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We assume there is a retired elderly person who is usually in poor health and has been troubled by anemia. He understands that red dates are helpful for blood supplementation, so he decides to eat some every day, hoping that this will help him improve his anemia problem.
After several months, he realizes that his anemia problem has not been substantially improved. He becomes very confused and frustrated, not understanding why a well-known blood-supplementing food has no effect on him.
Especially for the elderly, since the secretion of gastric acid usually decreases, their digestive and absorptive capacity also decreases, making it more difficult to absorb iron from red dates.
In addition, although red dates are rich in nutrients, they are also high in calories. For elderly people who need to control sugar intake or have a poor appetite, red dates are not the best choice for blood supplementation.
Especially for elderly people, due to changes in their physical condition and digestive absorption capacity, relying solely on red dates to supplement blood may not be sufficient and may even bring some side effects.
A single food is difficult to meet everyone’s nutritional needs, especially when dealing with complex health issues like anemia, we need a more comprehensive nutrition strategy and personalized health advice.
We will explore three foods that may not be so obvious but actually have significant benefits for blood supplementation: pork liver, spinach, and black sesame seeds.
Pork liver is an excellent source of iron, especially the heme iron it contains, which has a very high biological utilization rate, meaning it can be more effectively absorbed and utilized by the body.
For the elderly, heme iron is very valuable because their digestive system may not be as strong as it was when they were younger, and they need nutrients that are easier to absorb to maintain blood health.
In addition to iron, pork liver is also rich in vitamin A and B vitamins, all of which are necessary to maintain normal blood function and support the immune system.
Consider a specific example: a retired elderly person with anemia starts eating pork liver once or twice a week as recommended by a doctor. At first, he was not accustomed to the taste of pork liver, but he quickly found that his physical and mental state had improved significantly.
This is because the heme iron is quickly absorbed by his body, effectively improving his hemoglobin levels and alleviating the symptoms of anemia.
Moving on to spinach. Although the iron in spinach is non-heme iron and its absorption rate may not be as high as heme iron, it is also rich in folic acid and vitamin C, both of which are beneficial for health.
Therefore, spinach has become a comprehensive blood-supplementing food, especially suitable for the elderly who need to improve blood health through dietary adjustments.
Imagine an elderly person who often feels tired and short of breath. After adding more spinach to his diet, not only did his anemia improve, but he also found that his overall energy levels had increased.
Finally, let’s discuss black sesame seeds. Black sesame seeds are a food often overlooked for blood supplementation, as they are rich in iron, calcium, and various beneficial fatty acids for cardiovascular health.
Integrating black sesame seeds into daily diet, such as sprinkling them on morning oatmeal or vegetable salad, not only enhances the flavor but also helps replenish iron in the blood.
One elderly person noticed that after consuming a small spoonful of black sesame seeds every day, his skin and hair looked more shiny, as good blood circulation brought direct benefits.
His doctor also noticed an improvement in his hemoglobin levels, directly proving the positive role of black sesame seeds in his diet.
Overall, these foods offer multiple choices to help elderly people with anemia improve their blood health. By adjusting their dietary habits, the elderly can not only improve symptoms of anemia but also enhance overall health and vitality. For the elderly, anemia is not just a symptom but an important health issue that affects their quality of daily life.
In addition to iron-rich foods, there are other effective methods to help prevent and improve anemia, which may not be widely noticed in daily life but can bring significant benefits.
Firstly, appropriate physical exercise is an important aspect of preventing anemia. Although elderly people may not be able to engage in vigorous exercise due to physical or health issues, moderate activities such as walking, Tai Chi, or gentle yoga can help improve the body’s blood circulation and enhance bone marrow blood production.
For example, an elderly woman, who often felt tired due to anemia, began walking for 30 minutes a day on the advice of her doctor.
After a few weeks, she found that her overall vitality had increased, and subsequent blood tests also showed an improvement in her hemoglobin levels. This is because regular physical activity helped her body better absorb and utilize the iron in food.
In addition, supplementing with vitamin C can help improve the efficiency of non-heme iron absorption. Elderly people can achieve this by eating vitamin C-rich foods such as citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, bell peppers, or by taking vitamin C supplements in appropriate doses under medical guidance.
Vitamin C not only improves iron absorption but also enhances the immune system and fights the body’s oxidative stress.
For example, an elderly person who often feels physically weak found that after drinking a cup of freshly squeezed orange juice every day, not only did he feel more energetic, but his hemoglobin levels also improved.
Before starting to take iron supplements, elderly people should discuss with their doctor to ensure they choose the correct type and dosage. Iron supplements can directly provide the iron the body needs, helping to quickly increase hemoglobin levels. However, long-term high-dose use may have side effects, such as digestive discomfort.
Although these methods are simple, they are based on a deep understanding of the physiological characteristics of the elderly and years of medical research, hoping to bring real benefits to the elderly.
What are your thoughts on the blood-supplementing recipes for anemia patients? Comments are welcome in the comment section! #ToutiaoExclusiveContest#
Reference:
[1] Niu Fanglei. Efficacy observation of Jiānpí shēngxiě piàn combined with Compound Ferrous Sulphate in the treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in pregnancy[J]. Modern Pharmaceuticals and Clinical Medicine, 2024, 39(07):1838-1842.
