[?] Subscribe To This Site

XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines


Home
Healthy Eating Blog
Healthy Foods
Organic Foods
Eating Guidelines
Eating Plan
Recipes
Diet Plans
Healthy Eating Tips
Nutrition
Fruit Nutrition
Fast Food Statistics
Healing Foods
Fasting
Alternative Medicine
Medicinal Herbs
Healthy Weight
Animal Health
Healthy Eating for Kids
Health and Fitness
Health Calculators
About Paul
Contact Paul
Disclaimer
Privacy Policy

Signs of Anemia: Symptoms of Severe Anemia, Anemia Causes

Iron Deficiency Anemia Symptoms

Sponsored Links



The visible signs of anemia are tired and light-headedness. In symptoms of severe anemia, the pulse rate goes up, the blood pressure goes down, and you will feel dizzy, weak and short of breath. No blood! That’s what anemia means in the literal sense. Other signs of anemia may be pale fingernails and skin.

Cause of Anemia

When body tissues receive inadequate amounts of oxygen, it causes anemia. This happens either because there is low red blood cells in circulation, or because the blood is low in hemoglobin—low blood count. There are several factors involved with anemia.

Blood loss can occur from stomach ulcers or hemorrhoids. Iron deficiency anemia symptoms happen when the body lacks iron. Heavy menstrual bleeding or lack of iron in the diet can both cause iron deficiency anemia. Anemia can also result because of the lack of nutrients in the body, such as folic acid and vitamin B12.

Anemia Linked to Poor Diet

Some forms of anemia are a direct cause of a bad diet. Fortunately, the signs of anemia are quite apparent because you’ll feel and look tired and have mild dizziness. Nutritionists see anemia occurring from eating a poor diet all of the time.

It doesn’t seem possible that a country that boasts iron-rich and iron-fortified foods would have such a prevalence of anemic people. But nutritionists say that the very diets that are heart healthy can set a person up for iron deficiency if they are not careful. Also young dieters who don’t eat a lot of red meat may become anemic.

Iron-rich Anemia Diet

The recommended dietary allowance of iron suggests 18 mgs of iron for women fifty years of age and younger and 10 mgs for women over fifty years of age. It is suggested that men need 10mgs of iron daily.

The main reason the heart diet lacks iron is because red meat is eliminated to reduce fat and cholesterol intake. Below is a list of iron-rich foods that vegetarians and those who eat little red meat should include in their diet every day.

  • Chicken, turkey and some fish (oysters, sardines, clams)
  • Legumes such as lentils and kidney beans
  • Black strap molasses (eat 1 tablespoon with tea or water every day)
  • Spinach (1 cup boiled or steamed supplies 4 mgs of iron)
  • Fortified breakfast cereal
  • Apricots
  • Oranges or orange juice (orange juice helps the body to absorb iron)
  • Cook with cast iron pots and pans

Who Needs More Iron?

There are certain groups of people who may lack iron in their system, so watch for the signs of anemia. Arthritis sufferers who take a lot of aspirin are prone to getting stomach ulcers, which causes bleeding in the stomach. It may take months to notice this blood loss, usually by your doctor.

Pregnant women need 50 mgs of iron every day for the growing baby. Menstruating women need more iron because of monthly blood loss. Infants, children, and teens need more iron because of their rapid growth.

Dieters, especially young women of child bearing age who eat low-calorie meals are susceptible to iron deficiency. And finally, vegetarians and people who eat little or no red meat should eat the alternative iron-rich foods from the list above.



Top of Signs of Anemia
Return to Healing Foods: The Way Nature Intended
Healthy Eating Homepage


footer for signs of anemia page