving a pill or injection with what is missing (and in fact, this is
often done with the administration of oral iron or parenteral B12 in the case
of pernicious anemia).
But there is also
another treatment, which consists of looking for the whys and wherefores.
What is wrong? We lack
something abundant in the environment around us. Iron salts, B12 from bacteria,
folic acid from leafy greens, are all close to us, but do we have a good
relationship with them? Do we assimilate them well?
Essential Nutrients to
Avoid Anemia
Iron deficiency is the
commonest cause of anemia. It is essential to check if we take enough iron with
food and rule out problems that affect its absorption (such as achlorhydria or
celiac disease) or that increase blood loss (either by heavy menstruation or
gastrointestinal bleeding).
Phytates (such as those in bran) and phenols that form compounds with iron (found in tea, coffee, cocoa, or red wine) can interfere with the absorption of non-heme iron.
Calcium
also interferes, but since it is an essential mineral, it is best to separate
iron-rich foods from calcium-rich foods.
Vitamin B12 may be lacking if intake is reduced or due to malabsorption. This vitamin is synthesized by certain bacteria and is found mainly in animal products, so supplementation with B12 is usually advised in vegetable diets.
However,
theories claim that vegetables with bacterial contamination could provide it.
Hepatic reserves of folic acid last 3 or 4 months, unlike vitamin B12, which takes three to six years to deplete.
The diet should provide sufficient quantities. This vitamin
is abundant in green leaves, hence its name, but other foods are rich in folic
acid.
Foods to Increase Your
Iron Stores
Give yourself time. Anemia involves healing; it is necessary to recover gradually and do it well. To achieve this, act on your diet and benefit from contact with nature.
There
are foods specially indicated against anemia, but you can follow these general
tips:
✱ Take care of your intestinal flora: A microbiota in good condition improves the absorption of nutrients such as vitamin B12: take fiber and fermented foods.
In addition to taking care of what you eat, you must help the body assimilate it well.
That is why it is also important to take care of digestion.
You can do it with this
hydrotherapy exercise:
Contact with Nature to
Increase the Hematocytes
Contact with nature,
take walks in the countryside and exercise. The movement produces percussions
on the bones that stimulate the marrow and the production of red blood cells.
Sunbathing on the
spine causes a thermal reaction which also acts on the marrow. Protect your
head and avoid midday.
Climbing in the
mountains is also highly recommended. Altitudes above 1,500 m favor the
formation of red blood cells as oxygen is reduced.
Hydrotherapy proposes to give yourself small stimuli with water that invigorate at all levels.
Rub a cold, wet towel all over your body, or take a daily walk barefoot in freshwater for 4-5 minutes. In both cases, dry yourself and cover up immediately. Do not get cold.