Your blood is made up of three kinds of cells: Platelets are constantly regenerating and help your blood clot in the event of an injury. Red blood cells contain the hemoglobin necessary to transport oxygen through your body. White blood cells help target infections and increase in number when there is a threat of illness to help fight it off. The health of your immune system relies on your white blood cells; certain nutrients allow for optimal function of these cells.
Low White Blood Cell Count
A low white blood cell count may indicate that you have a medical problem. Your body relies on a normal white blood cell count to protect you from infection. MayoClinic.com notes that if you have a low white blood cell count, you are more likely to develop viral or bacterial infections. A normal white blood cell count is 3,500 white blood cells per microliter of blood; if your level is lower, your doctor can determine why. Low white blood cell counts can occur due to a vitamin deficiency or as a result of more serious conditions like leukemia or lymphoma.
Nutrition to Increase White Blood Cell Count
Boosting your white blood cell count back to normal levels is one of the best ways to help prevent illness and disease. In "Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition," authors Sharon Rady Rolfes, Kathryn Pinna and Ellie Whitney note that your immune system is not present in just one area of your body, so the health of your white blood cells depends on the foods you eat. Foods with vitamin C, such as citrus fruits and bell peppers, may help you increase your white blood cell count. Vitamin E-rich foods like vegetable oil and nuts, encourage the production of white blood cells that target infections and destroy them. Orange fruits and vegetables, lean meat, seafood, garlic and beans may also help raise your white blood cell count.
High White Blood Cell Count
A high white blood cell count occurs when your body produces more of these cells than you need, which may indicate the presence of a viral or bacterial infection. A reading that is more than 10,500 leukocytes in a microliter of blood is considered to a high white cell count, MayoClinic.com reports. An infection is one of the most common reasons for an elevated white cell count because your body is producing more of them to fight it off. Drug reactions, bone marrow disorders, immune system disorders, certain types of leukemia, or allergies can also cause your white blood cell count to increase.
Nutrition for Healthy White Blood Cells
Lowering a high white cell count depends on what is causing it, but typically, you cannot lower it with food alone. Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics, which will lower your count back to normal as you get well. Treatment for more serious disorders can also enable your body to achieve normal counts. Keeping your immune system strong is one of the most important ways to keep your white blood cells healthy and at a normal level. While you cannot prevent some diseases like leukemia, keeping your body as healthy as possible may reduce your risk. Include fruits, vegetables, lean meat, seafood, whole grains, low-fat milk and dairy foods, nuts and eggs in your diet to keep your immune system strong.
References
- KidsHealth; Blood; April 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Low White Blood Cell Count Not Always a Sign of Medical Problem; Rajiv Pruthi; February 2011
- "Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition"; Sharon Rady Rolfes, Kathryn Pinna and Ellie Whitney; 2008
- AskDr.Sears; 8 Foods that Boost Immunity
- MayoClinic.com; High White Blood Cell Count; September 2010
