Anemia interferes with your body's ability to produce the blood cells needed to transport oxygen to your tissues and organs. While it's well known that doctors urge anemic patients to eat iron-rich foods like liver and spinach, fewer people realize that consuming more vitamin C also plays a part. Rose hip tea is high in vitamin C.
Anemia
Iron deficiency anemia, the most common anemia type, results from a lack of iron in the diet or the inability to absorb iron. Blood loss is another potential cause. Women with heavy bleeding during their periods may experience it, as may people suffering from bleeding ulcers or who have had surgeries. Some medications interfere with the body's ability to absorb iron. Symptoms include fatigue, muscle weakness, pale skin, difficulty breathing and an irregular heart rate.
The Vitamin C Factor
Along with boosting your intake of iron, your doctor may recommend consuming more foods rich in vitamin C, including rose hips. Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends adding between 500 to 1,000 mg of vitamin C each day. Check with your doctor to confirm vitamin C therapy for anemia, as well as recommended doses.
Rose Hips
Rose hips, the autumnal fruit of the rose bush, is one of the highest sources of vitamin C, according to Drugs.com. Rose hips may contain as much as 1,250 mg vitamin C per 100 g, compared to the 50 mg in the same amount of citrus fruit. Don't eat rose hips straight from the bush; the seeds contain tiny hairs which irritate your mouth and digestive tract. Instead, process de-seeded rose hips into tea, jams or syrups.
Considerations
Dried rose hips have less vitamin C content than fresh hips, warns Drugs.com. The actual amount of vitamin C in commercial rose hip tea varies considerably. Older, powdered rose hip tea blends contain less of the vitamin than tea made from more recently dried hips that are cut rather than ground. Look for a reputable tea maker that lists the vitamin content on the package. If you harvest your own rose hips, consider making tea from fresh hips during the fall. Chop the remaining hips in half before drying them for winter storage, rather than grinding them into a powder.
Additional Uses
Aside from its application in aiding iron absorption, rose hip tea's vitamin content may help boost your immunity. Some people also use it as gentle laxative. The tea also boasts a reputation for easing the pain of gastric distress and arthritis, although its effectiveness remains anecdotal rather than clinically documented.
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