To combat anemia, foods rich in protein, iron, folic acid and B-complex vitamins, such as meats, eggs, fish and spinach, should be consumed. These nutrients stimulate the production of red blood cells, which are usually low when you have anemia.
Another important tip is to consume a food rich in vitamin C after lunch and dinner, such as orange or pineapple, as this vitamin increases the absorption of iron in the intestine, helping to fight the disease.
If you have anemia, watch the video to see what your diet should be like:
Feeding to fight anemia
To combat anemia one should consume foods rich in the following nutrients:
Iron
Important especially in cases of iron deficiency anemia, iron stimulates the production of good red blood cell formation. The best iron absorbed by the intestine is what is present in animal foods such as meats, chicken, fish, liver, eggs and seafood.
In vegetables, iron is present in beans, soybeans, lentils, peanuts, beets and dark green leaves such as spinach and cabbage. See the full list of Iron Rich Foods.
Folic acid
Folic acid is responsible for stimulating the production of blood cells and the proper formation of hemoglobin, the substance responsible for carrying oxygen into the red blood cells. It is present in foods such as spinach, kale, liver, wheat germ and eggs.
B12 vitamin
Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause megaloblastic anemia, and can be avoided by increasing the consumption of foods such as liver, heart, meat, eggs, milk and dairy products.
What Not to Eat in Anemia
During treatment for anemia, calcium-rich foods should be avoided along with iron-rich meals, as calcium lowers the absorption of iron in the intestine. Thus, it is important to avoid consumption of milk and dairy products, especially at lunch and dinner, when you usually eat meat and other iron-rich foods.
In addition, one should also avoid drinking coffee, black tea and mate tea in the same iron-rich meal, as they are rich in phytates and tannins, substances that also reduce the absorption of iron in the intestine. See 3 more tips to cure anemia.
Menu for anemia
The following table provides an example of a 3-day diet menu to combat anemia:
| Meal | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
| Breakfast | Orange juice + bread with scrambled eggs | Banana vitamin with avocado and honey | 1 natural yogurt + granola and almonds or nuts |
| Morning snack | 1 apple + 10 peanuts | 10 cashew nuts | Beet juice with orange and walnuts |
| Lunch dinner |
Grilled meat with rice, beans and lettuce salad, carrots and peppers and dessert strawberries | Fish with potatoes in the oven + salad cabbage braised in olive oil + 1 dessert orange | Liver steak with rice and beans + green salad with grated beets + lemon juice |
|
Afternoon snack | Avocado vitamin | Lemon juice + egg and cheese sandwich | Tangerine juice + 2 scrambled eggs with tomato and oregano |
In addition to feeding, it is important to seek the doctor for tests and find out the cause of the anemia and, if necessary, take medications and supplements to help with the treatment. See 4 recipes to cure anemia.
