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Anaemia – How Pomegranates Can Help?

By socialpanga +2 more

According to a report, more than half of Indian women and about 3/4th of Indian children suffer from Anaemia. What is startling in the data available is not how widespread the disease is but that it has nothing to do with one’s socioeconomic status and is found across all sections of society. Advanced countries such as the US also have a high percentage of the anaemic population.

What is Anaemia?

Anaemia is a lack of haemoglobin in your blood. Haemoglobin carries oxygen to all parts of the body and is vital for healthy functioning. Anaemia is also characterised by an unhealthy count of Red Blood Cells (RBCs). The threshold after which a person (children, adults, and pregnant women) are considered anaemic are –

Benefits of Pomegranate for Anaemia

 Anaemia
PopulationNon-anaemicMildModerateSevere
Children 6 to 59 months old110 or above100-109 70-99Below 70
Children 5 to 11 years old115 or above110-11480-109Below 80
Children 12 to 14 years old120 or above110-11980-109Below 80
Women older than 15 years120 or above110-11980-109Below 80
Pregnant women110 or above100-10970-99Below 70
Men older than 15 years130 or above110-12980-109Below 80

The following three are the leading causes of Anaemia-

Loss of blood: Chronic loss of blood due to internal or external injury and bleeding, childbirth, certain illnesses, menstruation, etc. leads to Anaemia.

Increased demand for iron: The body requires more iron during pregnancy, growth spurts in childhood and adolescence.

Decreased production of haemoglobin/RBCs: This occurs in conditions such as after an operation, bone marrow, stem cell problems, diarrhoea or thalassemia.

Anaemia causes fatigue and tiredness, retarded growth in children amongst other issues.

Read More: 9 Anaemia Symptoms & Signs To Watch Out For

Pomegranates, when consumed with iron-rich foods such as liver, green leafy vegetables, lentils and tofu, will help in anaemia, not when consumed alone.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

Factors that may increase your chances of developing anaemia

Several factors need to be weighed in while talking about anaemia. Some of these factors cannot be helped while others are very much in our control. To have a better idea, here are some of the factors that can increase your risk of catching anaemia:

  • Having menstrual periods.
  • Being pregnant.
  • If you are over 65 years of age.
  • Hereditary conditions may trigger anaemia.
  • A diet that doesn’t include enough iron and vitamin B-12.
  • Other external factors like heavy consumption of alcohol or exposure to toxic substances can result in anaemia.
  • If you have existing chronic conditions like cancer, liver or kidney disease or even an autoimmune disease.

At home, you can have pomegranate for anaemia as the fruit is rich in vitamins and minerals. A detailed list of benefits are given below, so read on to find out more!

Also read: Health Benefits and Precautions: Can You Eat Pomegranate Seeds?

How can pomegranates help?

Pomegranate is rich in vitamin K, vitamin C, fibre, potassium, and protein. Although there are many other fruits with higher iron content, pomegranate is highly recommended for anaemia. This is because pomegranate is rich in vitamin C.

Our bodies generally absorb only 3% of the iron consumed. This is because our gut does not readily absorb iron. The high content of vitamin C in pomegranate helps our bodies to absorb the iron present in the fruit as vitamin C, which is integral to iron metabolism. Regular consumption of pomegranate helps to increase haemoglobin levels and fight anaemia.

Avoiding certain foods along with pomegranate is recommended. Chocolates, spinach, tea, coffee, and alcohol have compounds in them that inhibit the absorption of iron. Keep at least a 30-minute gap between these foods and pomegranate consumption for maximal iron absorption.

A small bowl or around 100 gms of this tangy-sweet fruit every day helps to fight iron deficiency by maximizing iron absorption.

Read More: Home Remedies For Anaemia

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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