When you cut or wound yourself, your body mobilizes its natural defenses to facilitate healing. Among its healing tools are platelets, cell fragments that play a vital role in blood clotting. Normal human platelet counts range between 150,000 and 400,000 per microliter of circulating blood, according to MedlinePlus. If your count is low, changes to your diet may help with platelet production; however, consult your doctor or dietitian before taking any dietary measures, as some foods thin the blood.
Causes
A low platelet count may result from several underlying factors. One common cause of low platelets is an autoimmune disease called idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, or ITP, a fairly rare condition that occurs in about three out of 100,000 people, according to the Platelet Disorder Support Foundation, or PDSA. Low counts may also occur due to an infection, during pregnancy or from taking certain medications, such as those used in chemotherapy treatments. Symptoms of a low platelet count include bruising easily; blood in the urine; muscle aches; red dots on the skin; and, for women, abnormally heavy periods.
Treatments
If your platelet count plummets, your risk of bleeding increases. Your doctor may advise you to temporarily avoid using knives or other sharp implements that could puncture your skin, and to steer clear of strenuous physical activities in which you might accidentally injure yourself. Conventional treatments include antibiotics, if the low count results from an infection; a dose of corticosteroids; or administration of platelet growth factors, which stimulate platelet production. Alternative therapies range from Chinese medicine and herbs to dietary changes. If your low count is due to a chemotherapy treatment, waiting it out is also a tactic.
Foods
In a survey PDSA conducted in 2001, 40 percent of respondents with ITP reported improvement in their condition by following either a macrobiotic diet or Dr. Peter D'Adamo's "Eat Right for Your Type" diet. To incorporate aspects of these diets into your regimen, PDSA suggests going slowly and consulting first with your doctor. Recommendations include eating fresh, whole, organic foods; reducing consumption of red meat, sugar and dairy; boosting intake of healthy fats; eating foods rich in vitamin K -- which promotes coagulation -- such as kale, collard greens and sea vegetables; and avoiding alcohol and foods and beverages containing quinine, which can lower platelet counts.
Considerations
Some foods and beverages thin the blood, so you may consider limiting them until your platelet count returns to the normal range. According to Dr. Richard Brouse, founder of the Health Education Corp., natural blood-thinners include foods containing salicylates, such as the spices curry, ginger, cinnamon and turmeric, and fruits such as cherries, grapes and prunes; foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as flaxseed, salmon, anchovies, tuna and herring; and foods in the onion and garlic family. Red wine is also a known blood thinner.
References
- MedlinePlus: Platelet Count
- "Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary"; Donald Venes, M.D. et al.; 2005
- Platelet Disorder Support Foundation: About ITP
- Chemotherapy.com: Managing a Low Platelet Count
- PDSA: ITP Diet Suggestions
- Health Education Corp.; Naturally Thinning the Blood; Dr. Richard Brouse
