The most common cause of anemia is a lack of iron. Iron is necessary to make hemoglobin, which carries life preserving oxygen around to your body.
A lack of iron may be a result of bleeding, insufficient iron in your diet or iron absorption issues. Some of these iron deficiency anemia causes include :
- ulcers
- pregnancy
- thalassemia
- colon polyps
- colon cancer
- celiac disease
- heavy periods
- Crohn’s disease
- sickle cell anemia
- inherited disorders
- rapid growth phases
- hookworm infection
- frequent blood draws
- high fiber, high sugar diets
- slow bleeding uterine fibroids
- stomach acid reduction medications
- regular use aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen
- malnutrition ~ diet lacks iron, folic acid, vitamin B12
There are dietary steps you can take to help prevent some types of iron deficiency anemia.
A first iron deficiency anemia prevention step is checking your diet to ensure you are consuming rich sources of iron, vitamin B12 and folate.
Next, eat and drink foods that help your body absorb iron as a measure to fight deficiency, like:
- broccoli
- orange juice
- strawberries
- fruits/vegetables high in vitamin C
Don’t drink coffee or tea with meals because they make it harder for iron to be absorbed. Calcium can also affect iron absorption.
Never take iron supplements without consulting your health care provider first, lest you want a hemochromatosis situation.
For most, eating a balanced diet provides the dietary iron and vitamins their bodies need for maintaining health and sidestep some iron deficiency anemia causes. Prevent the preventable by prioritizing the consumption of a balanced diet, a major step toward an iron efficient healthy body.