Best Vitamins, Herbs and Minerals to Treat Anemia

Anemia is the result of a deficiency in the red blood cells or in the haemoglobin. People who have anemia experience extreme fatigue all the times as a deficiency of red blood cells or haemoglobin will cause oxygen to be cut off from the cells, which results in weakness.

Anemia can be caused by an excessive loss of blood, deficient red blood cell production or excessive destruction of red blood cells. Excessive blood loss and the excessive destruction of red blood cells—as what happens in sickle cell disease and other hereditary illnesses—is not as common as deficient red cell production anemia.  

This kind of anemia also known as iron-deficient anemia is often caused by poor nutrition. Iron-deficient anemia is caused by the poor intake of iron, increased need for iron and poor absorption of iron. Iron-deficient anemia is seen mostly in teenage girls, the elderly, pregnant women and children under two years old.

There are many natural vitamins, supplements and herbs that you can take to help treat anemia. Here are a few that you can incorporate in your diet against anemia:

Iron

It should go without saying that if you are iron deficient the number one nutrient you should consume should be iron. For best results take 30 milligrams of fumarate iron, succinate or gluconate iron twice a day after meals.

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is a great vitamin to take to treat anemia. This is because Vitamin B6 helps to produce red blood cells. If you have anemia you should take 150 milligrams of Vitamin B6 a day.

Folic Acid

A folic acid deficiency can also lead to anemia. To treat anemia caused by folic acid take 1200 micrograms of folic acid three times a day.

Vitamin B5

As with Vitamin B6, Vitamin B5 also helps with the production of red blood cells. Therefore, to treat anemia stock up on your B vitamins and take 100 milligrams of Vitamin B5 a day.

Copper

Copper is an essential nutrient against anemia. Copper helps the body to produce red blood cells, haemoglobin and helps the body to absorb iron properly. The National Research Council recommends that adults consume 1.5 to 3 milligrams of copper per day.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C like copper helps the body to absorb iron. Research shows that you can double your absorption of iron from plant just by taking Vitamin C with iron-rich foods. Take 1000 milligrams three times a day.

Nettle

The herb nettle is great at treating anemia as it is a rich source of iron, B vitamins and minerals that treat anemia fast. For best results, take one teaspoon of nettle in a cup of boiling water and steep for twenty minutes. Drink one cup a day.

If you have anemia do try to cut out foods from your diet that interfere with the absorption of iron. These foods include caffeine, iced tea and foods that are high in oxalic acids. Foods that are high in oxalic acids include rhubarb, beets, cashews, almonds, asparagus, chocolate, beans and kale. Also, do not go over the daily recommended value for these vitamins, minerals and herbs, especially iron and copper.