Iron deficiency anemia belongs to the section of medicine called endocrinology and is treated, respectively, by an endocrinologist. This condition is characterized by a decrease in the level of hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin is found in red blood cells and is a compound consisting of a protein called globin and an iron-containing substance called heme. Iron deficiency in the blood is a serious condition that affects the overall health of a person, so nutrition for iron deficiency anemia should be special, containing products that help naturally restore the iron content in the body. Nutrition for iron deficiency anemia is also designed to actively restore the process of hematopoiesis.
Iron deficiency anemia can develop for various reasons. For example, with chronic bleeding (patients with hemophilia may experience this kind of anemia). In addition, a lack of iron can be caused by a small amount of folacin, B vitamins (especially B12), and some proteins in food. Infants who are on artificial feeding may show signs of anemia due to the monotonous dairy diet. Therefore, nutrition for iron deficiency anemia should be balanced, and include an increased amount of those products in which there is a large amount of substances necessary for the body.
Substances that help to absorb iron
Iron deficiency can occur in people with chronic infectious diseases, in people who are constantly exposed to intoxications (for example, alcohol abusers), in people with helminthic infestations, in patients suffering from gastritis with low acidity, enterocolitis, enteritis, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. An operation on the intestines or stomach can provoke anemia. Therapeutic nutrition for iron deficiency anemia should include a large amount of protein. Every person over the age of 13 should consume approximately 100 grams of protein per day. With iron deficiency anemia, the dose can be increased to 120 grams. At the same time, you need to make sure that the protein is easily digestible. Nutrition for iron deficiency anemia should consist of protein omelets, low-fat cottage cheese, seafood (mussels, shrimp, squid), lean meat and chicken. A large amount of protein is found in the liver.
Protein is so important because it directly affects the absorption of iron by the body, on hematopoiesis, and participates in the formation of hemoglobin compounds. Nutrition for iron deficiency anemia should be structured so that fat is absorbed twice as much as usual, since fats negatively affect hematopoiesis. Due to fatty fish and meat varieties, the amount of fat should be reduced to 70-75 grams. The carbohydrate content should remain the same-400-450 grams. The diet should include those foods that are rich in B vitamins and vitamin C. If the degree of anemia is high, then you can additionally take vitamin and mineral complexes.
Foods that affect iron absorption
When drawing up a therapeutic diet, it should be borne in mind that the body can not always absorb the iron contained in the products. It is best to digest juices with pulp, fruits, berries, as well as meat products. Approximately 5% of the body’s iron can be obtained by digesting dairy products and grains, 10% by eating legumes, vegetables and fruits, 15% from fish, and 30% of iron is absorbed by eating meat. The highest iron content is found in foods such as beef tongue, pork and beef liver, turkey and rabbit meat. In addition, a high content of the necessary substance is found in blueberries, peaches, caviar of sturgeon fish, buckwheat, barley, oatmeal and millet.
Phosphates, phytics, and oxalic acid interfere with iron absorption. It is found in grains and legumes. The main thing in the diet for iron deficiency anemia is the compatibility of products. For example, the digestibility of iron is doubled if you drink fresh juice together with meat or fish at one meal. But if you eat meat with eggs, then the absorption of iron will fall. The combination of meat and dairy products does not harm the absorption of iron. And one more thing-the assimilation of iron suppresses strong tea, so it is better to abandon it altogether for the duration of treatment.