Your red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to the cells of your organs. Red blood cells, or RBCs, then transport carbon dioxide waste from the cells back to your lungs for disposal through exhalation. Low red blood cell levels result in organs starved for oxygen, which can lead to tissue and organ damage. According to Lab Tests Online, several types of anemia, a condition in which RBC levels are too low, stem from causes such as malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies, poor iron absorption, cancer therapy and diseases. Diets can increase red blood cells and cell integrity.
Vitamin B12
The B vitamins play a vital role in RBC production and vitality. Deficiencies in Vitamin B-12 and folate, another B vitamin, prevent red blood cells from dividing properly, resulting in larger than normal RBCs in a condition doctors call megaloblastic anemia. You end up with fewer, larger red blood cells. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute suggests that you increase your consumption of foods rich in vitamin B-12 to increase your RBC levels. Foods high in vitamin B-12 include meat, eggs, dairy products and fortified foods such as cereal, pasta and bread.
Folic Acid
Your body uses folic acid to create and maintain new RBCs. A diet with sufficient folate, or folic acid, protects pregnant women from anemia. Increase your consumption of dark green, leafy vegetables, dried beans and black-eyed peas, eggs, bananas, oranges and beef liver to obtain more folic acid.
Iron
Iron is important to red blood cell production, and is a component of hemoglobin, a protein that enables oxygen to bind to RBCs. Diets deficient in iron force your body to use stored iron. Once you deplete your body stores, you produce fewer red blood cells. Consuming a diet high in iron keeps your serum iron levels high enough to produce red blood cells and enhance their efficacy in transporting oxygen to the cells of your body. Your body absorbs iron more easily from meat than it does from other foods. Increase your meat intake, especially red meat. Spinach and other dark green, leafy vegetables provide iron, as do tofu, peas, lentils, beans, dried fruits, prune juice and foods fortified with iron, such as cereal, bread and pasta.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron, which, in turn, increases your RBC count. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Citrus fruits contain more vitamin C than other types of fruit, and fresh fruits, vegetables and juices provide more vitamin C than do frozen foods. Talk with your doctor about consuming large quantities of grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking medications, as this fruit may interfere with the way some drugs behave. Take iron pills with orange juice to increase absorption.
