Daily Medical Records

A few weeks ago we talked about anemia and its symptoms. Today we will work to know what are the causes of this disease. The main causes of anemia may be some infections, medication intake, certain disease or poor nutrition.

The most common is the latter and is due to the lack or iron deficiency. The causes that make you have low iron levels include:

* Lack of iron in the diet. This problem occurs mainly in children and young women. Children who drink too much milk and not eat foods rich in iron, and young women who follow diets that are “fashionable” are at risk for iron deficiency.
* Growth spurts. Children under three years are growing so fast that their bodies have difficulty maintaining the appropriate level of iron they need.
* Pregnancy. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need 2.5 times more iron than men. That is the reason why pregnant women are tests to determine if they are anemic and why they have to eat more foods rich in iron or taking iron tablets daily.
* Blood loss. This is a common cause of iron deficiency anemia in adults. Heavy periods can cause anemia. Blood loss can also be caused by internal bleeding, usually in the digestive tract. A stomach ulcer, ulcerative colitis, cancer, or taking aspirin or similar medicine for a long time can cause bleeding in your stomach or intestines. This is why it is important to determine the reason for a low iron level.

What foods are recommended by their high iron content? To increase the iron in the diet is to consume the following foods and incorporate them into your daily diet

* Liver and other meats
* Seafood
* Dried fruits such as apricots, prunes and raisins.
* Nuts
* Beans, especially beans.
* Green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli.
* Molasses
* Whole grains
* Breads and cereals (check the label) fortified with iron.

The body best absorbs the iron from meat. To get the best result, combine meats with other vegetables. Take vitamin C tablets or accompany these foods with fresh-squeezed orange juice, helps your body absorb iron better.

Some foods block the absorption of this mineral, these include: coffee, tea, egg yolks, milk, fiber and soy protein. Try to avoid eating these foods when eating those that are rich in soy. If lunch or dinner in the afternoon take a tea or coffee, and during the meal has been incorporated iron-rich foods, it would be advisable to avoid drinking tea or coffee until after 1 hour of eating.