Raising Haemoglobin levels

At some point in our lives, we might experience a slump in our haemoglobin levels. Apart from pregnant women, nowadays, teens are also at the risk of low haemoglobin due to heavy periods and diets wanting in iron-rich foods.

While all these affect your haemoglobin levels temporarily, if you don’t act sooner, these could lead to anaemia. Personally, I don’t experiment with iron. Although you can easily buy an iron supplement without a prescription, I would never go for them till advised by my doctor.

It is safe to take multivitamins and hair supplements whose iron content is low. But, you must be careful of those that are high on iron content. Excessive iron in the body deposits in your liver which can gradually become toxic. Signs of iron toxicity include digestion problems, nausea, cramps, constipation and ulcers. So, stay away from overdosing!

My advice – Go for supplements only if you are highly anaemic and are advised by your doctor. Otherwise, it’s best to take the natural route.

Here are some natural remedies to help restore your haemoglobin to normal levels – for men, 13.5-17.5 gm/deciliter and for women, 12.0-15.5 gm/decilitre.

Iron-rich Soup

Here’s a wonder recipe of a nutritious and tasty soup made of carrots, spinach and beetroot.Blend these ingredients together to create a magic potion for iron-rich nutrition.

Blend these ingredients together to create a magic potion for iron-rich nutrition.

• 400ml water
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 large carrot
• 1 small beetroot
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1-celery stick
• 1-bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon ghee/ olive oil
• 1 tablespoon chopped onions
• 2 cloves garlic
• 3 tablespoon yoghurt
• Crushed black pepper
• Rock salt

Method: Wash, cut and peel all the vegetables mentioned above. Heat ghee/olive oil in a sauce pan. Next, add the onions, bay leaf and garlic and sauté for a few minutes. Throw in some carrots, spinach, celery, beetroot in the pan and sauté again for a while. Then add water and the remaining ingredients. Bring them to a boil. Once all the vegetables are tender, cool it a bit and blend it in a food processor or a blender. Pour the soup into a bowl and squeeze some lemon on top. Savor!

Blood-building juice

Many fruits and vegetables are rich in iron. Regular intake can increase the levels of haemoglobin. Blend these in a juicer and enjoy!

• 1 green apple
• 2 carrots
• 3-5 celery sticks
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 cucumber
• A small bunch of spinach

Fruit salad

Pomegranate is also a good source of iron. Adding it to citrus food would help enhance iron absorption in your body.

• 1 pomegranate
• 1 orange
• 5 mint leaves
• 2 -3 tablespoons of orange juice

Method:

In a bowl, add pomegranate, chopped oranges and mint leaves.  Then, pour orange juice over it and give it a mix. Your healthy salad is ready.

Organic Nettle tea

Nettle is a herb whose leaves contain high amounts of iron and vitamin C. Drinking a cup can also shoot up iron levels in the body. However, if you have any health condition, then I would advise you to consult your doctor before taking it.

These recipes are a sure-shot way of replenishing your body’s micro nutrients daily. Try out these tips and let me know how they work for you. Write to me below or using #stayrealstayyou on Instagram @shagunkhanna