Diet Plan for Anemia
Anemia is a nutritional disorder in which hemoglobin level reduces and this happens due to lack of iron and certain vitamins. Anemia is caused due to deficiency of iron, vitamin B – 12 and folic acid because these nutrients are required for production of red blood cells. Some people add these nutrients in their diet but still they are anemic. The reason behind it is that their intestine is not able to absorb these. Basically anemia has three main causes – Blood loss, Lack of RBC production and high RBC cell destruction. Certain disease affect small intestine and their ability to absorb nutrients like celiac disease, crohn’s disease. So a balanced diet is needed to maintain the good health.
DIET CHART FOR ANEMIA
EARLY-MORNING
Warm water / soaked almonds / Cashew / Walnuts.
BREAKFAST
Broken wheat porridge / Veg Semolina (veg upma) / Veg Vermicelli / Veg poha (Rice flakes) / Veg Idli / Brown Bread Sandwich / Semolina pancake / Besan pancake (gram flour) / Missi Roti / Stuffed Chapatti / Chapatti with Veg or Dal / Skimmed Milk / + Egg white
MID-MORNING
Fruit / Fruit juice / Herbal tea / Coconut water / Dates
LUNCH
Chapatti + Rice + Salad + Vegetable + Dal / Baked or steam chicken
EVENING
Roasted gram / Rice flakes / homemade soup / Vermicelli / Poha / Herbal tea
DINNER
Chapatti + Vegetable + Dal
BED TIME
Milk
DIET INSTRUCTIONS
CEREALS
Cereals to be consumed
Rice, Barley, Quinoa
Chapatti Ratio – Wheat flour (50%), Black chana (20%), Soybean (30%)
Cereals to be avoided
Whole refined flour and its products, Brown rice, Maggie, Whole wheat, Oats, Sorghum, Corn.
FRUITS
Fruits to be consumed
Apples, Pears, Figs, Apricots, Plums, Kiwi, Orange, Guava, Pomegranate, Strawberries, Banana, Dates
Fruits to be avoided
Grapes, Frozen and Canned fruits
VEGETABLES
Vegetables to be consumed
Green leafy vegetables – Fenugreek, Spinach, Broccoli, Pumpkin, Carrot, Tomato, Radish, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Beetroot, Red and green peppers
Vegetables to be avoided
Canned vegetables
PULSES
Pulses to be consumed
Lentils, Legumes Moong beans
Pulses to be avoided
Kidney beans, Chick peas (in limit), Frozen and dried pulses
DAIRY PRODUCTS
Dairy Products to be consumed
Skimmed Milk, Curd, Yoghurt, Butter, Butter milk
Dairy Products to be avoided
Cheese, Cream
NOTE: Goat milk is good for anemic patient.
SPICES
Spices to be consumed
Turmeric, Fenugreek, Parsley, Black pepper, basil, cardamom
Spices to be avoided
Sea salt should be taken in limit.
DRINKS
Drinks to be consumed
Herbal tea, homemade fruit juice, Green juice, wheatgrass juice, coconut water, Amla juice
Drinks to be avoided
Carbonated drinks, Alcohol, Canned juices, Preserved juices, Coffee, Tea, Maple syrup
FLESH FOODS
Flesh Foods to be consumed
Chicken, Shrimp, Fish (tuna, salmon), sea food
Flesh Foods to be avoided
Beef, pork
SEEDS AND DRY FRUITS
Dry Fruits to be consumed
Nuts, Apricots, Raisins, Almonds, Sunflower seed, Pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds
Dry Fruits to be avoided
Brazil nuts and Macadamia nuts
OILS
Oils to be consumed
Canola oil, olive oil, cow ghee, Mustard oil, sunflower oil
Oils to be avoided
Margarine
OTHER FOODS
Other Foods to be consumed
Honey, Jaggery, Tofu (limited quantity)
Other Foods to be avoided
Spicy food, Deep fried food, Desserts, Sugar, white bread, Pasta
LIFESTYLE AND DIETARY TIPS
- Take healthy Balanced diet.
- Water intake should be appropriate, at least 8-9 glasses a day
- Take proper sleep.
- Avoid skipping meals and also overcooked food.
- Yoga and meditation is recommended.
