Silent Energy Drain - Anemia

 True or False - Anemia is a condition only women have.

False - The fact is, in the USA, the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia is 2% in adult men, 9 to 12% in non-Hispanic white women, and nearly 20% in Black and Mexican-American women.

Blood is actually a liquid made up of several different cell types.  One of the most important and most numerous cell types is the red blood cell.  The purpose of the red blood cell is to deliver oxygen to the body.  Anemia describes the condition in which the number of red blood cells in your blood is low.  For this reason, doctors sometimes describe someone with anemia as having a low blood count.  A person who has anemia is called anemic.

Because a low red blood cell count decreases oxygen delivery to every tissue in the body, anemia causes many signs and symptoms.  It makes almost any other underlying medical condition worse. 

How severe the anemia is will determine how severe the signs and symptoms might be, including:

* Black or visibly bloody stools
* Rapid heart rate / breathing
* Pale, cold or jaundiced (yellow) skin
* Fatigue / Weakness
* Chest / Abdominal pain
* Unhealthy Weight loss
* Dizziness and passing out, especially upon standing

Preventing anemia requires several systems in your body.  If your kidneys or bone marrow cells are not working properly, or your body is poorly nourished, then you might not be able to maintain a normal red blood cell count.  Some common forms of anemia are most easily prevented by eating a healthy diet and by limiting alcohol use.  All types of anemia are best avoided by seeing a doctor regularly and when problems arise.

A healthy diet including iron rich foods along with iron supplements can aid in supporting already normal red blood cell levels. Such a diet includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fat free or nonfat milk and milk products, lean meats, fish, dry beans, eggs, nuts, and is low in saturated fat, trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugars.

In addition to a healthful diet that includes good sources of iron, you can also eat foods that help your body absorb iron better. For example, you can eat a fruit or vegetable that is a good source of vitamin C (see table) with a food or meal that contains non-heme iron (see table). Vitamin C helps your body absorb the non-heme iron foods you eat, especially when the food containing non-heme iron and the vitamin-C rich food are eaten at the same meal.

The two types of dietary iron are known as: Heme Iron is found in animal sources and is highly available for absorption. Non-heme iron on the other hand is found in vegetable sources and is less available. 

Pregnant women should consult their health care provider before altering their diet or adding dietary supplements so as to be sure and avoid excessive vitamin A levels.

For AdvoCare dietary supplements that either contain iron or aid in iron absorption see the following;

• CorePlex multivitamin with Iron
• Fem 20
• “Helper” Vitamin - C-Grams

For more information see;
The anemia diet
The American Family Physician - anemia

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