Anemia is due to lack of haemoglobin in your blood which is below the normal level or due to less than normal levels of your red blood cells in blood. The haemoglobin helps to carry oxygen in blood. Lack of haemoglobin thus causes deficiency of life giving oxygen to vital organs.
Types of anemia
These are various causes of anemia. It could be due to below.
- Decreased production of RBCs in blood
- Excessive destruction of RBCs
- Increased blood loss OR.
Symptoms of anemia
The symptoms of iron deficiency anemia can be mild at first, and you may not even notice symptoms. According a research most people don’t realize they have mild anemia until they have a routine blood test.
The symptoms of moderate to severe iron deficiency anemia include
- General fatigue
- Tongue swelling or soreness
- Cold hands and feet
- Weakness
- Pale skin
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Strange cravings to eat few items that aren’t food, such as dirt, ice, or clay
- A tingling or crawling feeling in the legs
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Brittle nails
- Headaches.
Causes of iron deficiency anemia
- Pregnancy or blood loss due to menstruation
- Internal bleeding
- Inadequate iron intake
- Inability to absorb iron.
Why eat beetroot?
Iron is one of the essential component of the red blood cells and it is responsible for supplying oxygen and nutrients to different parts of the body. Beetroot is rich in iron content and it helps to improve blood count and blood flow. Here is how beetroot can help you control BP and hypertension.
It also acts as a blood purifier and natural detoxifier.
Beetroot leaves are rich in Vitamin A and roots in Vitamin C. Lack of Vitamin A also leads to cause anaemia in few cases and Vitamin C deficiency can make it difficult for the body to absorb iron.
So, the vegetable as a whole helps to deal with anaemia immensely.
Here are few ways in which you can include beetroot in your diet
Raw
Firstly wash, peel and cut one beetroot into pieces and add it to your daily salad and munch on it. Remember to chew it properly before swallowing to aid digestion. If you are suffering from anaemia or have borderline haemoglobin levels, try and have one cup of beetroot every day apart from other salad veggies to reap its benefits.
Boiled
If raw beetroot does not appeal to your taste then boil them, chop into pieces, add a dash of salt and squeeze half a lemon into it. It will make for a healthy mid-afternoon snack while helping you up your blood count. You can also add these boiled beetroots to a preparation of mixed vegetables and enjoy them.
Juice
Beetroot juice is thought to be an excellent natural remedy for anaemia. Because the vegetable has a natural sweetness to it, you can have it without adding any preservatives or sugar. Take two to three medium sized beetroots and wash them thoroughly. Next, peel beetroot and dice them and put them in a blender and blend at high speed. Pour the entire juice in a glass and drink it without adding any preservatives. To make this beetroot juice healthier, you can also add carrots, apples or other fruits and vegetables of your choice and try new variations. Here this is another healthy recipe for mixed vegetable juice.
While preparing your beetroot juice ensure that you also blend the leaves and roots together to get the requisite dose of vitamins it offers.
How Beetroot Heals The Anemic Condition
Beetroot, growing underground, is a rich source of iron. Just a cup of beet slices has 1.1 mg of iron, which is equal to 6% of the daily suggested iron intake. It also has 37% of the everyday folate intake. Due to both iron and folate, anemia seems to leave quickly. Iron is indispensable for forming hemoglobin in red blood cells, which carries oxygen to the different body parts.
Apart from iron, this remedy with its blood forming nutrients is also a good source of copper, iodine, sodium, sulfur, potassium, and vitamins namely, B1, B2, C, and P. Its juice is now only low in calories but also easily digestible. The juice of this root also fortifies the resistance power as well as raises the number of red blood cells through its contained nutrients, especially iron.
Further, beetroot also has betalains, a super phytonutrient facilitating anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative action. The natural remedy also has very effective cleansing qualities due to which it aids in detoxification. Such qualities along with rich iron content restores cells, supply oxygen, and boost blood count.
