How To Increase Hemoglobin Level Quickly In The Blood: Proven Methods To Prevent Low Levels
We are all very familiar with Hemoglobin, a complex protein molecule that flows in our body and is responsible for the reddish colour of our blood. This is very important since it’s responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body wherever the blood flows. There are certain required levels of hemoglobin that our body must maintain in order to be healthy and safe. But certain underlying conditions can lower the levels, which is very harmful. So, today in this blog, we will discuss how to increase Hemoglobin level so that we can take the necessary steps required to maintain the level of it.
Overview Of Hemoglobin
Haemoglobin is a type of protein that is responsible for carrying Oxygen to the different parts of the body. It is attached to the RBC, where it flows along with the blood and carries Oxygen. Haemoglobin also carries carbon dioxide released in the body back to the lungs to exhale it. An average healthy human must contain 12 to 20 gm of hemoglobin in every 100 ml of blood. It is important to balance the level of hemoglobin because low level indicates anemia, and high levels can be an indication of other health issues.
What Is Low Hemoglobin?
Hemoglobin is measured in grams per deciliter of blood (g/dL). On average, the normal level of this chemical in the body should be:
- 13.5–18 g/dL in adult males
- 12–15 g/dL in adult females
- 11–16 g/dL in children
If the quantity decreases below this, then it can be termed as low hemoglobin. Due to this, the supply of Oxygen gets reduced, which is also termed anemia.
Cause Of Low Hemoglobin
There can be various reasons behind the decrease in hemoglobin content in the body. Let’s discuss them.
- Nutritional deficiencies: The major cause of low hemoglobin can be due to low iron content in the blood, since iron is needed to build hemoglobin. Other nutrients, such as Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies, can also cause a decrease in hemoglobin.
- Diseases: Kidney diseases, cancer, arthritis, and lupus can cause a decrease in the production of RBC.
- Blood Loss: Severe blood loss due to various reasons, such as a major accident, childbirth, trauma, surgery, and heavy menstrual bleeding, can also be the cause of low hemoglobin.
- Lack of production: In certain health conditions, such as aplastic anemia, leukemia, and lymphoma, can stop the bone marrow from producing red blood cells.
- Drugs: Various drugs like Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Morphine, Codeine, Xanax, Ativan , and Klonopin can lower hemoglobin level.
Symptoms
The body produces various symptoms when the quantity of hemoglobin is lowered. Such as:
- Low energy
- Difficulty in breathing
- Dizziness
- Poor blood circulation
- Headache
- Muscle weakness
- Irritability
- Irregular heartbeat
- Pale colour of skin, lips, and nails
How To Increase Hemoglobin Naturally?
Until now, it must have been clear how important Hemoglobin is for the body. It goes without saying that maintaining the desired level of this chemical is extremely important for better health. As mentioned above, certain factors can lead to a decrease in the level, due to which various symptoms are produced by the body. Let’s discuss the steps that you can take if you want to increase the level of Hemoglobin in your body naturally.
Increase Iron Intake
Iron plays a major role in increasing the production of RBC in the body. It is most important to never decrease the iron level in the blood. You can take various supplements available after consultation with your doctor if the content is severely low. There are certain natural sources of iron available in the form of food, which you can consume regularly to always maintain the appropriate level of iron.
They are:
- Meat
- Fish
- Tofu
- Eggs
- Dry fruits
- Green vegetables
- Nuts
- Peanut butter
Daily intake of iron can vary by age and gender. An adult male requires up to 8 mg/per day, and women of the age group 18-40 require up to 19 mg/day.
Increase Folate Intake
Folate is an essential element that the body uses to produce heme, which is used in the production of hemoglobin. Low content of Folate might result in immature RBC, which decreases the level of hemoglobin. Some natural sources of Folate include:
- Green vegetables
- Peanuts
- Rice
- Avocado
- Black-eyed peas
- Kidney beans
- Chicken
- Wheat germ
- Broccoli
- Bananas
- Sprouts
Minimize Iron Absorption
It is important to minimize iron absorption in the body because although iron is an essential element for hemoglobin but excessive amounts can cause damage to organs, especially the liver. Certain elements can increase this absorption rate, which becomes necessary to decrease their intake. Those elements are:
- vitamin C
- vitamin A
- beta-carotene
How To Increase Hemoglobin In Pregnancy?
During pregnancy, the body requires a higher level of Oxygen than usual to supply nutrients to the body. This also increases the demand for more Red Blood Cells during this time. Due to this, most women face anemia during their pregnancy because their bodies are not able to fulfill the required amount of RBC. They can face several symptoms like dizziness, shortness of breath, tiredness, weakness, and pale skin. Due to all these factors, it’s important to be aware of how to raise hemoglobin during pregnancy to avoid complications.
To overcome these symptoms, pregnant women can follow several steps, such as:
- Increasing consumption of various iron-rich snacks.
- You must increase the quantity of vegetables like spinach and broccoli.
- Decrease the quantity of daily caffeine and alcohol intake to avoid faster iron absorption.
- You can increase the intake of lemon in every meal to improve your taste and for better health.
- Include a pomegranate in your diet daily because they are a great source of Vitamin C, Folate, and Iron.
Conclusion
At the end of this blog, all your queries regarding the essential measures that can be taken to increase the Hemoglobin level must be clear. To maintain a healthy level of hemoglobin level in the body, you do not have to take the help of any harsh drugs that can have side effects; rather, it can be done easily by a small change in your diet. Add lots of green and iron content, and make sure to make a quick visit to your doctor to get more detailed plans regarding all the necessary steps. Do not be in a hurry; rather, take small and easy steps to recover faster and better.