Anemia is a disorder in which a person is deficient in the mineral iron. This can be due to a chronic disease, like sickle cell anemia, or to a lack of iron in the diet. Kids Health from Nemours states that the symptoms of anemia include fatigue, pale skin color, shortness of breath and easy bruising. These symptoms occur because there is not enough iron in the body to transport oxygen in the blood to where it is needed. Meats are rich in the mineral iron, but you can also get good nutrition for treating anemia by eating certain fruits and vegetables.
Bell Peppers
While bell peppers are low in the mineral iron, eating them can still help to reduce the symptoms of anemia. Kids Health from Nemours states that foods with vitamin C, like bell peppers, increase the body's ability to absorb iron in foods and in supplements. According to the George Mateljan Foundation, 1 cup of raw red bell peppers has 174 mg of vitamin C, which is over 200 percent of an adult's daily recommended intake for the vitamin. Pairing sautéed bell peppers with steak or chicken will help increase their iron's absorption.
Raisins
Iron is not only found in meats. Even vegetarians can get plenty of iron in the diet by eating fruits and vegetables. Kids Health from Nemours states that raisins are actually an excellent source of iron. Adding raisins to trail mix or on top of celery filled with peanut butter can boost your iron intake to combat anemia.
Spinach
Spinach is another plant food which contains iron. Spinach is one of the vegetables which has the highest iron content, according to Kids Health from Nemours. In fact, the George Matjalen Foundation states that a cup of raw spinach has 6.43 mg of iron. One way to get a double dose of iron is by adding spinach to an omelet, since eggs have iron. Sautéed spinach also goes well with meats like steak or pork.
Orange Juice
Oranges are naturally rich in vitamin C, which helps to increase the absorption of iron. Kids Health from Nemours states that drinking a glass of orange juice with an iron supplement can significantly increase the amount of iron that the body can use from the supplement. Milk can actually inhibit the absorption of iron, as can tea, reports Kids Health from Nemours.
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