Drink Beetroot Juice to Boost Iron Deficiency Anemia

What is Iron-Deficiency Anemia?

It is a condition where the number of red blood cells in the blood is low, thus causing a low blood count. It occurs because your red blood cells do not contain enough hemoglobin, a iron-rich protein that causes blood to be red in color.

What Causes Anemia?

There are several causes of anemia, which include:

• Iron deficiency
• Kidney disease
• Pregnancy
• Poor nutrition
• Deficiency of vitamin B12 known as pernicious anemia
• Sickle cell anemia
• Thalassemia
• Alcohol
• Bone marrow related anemia
• Aplastic anemia
• Hemolytic anemia
• Active bleeding, eg. heavy bleeding during menstration.

Symptoms of Anemia

Low red blood cell count means that there is little oxygen going to the tissues in the body, and it is this lack of oxygen that causes anemia. The symptoms and include:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Looking pale
• Palpitations
• Decreased energy
• Shortness of breath

Treating Anemia With Beet Juice

Beetroot juice is possibly the best natural remedy for anemia. It contains excellent cleansing properties with a high iron content that restores red blood cells whilst supplying oxygen and increasing the blood count.

As a valuable source of iron and beets are an excellent natural source to reverse anemia.

It is of great benefit to women during their menstrual cycle and those going through the menopause.

It is recommended that you drink one pint daily of blended beet juice. The base blend should be with carrot juice but you can add apples, pineapple, coconut flesh, spinach or cucumber depending on what other ailments you want to cure.

Beet Juice Recipes

Beetroot should only be used in its raw state. That is because the powerful betalain it contains is reduced during cooking, and oxalic acid crystals are released forming calcium stones when heated.

Basic Ingredients:

• 12oz Carrots Juice
• 4oz Beetroot Juice (use one small beetroot. The are sweeter)
• Add other vegetables or fruits according to the recipe you choose

Basic Directions

• Using cold water wash and brush the vegetables with a stiff vegetable brush.
• Remove the carrot tops
• Remove skin on waxed vegetables such as cucumber
• Leave on beetroot tops
• Dice vegetables to fit into your juicer or blender
• Juice or blend, chill and serve

Depending on what texture you want, you can either juice or blend the ingredients. In blending you will use all of the vegetables, nothing is thrown away and the drink willl have a smoothie type texture.

Blends

1. Beet, Carrot & Apple

• 4oz Beetroot
• 8oz Carrots
• 4oz Apple

2. Beet, Carrot and Coconut Juice

• 3oz Beetroot
• 9oz carrot
• 4oz coconut flesh

3. Beetroot, Carrot & Cucumber Juice

• 3oz Beetroot
• 10oz Carrots
• 3oz Cucumber (remove skin if waxed)

4. Beet, Carrot & Pineapple Juice

• 4oz Beetroot
• 5oz Fresh diced Pineapple
• 7oz Carrots

5. Beet, Carrot & Spinach Juice

• 4oz Beetroot
• 6oz Carrot
• 4oz Baby Spinach Leaves
• 2oz Apple
• This juice is an excellent cleanser and has a high content of iron)

6. Beet, Carrot & Celery Juice

• 4oz Beetroot
• 6oz Carrot
• 4oz Celery
• 2oz Apple
• This juice is a good diuretic

Warning: Do not drink beet juice in great quantities as it is very powerful and can make you feel sick. Combine beet juice with a base juice like carrot juice. eg 2oz of beet mixed with a 8oz of carrot juice. If you drink beet juice on its own do not drink more than 3oz at any one time.

By DeAnna D Dubois

How to Cure Anemia Naturally

Those who suffer from Anemia either have a reduced number of red blood cells or a reduced amount of hemoglobin (the component of red blood cells that attaches to oxygen and transports it in the blood). Since there is less oxygen available to the cells in the body, Anemics have less energy to perform normal functions. The most common cause of Anemia is iron deficiency... iron is used to make hemoglobin. Most Anemics are on medication for life. We are interested in fixing the nutritional deficiencies underlying the condition to heal the ailment completely.
Iron is a trace mineral of vital importance to the body. Although there is only about a teaspoon of it in your body at any one time, it is essential in the formation of Hemoglobin, the red pigment of blood. There are two types of iron: Heme and Non-Heme. Now, Heme is more easily absorbed by the gastro-intestinal tract (10-30%) while Non-Heme is only about1-10% absorbed. Heme is available in the tissues of animals. That's right, the more available source of iron is found in meats and dairy than in plants. But we suggest only obtaining your iron from vegetable sources. Why?
The interesting fact is that despite a less absorbable form of iron, vegetarians are no more likely to suffer from iron deficiency than non-vegetarians. Draper and Wheeler have stated there is no indication of increased prevalence of iron deficiency amongst vegetarians. Anderson found the iron status of long-term vegetarian women to be adequate, despite a high intake of fiber and phytate which INHIBITS the absorption of iron!
In fact, because iron can be stored in the body, too much iron can cause problems. Too much iron consumption leads to the production of free radicals (a molecule with an extra electron that will steal a negatively charged hydrogen electron from DNA, tissues, or organs which causes disease and aging). High levels of iron have also been found in association with heart disease and cancer. The buildup of iron in the tissues has been associated with a rare disease known as hemochromatosis, a hereditary disorder of iron metabolism that causes bronze skin pigmentation, cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, and heart disorders. All of this leads us to the conclusion that despite animal foods, you should never get your iron from a supplement. First, the pill will not have all of the other organic nutrients (copper, manganese, molybdenum, Vitamin A, and the B complex) necessary to absorb the iron safely. Second, in pills, you will get something like ferrous oxide (oxidized iron: In other words, RUST).

Symptoms:
Weakness, fatigue, overall pallor, dizziness, pale lips and eyelids, depression, pale and brittle nails, and coldness of the extremities
Recommendations:

• An all natural whole food supplement can be helpful. VITAFORCE(TM) is extremely abundant in organic iron and has extraordinary blood building properties. Iron is up to 16 times more absorbable if taken with Vitamin C and this is properly balanced naturally in VITAFORCE(TM). It is also extremely rich in all the other nutrients necessary for healthy blood.
• If you are anemic, then drink juices rich in chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is responsible for the green pigment in plants (called the "blood" of plants). Chlorophyll has almost the exact same chemical makeup of hemoglobin (less one iron molecule), both are responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood. Since the chemical makeup is almost identical, chlorophyll can quickly and easily be converted to hemoglobin. If the juices are rich in organic iron, then you have all the qualities for a blood transfusion. For example, the fresh organic juice of carrots, beets and beet greens dramatically increases the red blood cell count in the body. Dark leafy vegetables and especially They have extraordinary blood-building properties.
• Other foods that contain iron are asparagus, bananas, beets, dulse, kelp, whole grains (esp. millet & kamut), leafy greens, raisins, parsley, peas, plums, squash, prunes, purple grapes, broccoli, and yams.

Things to Avoid:

• All inorganic supplemental forms of iron; none of the iron supplements use organic iron, so you cannot absorb any of it and it gets pissed away or lodged in your tissues where it can cause disease.
• Caffeine and tannins (in tea), and calcium inhibit iron absorption. So, avoid coffee and tea.
• Beer, candy bars, dairy products (milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, etc...), and soft drinks. Additives in these foods interfere with the absorption of iron.
• Foods containing oxalic acids inhibit the absorption of iron. Eat only in moderate amounts; almonds, cashews, chocolate, cocoa, soda, and most nuts and beans.

References:1) James F. Balch, M.D, Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C, "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," (1997)
2) Anderson, B. et al. The iron and zinc status of long-term vegetarian women. Am J of Clin Nutr v.34 (6),(1981):p.1042-1048.3) Draper, A. & Wheeler, E. The diet and food choice of vegetarians in Greater London. Center of Human Nutrition, London.(1989)

By Scott Malin

Top 10 iron rich foods

- Red meat
- Egg yolks
- Dark, leafy greens (spinach, collards)
- Dried fruit (prunes, raisins)
- Iron-enriched cereals and grains (check the labels)
- Mollusks (oysters, clams, scallops)
- Turkey or chicken giblets
- Beans, lentils, chick peas and soybeans
- Liver
- Artichokes



What are the functions of iron?

Iron is an essential for:

the formation of hemoglobin and certain enzymes,
many proteins and enzymes that maintain good health,
transporting oxygen in the blood to all parts of the body,
many metabolic reactions and the regulation of cell growth and differentiation,
immune activity,
proper functioning of the liver, and
protection against the actions of free radicals.

What are the symptoms of iron deficiency?

Iron deficiency can lead to anaemia when the iron stores in the body become depleted and hemoglobin synthesis is inhibited.

Symptoms and signs of anaemia include:

feeling tired and weak,

lacking stamina and decreased work and school performance,

slow cognitive and social development during childhood,

difficulty in maintaining body temperature,

decreased immune function, which increases susceptibility to infection,

breathlessness,

headaches,

insomnia,

loss of appetite, and

pallor.

All the above are associated with decreased oxygen supply to tissues and organs. Iron also plays an important role in the immune system, people with low iron levels having lowered resistance to infection.

Use Iron and B Vitamins To Improve Your Brain Activity

Iron and Dementia
In the US iron deficiency has been found to be a major problem in people of all ages. Everyone knows the lack of iron causes anemia. Iron is the center of our red blood cells, which allow oxygen to be carried throughout your body and into your brain. Your brain uses over 20% of the oxygen available in the blood. Lack of oxygen has a major impact on your brain's health and in the formation of dementia.
When a person is deficient in iron, they may have difficulty in keeping a conversation or in keeping a good attention span.
The actual ability to absorb iron into your body is dependent on the amount of acid you have in your stomach. If you have acid reflux or heartburn and are using drugs or antacids to get relief, you are affecting your ability to absorb iron.
To absorb iron, the pH in your stomach has to be normal, 1 - 2 pH. Under these conditions, iron in your stomach chemically reacts with other chemicals and is prepared for absorption in the small intestine.
When you take drugs to reduce the acid in your stomach, the iron does not chemically react and change for proper absorption in the intestine. The result is iron deficiency.
Here are some of the best foods that have iron.
Fired liver, fried kidney, fired chicken liver, wheat bran, ovaltine, coco
powder, spinach, parsley, radishes, peas, leeks, carob bar, sesame seeds, pistachio nuts, dried coconut, cashew nuts, muesli, cornflakes, oatmeal, brown rice, total cereal, baked potato Use 25 to 50 mg of iron supplement daily. If you take iron supplements check with your doctor to see if you really need them. Take excessive iron can result in poisoning. Keep iron supplements away from children B-Vitamin
The B-vitamin folic acid and B12 have also been a major problem in the US. B12 has been consistently found deficient in people with Alzheimer's. Folic acid and B12 have been found to improve mental health in people who were in metal institutions.
Folic acid and B12 work to produce neurotransmitters and replace nerve cells. The lack of neurotransmitters is responsible for loss of a good memory.
To make sure B vitamins work for you in keeping your mental capacities in tack start making sure you are getting them in your diet or taking them as a supplement. If supplementing, use the B50 or B100 complex.
It appears that after a certain age B12 will not help in alleviating mental changes or problems.
Here are some the best foods that have B vitamins.
* fish and seafood * whole grains breads, cereals, oats, and barley * chicken, beef, eggs * most leafy green vegetables, avocados * cheese, milk and yogurt * beans and peas * oranges, lemons, grapefruits * various nuts
It is always best to get your minerals and vitamins in food. In food, minerals and vitamins are combined with other chemicals that allow your body to absorb them better than supplements. 

RUDY SILVA