When the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells to provide adequate oxygenation of its tissues, doctors diagnose the condition as anemia. Of the different types of anemia, nutritional anemia stems from a vitamin or mineral deficiency....
Anemia is a blood disorder in which your blood is oxygen-deficient, leaving you feeling weak and run-down. If you’re anemic, your body does not produce adequate amounts of the protein hemoglobin, which serves the vital purpose of carrying...
If fatigue seems to be your constant companion and your mother keeps telling you how pale you look, you may be anemic. Other symptoms include headaches, forgetfulness, nausea and fainting. The cure for anemia is taking in more iron; however, iron...
In medical terminology, anemia literally means "no blood." However in real life, this would mean death. In actual situations, anemia means that you have a reduced amount of red blood cells. This can be diagnosed by looking at your hemoglobin and...
Iron is an essential component in the transportation of oxygen in the blood. This fact means that most life forms need iron to survive. It is possible to get the required amount of iron in a normal diet. However, if you have a condition that...
Red blood cells help provide oxygen to the body tissues. Their deficiency leads to a condition called anemia that is characterized by fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain and problems in concentration and thinking. Chronic...
Iron is a mineral that is essential for the health and proper functioning of the body. Without proper amounts of iron, disorders including fatigue, weakness, anemia, headaches, skin pallor and other physiological changes can occur. It is...
The National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, states that vitamin B-12 can provide significant health protection, especially in the prevention of anemia. Anemia is when your body does not produce the required level of red blood...
Foods not only fuel our body but can also help to bring us better health because of specific vitamins contained in them. It is important to get enough iron in your diet daily to prevent anemia or reverse it. There are a variety of food choices to...
Iron is a mineral the body needs to function properly. It is found in red blood cells and carries oxygen to every cell of the body, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you do not have enough iron, this can lead to fatigue and...
Iron is a mineral that helps your body make red blood cells, which give you energy by carrying oxygen to tissues throughout your body. It's important to get sufficient iron from your diet --- at least the recommended daily amount of 8mg for men...
Iron is a common metal that is essential to good health. Iron is an important part of the proteins that deliver oxygen to the body and it's also vital to proper cell growth. An iron deficiency can cause tiredness, impaired performance and a drop...
Women tend to be at a greater risk of developing iron deficiency anemia than men. In fact, the recommended dietary allowance for women is 18 mg a day, whereas men need only 8 mg. The disparity in intake is largely due to menstruation, which causes...
Vitamin B-12, also known as cyanocobalamin -- or simply cobalamin -- is part of the B-complex family of vitamins. This vitamin is water-soluble, which means your body does not efficiently store it for use as needed, according to the University of...
Anemia can cause low levels of healthy red blood cells and hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen throughout the body. Deficiencies in iron, vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6 and folate may contribute to anemia and low hemoglobin...
The number of blood cells that are found within your body is dependent on a number of factors, including your diet. If you have a low blood count, consuming the correct foods, such as those that are full of iron, will give your bone marrow the...
Iron is an essential element for almost every living organism on Earth. Numerous aspects of human health depend on a certain amount of iron in the body; too much iron can be toxic. Most of the body's iron is used to make hemoglobin in red blood...
Iron comes in two forms in the diet: heme and nonheme. Heme iron is from animal tissues and is readily absorbed when eaten. Nonheme iron is from plants (and in some animal tissues) and is not easily absorbed because this iron has phytic or oxalic...
Guava is a pear-shaped fruit native to Central and South America, although it is now grown in parts of Asia. It is characterized by a thin, smooth rind that turns yellow when the fruit is ripe and by juicy flesh containing small, hard seeds....
Iron found in animal products is called heme iron because it comes from hemoglobin, or the protein found in blood, from the product's animal source. Fifteen to 35 percent of consumed heme iron is absorbed into the bloodstream, and only between 2...
Table salt is typically mined from underground salt deposits, and then iodized and processed for consumption. This processing takes away the natural trace minerals present in the salt. Sea salt, however, is extracted from the sea through a process...
Your metabolism changes over time and the effects are most noticeable as you enter older adulthood. Lower calcium stores may cause bone density and tooth loss. Decreased ability to absorb vitamins and minerals can impact your blood count. Some...
A carrier of oxygen in the body, iron assists in cognitive development, proper immune function, temperature regulation and energy metabolism. The body stores and reuses approximately 90 percent of its iron. To maintain proper iron levels, you must...
The body needs oxygen for survival and iron is the primary nutrient in charge of delivering it to all of the body's cells, tissues and organs. Low iron stores result in fatigue, poor concentration, irritability -- symptoms of a condition called...
Folic acid and folate are terms that are often used interchangeably. Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate, a B vitamin that occurs naturally in some foods. Necessary for cell production and growth, folate helps produce DNA and prevents...
Several nutrients play a role in red blood cell production. The body needs red blood cells to deliver oxygen to its tissues, cells and organs. Nutritional deficiencies can cause a lack of healthy red blood cells, a condition called anemia....
Vitamin B-12 is part of the B-vitamin group that helps metabolize fat and protein and converts food into fuel for your body. Vitamin B-12 helps keep your skin, hair, liver and eyes healthy, and it offers additional benefits for good health. You...
Two types of iron are found in the diet: heme and non-heme. Heme iron is found in meat and is more easily absorbed into the body, whereas non-heme iron is found in vegetables, fruit and legumes. Generally, men do not need as much iron as women do,...
You get iron from fortified foods such as cereal, grits and bread, but also naturally from both plant and animal food sources. Plant foods such as legumes, cashews, raisins, prunes, potatoes, walnuts and green beans provide nonheme iron. Nonheme...
Folic acid is important for the process of generating new cells. Learn what products contain folic acid as well as how to implement it into your diet in this video.
Sickle cell anemia or sickle cell disease is a blood disorder that causes some of the red bloods to assume a sickle or elongated shape, resulting in poor blood flow and improper oxygen delivery. Get expert tips and advice on preventing,...
