Anemia caused by iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world. Some of the telltale signs of anemia are feeling tired or light head too often, pale skin, and running short of breath easily. Anemia is usually caused by iron deficiency in the body.1 2 Red blood cells have a big role to play in anemia and increasing their count has proved to be helpful in curing this condition.
Red Blood Cell Count And Anemia
Red blood cell (RBC) is the cellular component of blood. The millions of RBCs present in our blood are responsible for the characteristic red color of blood. RBCs contain hemoglobin which is the red, iron-rich protein in blood that binds with oxygen. We need an optimum number of RBCs in our blood to maintain our health and overall oxygen levels.3 If our RBC count goes low, we can easily raise it by having healthy, iron-rich foods.
The development of the red blood cell takes place in the bone marrow in several stages. The average red blood cell in humans live for a period of 100 to 120 days. An adult human has 5.2 million red blood cells per cubic millimeter of blood.
Low Red Blood Cell Count
If you have been feeling tired and fatigued for some time now, you may want to check your red blood cell count. Low red blood cell count often leads to anemia.4
Symptoms Of Anemia
- Weakness and dizziness
- Pale or yellow skin
- Shortness of breath
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Chest pain
- Cold hands or feet
- Pounding or “whooshing” in the ears
How To Improve Blood Count?
You can improve your blood count in various ways such as taking medical help, having iron supplements, or following simple, natural remedies. Consuming foods rich in iron can easily raise your red blood cell count.
Foods Rich In Iron
- Leafy greens such as spinach
- Vegetables such as beetroot, broccoli, carrot, and pumpkin
- Fruits such as pomegranate, watermelon, and apple
- Beans and squash seeds
- Dried fruits such as raisins, dates, and dried apricots
- Eggs, chicken, pork, lamb, and beef
- Seafood such as clams, oysters, sardines, and shrimps
- Iron-fortified dry and instant cereals
You could also drink a homemade syrup made of fruits and vegetables to supplement your RBC count. This syrup must be consumed on an empty stomach every morning and must be taken twice a year for 15 to 20 days at a stretch for the best results. Read on to learn the recipe.
A Homemade Syrup To Increase RBCs
- 1 kg beetroot
- ½ kg carrots
- 2 sour apples
- 2 to 3 oranges
- Juice of a lemon
- 500 grams of meadow honey
1. Chop the beets, apples, and carrots into pieces.
2. Blend all the chopped pieces in a blender.
3. Squeeze the juice of the lemons and oranges and add it to the previous mixture.
4. Add the meadow honey to the mixture.
5. Mix all the ingredients well until the honey is combined and the juice gets dissolved in the mixture.
6. Once prepared, transfer the mixture to a glass bottle and store it in the refrigerator as you need to take a small dose every day.
If you want to add more oranges, you can always do that as orange juice is added only for taste, smell, and a dose of vitamin C. Drink about 3.3 oz or 100 ml of this syrup every morning on an empty stomach. The quantity of the syrup made with the above ingredients would be 50 oz (1500 ml) to 67 oz (2000 ml), which is enough for a period of 15 to 20 days. Before you start this remedy, it is recommended that you talk to your doctor about it.