Blood booster supplements and vitamins to treat anemia

Anemia is a condition when you don't have enough red blood cells to carry enough oxygen to body tissues. Anemia can be caused by a variety of things, including a deficiency in iron, vitamin B12, or folic acid. One way to treat anemia is to take additional supplements or vitamins. So, what are the supplements or vitamins that are useful as a blood booster? Check out the following explanation.

What are the blood boosting supplements and vitamins?

Blood booster supplements and vitamins that can treat anemia are:

1. Iron supplements

Anemia is usually easily treated by increasing iron intake from food. Iron is found in red meat, green leafy vegetables, dried fruits and nuts, and foods that are fortified with this nutrient.

However, food alone may not be enough for people who are more prone to anemia, such as pregnant women, adolescents who are menstruating, and those who have chronic diseases. They also require additional iron intake in supplement form.

Quoted from the Cleveland Clinic, there are many types of oral iron, namely pills, capsules, drops, and tablets. The goal of taking oral iron supplements is to treat symptoms of anemia by increasing the levels of iron and hemoglobin in your body.

However, you cannot take iron supplements without knowing the correct dosage. Although it is useful for preventing anemia, iron supplements are harmful to the body if taken carelessly. This is because too much iron in the body can become toxic in the body.

Taking iron supplements without a doctor's advice has the risk of overdosing. A one-time dose of 10-20 milligrams alone can cause symptoms of iron poisoning such as nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.

2. Vitamin C

Vitamin C helps the absorption and storage of iron in the liver, so taking vitamin C supplements can help raise hemoglobin levels because the iron is converted into blood cells.

Taking a 25 mg vitamin C supplement can increase iron absorption by twofold, while taking 250 mg of vitamin C can increase iron absorption by up to five times.

Therefore, you should always meet the body's need for vitamin C every day, especially for those of you who have anemia.

However, daily vitamin C intake is actually better from fresh food because it can last longer in the body. Vitamin C from supplements generally gets flushed out quickly through urine.

If you want to consume vitamin C from natural ingredients, pay attention to the cooking process. The wrong cooking process can reduce up to 50-80% of the vitamin C content in these foods.

When processing food, you need to know the right way. Do not cook fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C over a hot fire, make sure they are not too hot (low heat) and add a little water to reduce the amount of vitamin C wasted.

Vitamin C supplements can be taken together with iron supplements to improve various types of anemia. Eat foods high in vitamin C along with foods high in plant iron to increase absorption.

3. Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin and plays a role in the formation of red blood cells, cell metabolism, nerve function, and DNA production. You can meet your vitamin B12 needs by consuming food sources of this vitamin, such as:

• Poultry
• Beef
• Fish
• Dairy products

If you are diagnosed with anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency, your doctor may recommend that you increase your consumption of the foods above. However, in some conditions, you need a vitamin B12 supplement as a blood booster. Vitamin B12 supplements are usually recommended for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and vegetarians.

Vitamin B12 supplements are classified as safe for consumption with the right dosage. The Mayo Clinic states, adults are recommended to take 2.4 mg of vitamin B12 supplements, but the dosage can be increased, according to your condition.

Too much vitamin B12 can result in:

• Dizzy
• Headache
• Anxious
• Nausea
• Gag

4. Folic acid

Folic acid is important in the formation of red blood cells and healthy cell growth and function. This compound, also known as vitamin B9, is found in:

• Green vegetable
• Nuts
• Whole grains
• Orange
• Lemon
• Banana
• Melon
• Strawberry

It is recommended that you consume 400 mg of folic acid, while women planning a pregnancy are advised to consume 400-800 mg per day. If you have anemia due to a deficiency of folic acid, you may be able to take additional supplements to complement anemia treatment.

The consumption of vitamin B9 supplements is declared safe. However, there are still side effects that you may experience.

Although not always, some of the side effects of folic acid that may occur include:

• Bitter taste in mouth
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Confusion
• Easy to get angry
• Sleep disorder

In addition, vitamin B9 supplements which can be a blood booster may also cause allergic symptoms on the skin.

High folic acid intake can overcome a vitamin B12 deficiency that is not severe. You can also overcome the problem of vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency by taking supplements that contain 100 percent of the daily requirement of vitamin B12 and folic acid.