ANEMIA
Some women feel tired even before the day has begun. It could be a missed breakfast, a late night spent watching television or even partying with friends and family. The whole day lies ahead but there is hardly any energy left to even think clearly. The fact is lots of women feel tired everyday. And with all the demands of family, career and other activities, it is easy to understand why.

But then, there could be another reason why they are so exhausted: ANEMIA.

Anemia is a common problem worldwide and affects an estimated 400 million women throughout the world. Anemia affects approximately 74-98% ofwomen and this indicates that worldwide half of the pregnant women and one third of non pregnant women suffer from anemia.

Here are different causes of anemia and the major reasons being
Blood loss: In general, women are at greater risk of anemia than are men. That's because women lose blood — and with it, iron, protein and other vital nutrients — each month during menstruation.
The range of normal menstrual blood loss is typically 10-80 ml
Under nutrition: Poor eating habits, snacking and fast food consumption and inadequate diet due to fast paced life can result in deficiencies of several vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, B2, B¬6, B12, C and folic acid along with protein, all of which can cause anemia Deficiency of above mentioned nutrients can affect the number of red blood cells produced. It can also reduce the life expectancy of red blood cells.

Anemia is not only alarming among adults but children as well, like nutritional problems that results to vitamins and iron deficiency. That's why milk consumption, iron fortified cereals and well balanced diet is a must to prevent anemia.

So when you go on a diet like a cabbage soup diet, how does one prevent Anemia?

Which types of food help prevent anemia?

Make sure that you include iron in your diet. Eating meat helps.

I learned my lesson from a friend, who is a vegetarian and don't get a lot of iron and neither did she take iron supplements. She felt so restless and irritable that time.

liver, corn flakes (not the frosted ones!), beans, meat, iron supplements

When we say "meat", we mean "red meat", right?

Anemia isn't only iron deficiency - it may also be a deficiency in folic acid and vit b12. Folic acid, vit b12 and iron help produce healthy red blood cells.

lisa_zee - 22 February 2009 07:15 PM

Anemia isn't only iron deficiency - it may also be a deficiency in folic acid and vit b12. Folic acid, vit b12 and iron help produce healthy red blood cells.

Well, there are different causes of anemia, each with varying causes (and therefore, varying treatments)."

Can anemic person be at risk of heart problems?

What medicines are prescribed to anemic patients?

What kind of food do we have to eat to prevent anemia?

Does taking iron supplements prevent having anemia?