Foods To Prevent Anemia: Here Are The Main Ones
Symptoms of anemia
Symptoms of anemia are different. If you notice that your child has some of the symptoms that we will list below, we recommend that you contact your pediatrician.
- The child is short-tempered.
- Has breathing difficulties.
- Eat less than before.
- Feeling weak or tired all the time.
- He has a bad tongue.
- Have a headache or nausea.
- In the most severe cases of anemia, it can present: brittle nails, very pale, almost bluish color.
Foods to prevent anemia
There are several foods to prevent anemia. Below we will explain in detail which ones are to be included in your and your children’s diets.
Fruit
Fruit is one of the healthiest foods for children’s health. Apples and tomatoes are rich in iron, so they are ideal for preventing anemia.
Among the fruits and vegetables that you can include in your child’s diet there are certainly plums, bananas, lemons, grapes, oranges, figs, carrots and sultanas. The greater the consumption of these foods, the more it will benefit your health.
Honey
Honey is a powerful source of iron, copper and manganese. The combination of these three elements favors the synthesis of hemoglobin, making honey a powerful weapon against anemia. You can give it to your child as a snack or, better yet, for breakfast.
Meat
Lamb, beef and other red meats are rich in iron. They also contain heminic iron, which is rapidly absorbed by the body’s cells. Beef liver contains over 600% of the daily requirement of this mineral. Red meats are also a source of vitamin B12. You must also consider that the iron present in animal products is absorbed 5 times more than that present in plants.
Fish and seafood
Fish is a great help in preventing anemia, as it contains a significant amount of iron. Some of the fattest and most popular fish such as salmon, tuna and some seafood such as mussels and oysters are rich in this mineral.
Eggs
Eggs are a source of protein and contain a large amount of antioxidants, which help the body stock up on vitamins. One large egg contains 1 mg of iron. Therefore, consuming one a day helps prevent the onset of anemia.
Vegetables
Vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, broccoli, celery, beetroot and kale contain a significant amount of iron and help to increase the body’s energy levels.
In addition, they are a source of vitamin B12, folic acid and other nutrients that help the body recover faster from anemia. Furthermore, to absorb iron, the body needs vitamin C, and therefore fruits and vegetables that are rich in it, such as kiwis, oranges, rocket, lemons, etc. are welcome.
Legumes and dried fruit
Lentils, chickpeas, beans and soy cannot be missing from the child’s diet. All the more so if it is suspected that he may be suffering from anemia.
Other foods that cannot be missing are whole grains, dried dates, peanuts, walnuts and almonds, essential to fight or prevent this disease.
Oats
100 g of oats provide 4.7 mg of iron. This amount exceeds meat, which typically provides 3 mg. One cup of oats contains 60% of the daily requirement for this mineral.
Beetroot
Beetroot is one of the foods to prevent anemia. This root has a high content of iron, vitamin C, vitamin B, calcium and folate. All these substances make it an excellent weapon against anemia. Beetroot also stimulates the production of blood cells in the bone marrow.
Good nutrition and the inclusion of these foods in your child’s diet will prevent them from falling ill with anemia and related diseases.
In the event that the child suffers from anemia and the disease worsens, it is important that you consult your pediatrician so that he can examine him and provide you with indications on what to do.