Anemia can be caused by iron deficiency; low levels of vitamin B12, as in pernicious anemia; folic acid deficiency; chronic or bone marrow disease; or problems from not having enough red blood cells, as in aplastic or hemolytic anemia, according to the Mayo Clinic. Of these types, diet is only involved with iron-deficiency, pernicious and folic acid anemia. The most common type of anemia is iron-deficiency anemia, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Causes
Iron-deficiency anemia is caused by a lack of iron in the blood. This can be due to a diet that is low in iron, blood loss or increased iron needs due to growth spurts or pregnancy that aren't met, according to the Family Doctor website. Gastrointestinal surgeries may also cause less iron to be absorbed, leading to anemia.
Symptoms
Although not all people with iron-deficiency anemia experience symptoms, those that do may feel extra tired, look pale, be dizzy, have cold hands and feet or brittle nails, be unusually short of breath when exercising, have headaches or have a faster than normal heartbeat, according to the Family Doctor website.
Dietary Treatment
Treatment for iron-deficiency anemia usually involves taking iron supplements and eating an iron-rich diet. Foods that are high in iron include meats, poultry, fish, green leafy vegetables, legumes and enriched grains. Dried fruits and nuts are also good sources of iron.
Considerations
If the anemia is due to blood loss or a medical condition, dietary treatment is not likely to solve the problem. The underlying condition needs to be treated to cure the anemia, according to the Mayo Clinic. Anemia that is caused by a lack of folic acid or vitamin B12 needs to be treated with supplements of these vitamins. Thus, it is important to talk with your physician about the cause of your anemia before making changes to your diet or undertaking any treatment.
Expert Insight
Iron supplements should only be taken if you cannot get enough iron through your diet, says the Mayo Clinic. It is possible to get too much iron from supplements, and supplements can upset your stomach.
You can increase your absorption of iron by consuming plant sources with meat sources and foods rich in vitamin C with foods containing iron. In addition, limiting your consumption of coffee, tea, milk, soy, egg whites and fiber when consuming iron can boost iron uptake, according to the Family Doctor website.
