Your body hemoglobin level should be maintained at an optimum level.You can increase the level of haemoglobin in the blood if its low by using natural remedies.
Hemoglobin present in the blood has a major responsibility of transferring oxygen from lungs to the other part of the body.
Have you ever wondered why your blood is red in color? Why some people have darker red color and some have bright reddish blood?
Well, the answer to that question is very simple.
Our blood contains 3 main types of cells which are Red Blood Cells (RBC) also known as Erythrocytes, White Blood Cells (WBC) also known as Leukocytes, and Platelets also known as Thrombocytes.
The Red Blood Cells or RBCs contain a special pigment known as Hemoglobin which imparts colour to our blood.
Let us see in short what this pigment is –
What Is Hemoglobin?
Hemoglobin is derived from two words “hem” which refers to iron and “globin” referring to protein. So, hemoglobin is made up of two parts that are iron and protein.
The iron part of haemoglobin imparts the characteristic red colour to our blood. Hemoglobin is denoted as Hb.
So, we can define Hemoglobin as a protein moiety of blood which helps to carry oxygen to all the cells of our body.
Hemoglobin is a very important part of red blood cells which maintains its shape. Its natural shape in concave and has no cell constituent present like nucleus is present in it which makes it easy for the RBCs to move through even the narrowest blood vessels.
How To Increase Hemoglobin Level Quickly?
1. Iron Supplement Pills
The important part of haemoglobin is iron and that is why many doctors recommend some iron supplement pills available in the market. Iron deficiency directly causes a decrease in the count of haemoglobin.
Let us see the popular ones of market–
a. Carbonyl Iron
It is a dietary supplement, prescribed for iron deficiencies and iron deficiency anaemia. Brand names: Ebony, Evaglow.
b. Cyanocobalamin Or Vitamin B12
It is used for treating anaemia and folic acid deficiency and many more diseases. Brand names: Abiron, Adfe
c. Ferrous Sulfate
It is useful for anaemia.
2. Dietary Changes
a. Fruits
Some fruits available in the market are one of the best natural sources of iron which will help to increase your Hb count.
i. Sun Dried Tomato
100 gm. of tomato contains 9.1 mg of iron. Eat 2 tomatoes every day it increases your iron content easily.
It is not easy to eat the only sun dried tomatoes so include it in your daily curries and soups.
ii. Dried Apricots
100 g of dried apricots contains 6.3 mg of iron. You can eat fresh apricots but by drying it you can store it for months and munch on them regularly.
iii. Raisins
100 g of raisins contain 3 mg of iron. It is considered as one of the best sources of iron. Eat it every day in the morning to increase the haemoglobin content.
iv. Persimmons
100 g of persimmons contain 2.5 mg of iron. They are orange-colored seasonal fruits that resemble tomatoes.
v. Mulberries
100 g of mulberries contains 1.8 mg of iron. Mulberries are a great fruit to add to your iron-rich diet because they are great in taste and can be used either dried or fresh to garnish your dessert or spruce up that boring morning oatmeal.
vi. Dates
100 g of dates contains 1 mg of iron. This is a high nutritional fruit and is often taken by pregnant women.
It is to be avoided by diabetics.
vii. Pomegranate
100 g of pomegranate contains 0.3 mg of iron. This fruit is so far the best fruit for haemoglobin reduced diseases. It contains a chemical known as punicalagin which protects the heart and blood vessels. It is said that one pomegranate a day keeps anaemia away!
viii. Watermelon
100 g of watermelon contains 0.2 mg of iron. It is a refreshing summer fruit packed with a lot of nutrients. It is a great fruit for boosting your haemoglobin.
ix. Apple
Since childhood, you must have heard the saying that ‘one apple a day keeps the doctor away!’ It is a very true saying as apple is rich in useful nutrients. Eat one apple daily to keep blood problems at bay.
b. Vegetables
Green veggies are always recommended for various diseases and as natural home remedies as they are packed with minerals and nutrients.
The veggies good for hemoglobin boost are-
i. Mushrooms
Add mushrooms in various recipes to have a diet which includes iron.
ii. Lemon Grass
It is a widely used flavoring agent and a good source of iron. Use it more in your daily diet to improve hemoglobin count.
iii. Peas
100 grams of green peas contain 1.4 mg of iron. Add peas in your daily veggies or eat them raw, depends on you, but it will help your hemoglobin a lot.
iv. Beans
It is a widely hated food by your children but very useful for hemoglobin deficiency. Beans are rich in iron. Make it a soup or eat them in your veggies but do not skip it! The best source is Soybean.
v. Spinach
Seen in the popular show Popeye, it is a very useful food ingredient. You can eat it as a veggie or juice it up and make a delicious smoothie!
vi. Lentils
They are also known as pulses and are a part of the legume family and are dense in a variety of nutrients like iron, protein, manganese, and folic acid.
vii. Parsley
2 tablespoons of parsley contain 0.47 mg of iron. You can use it as a garnish on your food items and take it daily for the much-needed source of iron.
viii. Broccoli
This leafy vegetable contains a proper 0.66 mg of iron per 91 grams. Broccoli is also loaded with immune-boosting vitamin C, vitamin K for normal blood clotting and folate, essential for cell repair.
Include it in your diet, or drink its fresh rice along with spinach.
ix. Brussels Sprouts
One cup of raw Brussels sprouts contains 1.23 mg of iron. Brussels sprouts are also rich in Vitamin C which helps in boosting the immune system of our body, vitamin K for the healing of wounds and vitamin A for night vision.
x. Beetroots
It has more iron than any of the green vegetables and is very good or your blood. It is high in iron, folic acid, fibre and potassium. Its high nutritional values increase the body’s red blood cell count.
Cook 1-2 beetroots in boiling water and add spices. Remove the skin and eat it. You can also juice it up and drink it daily.
The Other way to use it is
Take a medium sized Beetroot, 3 Carrots and half Sweet potato
Procedure to be followed:
- Prepare juice with all these ingredients.
- Drink it daily at least once.
Include it in your daily diet with curries and soups.
3. Other Foods To Include In Your Diet Are
a. Cereals And Grains
b. Nuts
c. Meat
4. Increase Vitamin C Intake
Hemoglobin reduction might be indirectly related to low calcium levels in the blood. For iron needed to be absorbed you require a lot of Vitamin C.
Hence eat a lot of calcium-rich food like papaya, oranges, lemon, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli, grapefruit, tomatoes, and spinach.
You can also take Vitamin C supplements after a recommendation from your doctor.
5. Include Folic Acid In Your Diet
Folic acid is a B-complex vitamin which is required to make red blood cells. So when you are deficient in folic acid, automatically it will lead to a low hemoglobin level.
Some renowned food sources of folic acid are green leafy vegetables, liver, rice, sprouts, dried beans, wheat germ, fortified cereals, peanuts, bananas, broccoli, and liver.
You can also take 200 to 400 milligrams of a folic acid supplement daily after consulting your doctor.
6. Blackstrap Molasses
Blackstrap molasses contains iron, folate and Vitamin B that can help increase red blood cell production efficiently.
Mix 2 teaspoons each of blackstrap molasses and apple cider vinegar in 1 glass of water.
Drink this once daily.
7. Nettle
Nettle is a herb which plays a major role in raising the haemoglobin level. It is a good source of iron, vitamin B, vitamin C as well as other vitamins which can help increase haemoglobin.
Add 2 teaspoons of dried nettle leaves to a cup of hot water. Allow it to brew for 10 minutes. Strain it and then add a little honey.
Drink it twice daily.
Nettle is also regarded as a super food to cure Arthritis.
8. Exercise
Exercise is a very useful method to combat various diseases. When you are exercising, the need for oxygen increases. This forces the body to produce more amounts of red blood cells.
Moderate to high intensities of aerobic exercises is highly recommended. Muscle training exercises are also good for you.
9. Legumes
Legumes are also very important if you want to increase the level of hemoglobin in your body.
All legumes are very rich in iron and the legumes that should consume are:
- Red kidney beans
- Chickpeas
- Black beans
- Black-eyed peas
These all legumes and all other legumes contain iron. So, consume these legumes regularly.
10. Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are also very helpful for raising the level of hemoglobin in your blood. It also contains iron. So, you can eat them raw or you can also add to it in the salad. These are really helpful and very easy to consume.
Some Additional Tips For Boosting Your Hemoglobin Level Are As Follows
- Avoid foods containing gluten.
- Eat whole-grain bread, cereals and pasta.
- Consume more iron-rich food after your menstrual period and during pregnancy.
- Avoid eating over-the-counter stimulants if your energy levels are low.
- Take cold baths twice daily to improve blood circulation.
- Avoid iron blocking foods which slow down iron absorption like tea, coffee, alcohol, etc..
- Avoid extra calcium rich foods.
- Avoid foods having excessive oxalic acid.
- Keep a regular check on your blood cell count.
- Have a healthy nutritious diet.
So be more cautious and let us help you to make your blood redder!
Also Read: