Contents
Overview
Anemia isn’t a disease. However, anemia can be a symptom of some serious illnesses. So, it is necessary to recognize symptoms typically common to anemia. For pregnant women, anemia can increase the risk of fetal malnutrition, and preterm labor. For babies, this condition can affect their healthy growth and development. In this article on Effective Remedies, you will discover about all information related to anemia and the best home remedies for anemia in babies, adults, and during pregnancy that work naturally.
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34 Best Home Remedies For Anemia In Babies, Adults, & During Pregnancy
I. What Is Anemia?
Anemia [1] is a condition causing poor health and low energy. It develops when the blood lacks enough hemoglobin or healthy red blood cells. The hemoglobin aids in carrying oxygen in the blood. If your hemoglobin is low or abnormal, or you have abnormal red blood cells, the cells in the body won’t get enough oxygen.
II. Causes Of Anemia
There are many causes of anemia. They include:
- Anemia associated with poor nutrition: Folic acid and vitamin B12 are required for producing hemoglobin (Hgb) and making red blood cells. Thus, lack of any of these nutrients can lead to anemia due to insufficient production of red blood cells [2].
- Iron deficiency anemia: Lack of iron is one of the primary causes of anemia. The bone marrow requires iron to make Hgb. The body cannot produce enough Hgb for red blood cells without adequate iron [3].
- Anemia of chronic disease: Some certain diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS, Crohn's disease, kidney disease, etc. can interfere with red blood cell production.
- Aplastic anemia: Infections, exposure to toxic chemicals, autoimmune diseases and certain medicines are the leading causes of aplastic anemia.
- Anemia related to bone marrow disease: Many diseases, such as myelofibrosis and leukemia affect blood production in the bone marrow and thus can cause anemia.
- Anemia associated with active bleeding: Loss of blood due to wounds or heavy menstrual bleeding can result in anemia.
- Pernicious anemia: A problem in the intestines or the stomach can cause poor absorption of vitamin B12, leading to anemia.
- Other less common reasons for anemia include cancers, liver disease, thyroid problems, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), autoimmune diseases (lupus), pregnancy, lead poisoning, malaria, AIDS, viral hepatitis, mononucleosis, bleeding disorders, parasitic infections (hookworm), and insecticide exposure.
III. Symptoms Of Anemia
Symptoms of anemia may include fatigue, decreased energy, shortness of breath, weakness, lightheadedness, looking pale and palpitations. Besides, angina, chest pain, rapid heart rate, dizziness, and fainting are the symptoms of severe anemia [4].
IV. Best Home Remedies For Anemia In Babies, Adults & During Pregnancy
Whether it is pregnant women, adults or babies, the only way to prevent and treat anemia is increasing increase the iron levels in the blood. You can easily avoid some types of anemia with some natural treatments at home. Follow any of these ways until the level of hemoglobin becomes normal.
A. Home Remedies For Anemia In Adults
1. Spinach Remedy
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Green leafy vegetables including spinach are considered as one of the excellent home remedies for anemia. This leafy vegetable is full of iron, beta-carotene, calcium, fiber, and vitamins A, C, E and B9, which all aid in recovering from anemia. Just half cup of spinach every day is what you need to battle your anemia. Follow the two ways below to deal with the condition with the help of spinach:
Way 1:
Prepare one glass of spinach juice and add two tsp of honey to it. Then, consume this resultant juice daily. You should drink it at least for forty days for visible results.
Way 2:
Drinking spinach soup twice daily is another useful way for treating anemia. To make the soup at home, you need to take one cup of blanched spinach and add some water to puree it. In one pan, heat one tsp of extra virgin olive oil and sauté some chopped onion and garlic cloves in it until brown. Then, add some salt and the pureed spinach and cook the mixture on low heat for around 5 – 10 minutes. Your soup is ready to use. Eat this soup for at least a month to notice the improvement.
2. Home Remedies For Anemia – Pomegranate
Pomegranate is considered as a super fruit since it exhibits many beneficial components. This fruit is also rich in fat, sugars, fiber, protein, and carbohydrates. Notably, it embraces calcium, iron, and minerals such as potassium and copper. All of these nutrients work effectively on increasing hemoglobin in the blood and supporting healthy blood flow. It also comes with vitamin C, which aids in improving absorption of iron in the body, resulting in more red blood cells. The symptoms of anemia such as weakness, dizziness, and exhaustion also disappear gradually. Ways to use pomegranate for anemia treatment:
Way 1:
You just mix two tsp of dried pomegranate seed powder and one glass of warm milk. Have this mixture once or twice every day.
Way 2:
Mix a cup of pomegranate juice, two teaspoons of honey and ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon powder well. Drink this mixture every day with your breakfast.
Way 3:
Take one medium-sized pomegranate and eat it on an empty stomach every morning. You can also drink one glass of pomegranate juice daily with your breakfast.
3. Home Remedies For Anemia – Dates
Dates are one of the useful home remedies for anemia because they are full of iron. Besides, they also consist of vitamin C that plays a vital role in the absorption of iron in your body. Along with that, they also possess minerals such as calcium, manganese, magnesium, and copper. Copper is especially required for red blood cell production. Therefore, have dates every day to combat anemia naturally.
Way 1:
Soak about two dates for three hours in one cup of warm water. Once the water cools down, consume it. This water is ideal for people who can’t drink milk or milk products and are lactose intolerant.
Way 2:
Alternatively, soak two dry dates in one cup of milk all night. Eat the dates and consume the milk in the morning on an empty stomach.
4. Home Remedies For Anemia – Bananas
Rich in iron, bananas help to accelerate the hemoglobin production and other enzymes, which are vital for red blood cell formation. Furthermore, the presence of magnesium [5] in this fruit helps with hemoglobin synthesis. Ways to have bananas for anemia treatment:
Way 1:
You prepare a mashed ripe banana along with a tablespoon of amla juice. Then, have it twice to thrice every day.
Way 2:
Also, eat a ripe banana two times every day.
5. Home Remedies For Anemia – Dried Black Currant
Dried black currant comprises vitamin C and iron, which are helpful in treating anemia. Apart from that, vitamin C encourages the ability of your body to absorb the iron, which in turn increases hemoglobin and red blood cells.
Way to use dried black currants for curing anemia:
Take about 10 – 12 dried black currants and soak them in water overnight. Take them out of the water in the morning and remove the seeds. Before your breakfast, eat them every day. You should repeat this remedy for a couple of weeks to notice the improvement.
6. Home Remedies For Anemia – Parsley
Parsley or rock celery is flooded with folic acid and iron so that it becomes one of the most popular home remedies for anemia. A half cup of fresh parsley provides 5.5 mg of iron that can meet 10% of the daily iron requirement of your body. Apart from this, this herb is also high in vitamin C, which helps the body to absorb iron. You can use parsley in soups, sandwiches, salads, and stews or try the tea recipe given below.
Steps:
You prepare dried or fresh parsley and put it in one cup. Pour in about two cups of hot water and allow it to steep for five minutes. After that, strain it and add one tsp of honey to it. Consume this mixture for two to three times a day for quick results.
7. Home Remedies For Anemia – Ash Gourd
Ash gourd also known as white gourd, winter melon, wax gourd and winter gourd, has been used by Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine since ages to treat a variety of medical conditions and ailments. Ash gourd is beneficial for battling weakness due to anemia, as it is full of minerals and vitamins such as vitamin C, iron, calcium, phosphorus, riboflavin, thiamine, and niacin. Here is how to use ash gourd for anemia treatment:
Way 1:
You peel about one kg of winter melon and remove their seeds. Later chop into one-inch pieces and use a toothpick to make tiny holes in each piece. Pour some water into one bowl and boil for several minutes. Add the pieces of gourd and cover with lid. Then, boil for around five minutes and drain water. To the pieces, add about 3 ½ cups of sugar and cook over low heat after half an hour. Cover and let it stand an entire night. Eat two pieces daily. You can store this sweet for 30-45 days.
Way 2:
Alternatively, dry ash gourd leaves and fruit and then grind them into one powder. Take one teaspoon of this powder and after that, mix it into one glass of buttermilk. After that, consume the mixture daily for the most effective results.
8. Home Remedies For Anemia – Fenugreek
Both fenugreek seeds and leaves are a powerful source of iron. They increase red blood cell counts and thus treat and prevent anemia effectively. Besides, it also helps with the production of red blood cells. You can add leaves of fenugreek to salads and soups or try the recipe below:
Steps:
You take a cup of rice and cook it with two tsp of fenugreek seeds. Then, add a little salt and eat it one time every day for around 2 – 3 weeks.
9. Home Remedies For Anemia – Wheat Germ Tonic
Wheat germ is obtained by processed & refined flour, which is highly abundant in iron and zinc. Thus, it is effective in treating anemia. It additionally helps you calm some anemia symptoms such as feeling exhausted, weak, tired, dizzy and short of breath. Here’s how to treat anemia with wheat germ at home:
Steps:
Prepare one tablespoon each of wheat germ, brewer’s yeast, blackstrap molasses, canola oil and ½ cup of orange juice. Then, you mix all the elements in a blender until smooth. After that, consume it thrice a day to fight against anemia.
10. Home Remedies For Anemia – Yellow Dock Herbal Concoction
Many herbalists suggest that yellow dock is an excellent treatment for anemia due to lack of iron. It further increases the body’s ability to absorb mineral. It means that yellow dock root can’t cure anemia by itself, but when mixed with other herbs high in iron, this herb can help increase red blood cell count.
Steps:
Prepare one teaspoon each of yellow dock root, Dang Gui, stinging root, peony root, and red clover, along with two tablespoons of molasses and five cups of water. Add all the components excluding molasses to one large soup pot. Then, boil it, reduce heat and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes. After that, cover while simmering and remove from the heat. Add the molasses to it. If it’s too strong, add the honey and water. Finally, drink it every day.
11. Home Remedies For Anemia – Bottle Gourd Soup
As we know, anemia is caused due to by lack of nutrition. Certain vegetables and fruits are used to increase the amount of folic acid and iron in the blood. One of such cures is bottle gourd soup. Bottle gourd exhibits folic acid and iron, which all work on increasing the red blood cell production in the blood.
Steps:
You chop a bottle gourd, one cup of spinach and one-half cup of beetroot. Pour water in one pan and place it over a medium flame on the stove. Cover the lid and boil in water for several minutes. Then, season to taste and afterward, remove from the heat. Eat this soup daily for around one month to strengthen your immune system and treat anemia.
B. Home Remedies For Anemia During Pregnancy
1. Home Remedies For Anemia – Use Raisins
Raisins are a powerhouse of various nutrients such as potassium, protein, iron, fiber, calcium, sodium and potassium. A 100 g of raisin provides 1.88 mg of iron. Thus, raisins are one of the best home remedies for anemia you should know. Try below remedy:
Steps:
Soak about 8 to 15 raisins in water overnight. Eat them with one teaspoon of honey in the morning. Honey in this remedy is also packed with iron that treats anemia efficiently.
2. Sesame Seeds
Because they are high in iron content, sesame seeds are a fantastic treatment for anemia. ¼ cup of sesame seeds will provide about 30 percent of the daily recommended amount of iron. The high content of folic acid in it also helps control the problem of anemia. Sesame seeds are also helpful in purifying blood in the body, thereby reducing the problem of anemia remarkably. Here is how to make use of sesame seeds for anemia.
Way 1:
Soak one teaspoon of sesame seeds in enough water for about two hours. Later strain and crush these seeds to attain a paste. To the paste, add one tablespoon of honey and mix everything well. Then, have this paste two times a day.
Way 2:
Firstly, soak one teaspoon of black sesame seeds for two hours in warm water. Next grind these seeds to have a paste and strain to attain its emulsion. Mix the paste with one cup of milk. Add two teaspoons of honey and mix well. Finally, consume the liquid every day.
3. Home Remedies For Anemia – Blackstrap Molasses
Are you suffering from anemia? Are you looking the best home remedies for anemia? Blackstrap molasses can help you a lot because it is rich in iron, folate, B vitamins and other essential minerals. These nutrients are excellent for increasing production of red blood cell. More importantly, diabetic patients can use blackstrap molasses because it contains a low glycemic index. Here are two ways of using blackstrap molasses for anemia to follow daily.
Way 1:
Take two teaspoons each of apple cider vinegar and blackstrap molasses. Mix them in a cup of water. Then, consume this concoction every day.
Way 2:
Get a tablespoon of blackstrap molasses and mix it on one cup of milk or hot water. Later enjoy this solution twice every day. This drink is especially beneficial for pregnant women.
4. Figs
Figs are one of the perfect home remedies for anemia during pregnancy owing to their good source of iron. They are also rich in vitamin B6 that is necessary for those who suffer from vitamin-deficiency anemia. You can consume about four figs on a daily basis to help combat your iron deficiency. Alternatively, soak the figs in water overnight and in the morning, have them.
5. Home Remedies For Anemia – Beetroot
Beetroot is abundant in iron, calcium, fiber, sulfur, and vitamins, making it one of the potential home remedies for anemia. This remedy is particularly beneficial for people suffering from anemia caused by iron deficiency. Apart from that, beetroot is potent in cleansing the body and supplying more oxygen throughout your body. As a result, it helps to increase red blood cell count of the body. Below are several ways to treat anemia with the aid of beetroot:
Way 1:
Mix one cup each of organic apple juice with organic beet juice. Later stir in two teaspoons of honey. Then, consume it two times a day.
Way 2:
Another way is to blend ½ a sweet potato, three carrots and a medium-size beetroot in a juicer. Later enjoy this juice once every day to treat anemia entirely.
Way 3:
Alternatively, you can eat beetroot in a salad or a cooked vegetable.
6. Increase Intake Of Vitamin C
Anemia often destroys or weakens the immunity. You may be prone to suffer from inflammation infections and diseases. So, you should have necessary quantity of vitamin C foods to battle anemia. This vitamin also aids in absorbing iron. It is recommended to drink lemon and orange juices which consist of the optimum amount of iron. They also promote hemoglobin and immunity. You can also increase the amount of vitamin C by putting one teaspoon of camu camu powder into a little water. Also, throw some vitamin C powder and spinach into your morning smoothie.
7. Home Remedies For Anemia – Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Nettles have been used or eaten as a natural treatment for painful muscles and joints, gout and anemia for hundreds of years. Nettle known as stinging nettle contains a very high iron content so that it is highly effective for fighting anemia. It is also high in vitamins A (retinol), C (ascorbic acid), B group, and K, which all improve absorption of iron in the body. This herb is used in the form of nettle tonic, supplement or tea to help recover from the problem of anemia. Here is how to make a nettle tea at home:
Ingredients:
- Chopped dandelion leaves – two teaspoons
- Chopped nettle leaves – 1/4 cup
- Water – 2 liters
Process:
Take a saucepan and place the nettle leaves with a liter of water in it. Boil it for six minutes, drain the water and then discard it. After that, combine the boiled nettle leaves with the dandelion leaves in the saucepan. Boil the remaining water in the kettle for three minutes. Pour the water over these herbs and let it steep for around five minutes. Strain the herbs and transfer it into mugs to serve. Consume a cup of this tea daily to help keep anemia away and boost red blood cell production.
C. Home Remedies For Anemia In Babies
Iron is important for the development of babies. A fetus will receive enough amount of iron from the mother during the third trimester. There is sufficient iron for a baby until she or he is six months old. After that, iron needs to be absorbed via the baby’s diet in the form of solid foods, breast milk, vitamin supplements or iron-fortified formula. Below are some of home remedies for anemia in babies:
- Pomegranate: This fruit has many benefits and is a powerhouse of fiber, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, and sugar. Additionally, it also exhibits iron and calcium. It also helps to support healthy blood flow and increase the count of hemoglobin. You can give your baby the juice of pomegranate on an empty stomach.
- Give Parsley: This herb is packed with folic acid. 100 g of parsley contains 5.5 mg of iron. Infant can have parsley in the form of soups and juice. You also should add more green vegetables to your baby’s diet because they are rich in iron.
- Drink Copper Water: Consuming water stored in a copper vessel overnight will aid in replenishing the natural nutrients of the body.
- Eat Banana: This fruit is full of iron and helps enhance the red blood cell production in the body.
- Spinach: Spinach and other green fruits and vegetables are a rich source of iron. You can give this dark green leafy vegetable in the form of stew, soup or spinach juice. Before any recipe, ensure to boil this vegetable.
- Tomatoes: Tomatoes are one of the best home remedies for anemia because of its high content of iron. You can give your babies tomato juice or add tomatoes to soups and stews.
V. Anemia Diet Plan
The perfect diet plan for anemia treatment consists of iron-rich foods and other vitamins that are essential to red blood cell and hemoglobin production. Also, it should include foods that help the body absorb iron better. Include these foods in your diet to attain more iron and aid in fighting iron deficiency anemia:
1. Liver
Organ meats are abundant in iron. The liver is one of such organ meats and is also abundant in folate and iron. A few other iron-rich organ meats include kidney, heart and beef tongue.
2. Leafy Greens
Dark leafy greens are rich in nonheme iron. They consist of kale, spinach, Swiss chard, collard greens and dandelion greens. Collard greens and Swiss chard also hold folate. Lack of folate may also cause anemia. Citrus fruits, whole grains, and beans are high in folate. Eating leafy greens along with vitamin C rich foods such as red peppers, strawberries, and oranges, may increase absorption of iron. Some greens are packed with both vitamin C and iron, such as Swiss chard & collard greens.
3. Meat And Poultry
All poultry and meat have heme iron. Venison, lamb and red meat are the best sources. Chicken and poultry have lower amounts. Consuming poultry or meat with nonheme iron can help increase iron absorption.
4. Beans
Beans are flooded with iron for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. Besides, they are versatile and inexpensive. Some foods rich in iron are chickpeas, pinto beans, kidney beans, soybeans, black beans, lima beans, and peas.
5. Seeds And Nuts
Many types of seeds and nuts are enriched with iron. Some seeds and nuts that contain iron are pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, cashews, pistachios, sunflower seeds and pine nuts.
6. Seafood
Shellfish such as clams, shrimp, and oysters are good sources of heme iron. Fish rich in iron are canned or fresh tuna, fresh salmon, fresh perch, and fresh haddock, etc.
VI. Additional Tips To Prevent & Treat Anemia
- Take a sunbath in moderation.
- Preserve nutrients by cooking food in one iron pot.
- Soak around five almonds in water overnight and the next morning, peel them. Eat them before eating your breakfast.
- Mix 25 ml of honey and 60 ml of fresh Indian gooseberry juice well and consume it every day.
- Take cold baths several times in a week to increase circulation of blood.
- Use natural oils such as coconut oil, olive oil and mustard oil to massage your body. It helps enhance good circulation.
- Mix about seven black peppers in 200ml of milk. Then, boil the mixture in one iron vessel for five minutes and enjoy it.
- Immerse about three figs in water overnight and the following morning, eat them to completely treat anemia.
- Regular do exercises and practice deep breathing, yoga, and meditation to lower stress and increase circulation.
The above home remedies for anemia are safe and natural. Consult a doctor or healthcare professional if your condition doesn’t improve. For other remedies for health conditions, visit our Home Remedies page. Do you know any other home remedies for anemia in babies, adults, or during pregnancy? Have you used any of these cures for anemia? Let us know.