Blood Deficiency: Nutritional Guidelines
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The nutrients most needed for any level of blood deficiency are iron, folic acid and B6 and B12. Adequate protein is essential and copper, B vitamins and Vitamin C can help iron absorption into the bloodstream. When a variety of nutrient-rich foods are eaten in their unrefined states, the necessary protein, copper, B6 and vitamin C for iron absorption will be available.
General Nutritional Guidelines for Blood Nourishment
Eat plenty of:
- lightly steamed or cooked leafy greens
- well-cooked, easily digestible whole grains
- legumes
- sprouts, especially alfalfa
- cherries, beets, dark grapes, raspberries, blackberries, huckleberries
- blackstrap molasses
- wheat grass
- warm soups and stews
- black beans
- orange and yellow vegetables
- marrow and meat broths and soups
- regular small portions of animal protein, organic and hormone-free when possible: royal jelly, carp soup, mussels, oysters, beef, lamb or chicken liver
- drink plenty of room temperature or warm water. Blood is 83% water.
- potential supplements: fresh cold-pressed flax oil, evening primrose oil, aloe vera
Iron-rich sources: vegetables such as alfalfa, arame, broccoli, kale, and parsley. Legumes, of which garbanzo beans (chickpeas) are foods with the most iron. Whole grains, nuts and seeds, sprouts like alfalfa, micro-algae such as spirulina, seaweeds, especially kelp, dulse, wakame, and hijiki.
Vitamin B12: fermented foods such as miso, soy sauce, tempeh, pickles, amasake, nut and seed yogurts and sourdough. Micro-algae like spirulina, chlorella and wild blue-green. “Primary grade” nutritional yeast.
Note: cleaner food sanitation has vastly reduced the amount of B12-rich bacteria in much of these traditionally B12-rich foods. Therefore, a B12 supplement may be a better choice. Take with miso, unpasteurized sauerkraut and pickles, or sprouts to maximize uptake. Make sure to check with your doctor before adding any supplements to your diet.
“Mugwort mochi”: an already prepared combination of Japanese pounded sweet rice (mochi) and the herb Mugwort. It has been used for centuries as a blood builder.
General Menstrual Health Guidelines
Avoid:
- alcohol
- tobacco
- coffee
- cold foods
- refined sugar
- hydrogenated/trans fats
- polyunsaturated cooking oils
- too much fruit (sugar) and cold, raw foods
- fluoridated water which can suppress thyroid activity
- commercial meats and poultry because of their steroid residues
Information from "Healing with Whole Foods" by Paul Pitchford