Your body relies on a healthy number of red blood cells to function properly. When that count falls below normal, you may develop a condition known as anemia.
Red blood cells play many essential roles, but one of their most important tasks is carrying hemoglobin—a protein that binds oxygen and delivers it throughout your body. According to WebMD, when your red blood cell levels drop too low, your organs don’t receive enough oxygen to perform at their best.
As a result, you may experience symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, weakness, or shortness of breath. Anemia is more common than many realize, affecting over 3.5 million people in the United States.
While some types of anemia can be managed with natural remedies and lifestyle changes, it’s important to consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. Addressing anemia early can help restore energy levels, improve overall health, and prevent further complications.
1. Eat more iron
One of the simplest ways to treat anemia symptoms is to introduce more high-protein foods into your diet, according to Dr. Axe. Iron-rich foods that will help include beans, vegetables (especially leafy greens), beef, bison and liver.
2. Reduce stress
According to the National Center for Biotechnical Information, researchers discovered that stress could reduce the production of serum iron, which in turn can cause anemia or trigger anemia symptoms. A simple way to ease symptoms and treat anemia is to reduce stress. That could include practicing meditation, going for walks, exercising, singing and getting more sleep.
3. Avoid trigger foods
If you have anemia, there are a few foods you should avoid eating. The foods listed could make your symptoms worse, LiveStrong reports. Foods to avoid or reduce if you have anemia include wine, black tea, corn, white rice, white flour and alcohol.
5. Get more probiotics in your diet
A significant contributor to anemia is poor gut health, Body Ecology notes. If your gut isn't working correctly, you can't fully absorb nutrients. A simple way to fix that problem is to add probiotics to your diet. This includes fermented foods (pickles, miso, tempeh, sauerkraut), greek yogurt and cheese.
6. Get more vitamin C
One of biggest concerns with anemia is that it lowers your immune system. This makes you more susceptible to illnesses of all kinds. You can help protect your immune system by increasing your intake of vitamin C with a supplement or adding vitamin C rich foods into your diet, notes Mayo Clinic.