Remember the classic cartoon Popeye, the pipe-smoking sailor who gained super strength after he would gulp down a can of spinach? Well, it wasn’t the spinach but the iron inside that helped boost his energy. However, iron alone doesn’t work magic, it plays an important role in producing haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body.
A low level of this important element can make your body struggle to function properly, leading to fatigue, weakness, pale skin, and other signs of low oxygen levels.
If you’ve been feeling low on energy even after getting more rest, chances are high that your haemoglobin levels are low. Don’t worry, you can bring them back up naturally with simple dietary changes and Ayurvedic supplements like Krishna’s Hemoglobin Booster Juice.
But before we get to the solution, let’s first understand what low haemoglobin count really means, its causes, symptoms, and the best ways to treat it.
A blogger, Meera Shah, shares her experience of dealing with low haemoglobin on her personal blog: “I still remember what it felt like to live with low haemoglobin because I dealt with it for years. I was always tired and felt cold no matter the weather. Sometimes, I even struggled to catch my breath. Every day felt harder than it should have been. Over time, I got so used to feeling weak that it became normal for me. I barely remembered what it felt like to have energy.”
Low Haemoglobin Count: What Does It Mean?
Haemoglobin is a protein rich in iron which is found in red blood cells. It carries oxygen from your lungs to all the other cells and tissues, which helps them sustain. This oxygen supply gives you the energy to walk, run, and think clearly, keeping your body healthy and active.
Hence, your body needs haemoglobin to function properly and nutrients like iron, copper, vitamin B12, B9 (folate), and vitamin C help in its production.
If your haemoglobin levels drop, the oxygen flow to different body parts decreases. And dangerously low levels result in anemia. This is a condition where your body lacks enough red blood cells or they do not function properly.
As per The Lancet, around 1.92 billion people worldwide have anemia, with cases rising by 420 million over the last 30 years.
So, what level or count is considered low?
Hemoglobin levels vary between men and women.
- In men, a healthy range is 14.0 to 17.5 gm/dL.
- In women, it ranges from 12.3 to 15.3 gm/dL.
If haemoglobin falls below 13 gm/dL in men or 12 gm/dL in women, it is considered low. A significant drop below these levels may indicate a more serious deficiency that needs medical attention.
Read more : Boost Your Hemoglobin: Success with Juicing Tips
What Causes Low Haemoglobin?
The haemoglobin levels don’t just drop for no reason, there’s always an underlying cause. Sometimes, it’s a simple dietary gap, and other times, it could be linked to a health condition. There could be several reasons:
1. Lack of Iron in Your Body
In the building of haemoglobin, a component called heme is required. To make this, your cells need iron. A poor diet, blood loss or absorption issues can cause a lack of iron in your body, leading to low haemoglobin count.
2. Blood Loss
When you lose blood, you lose haemoglobin. This can happen due to heavy periods, injuries, surgeries, or even internal bleeding (like ulcers or digestive issues). If your body can’t replace the lost blood fast enough, your haemoglobin levels drop.
3. Vitamin Deficiencies
Iron isn’t the only nutrient your body needs; vitamins like B12, folic acid, and vitamin C are also important. Without the right amount of these vitamins, your body can’t make enough of healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen.
4. Pregnancy
For a healthy pregnancy, you need more blood to support yourself and also meet the demands of your growing baby. If your diet doesn’t provide enough iron and folic acid, haemoglobin levels can dip.
5. Chronic Diseases
Conditions like kidney disease, diabetes, or cancer can affect red blood cell production. Even inflammatory diseases like arthritis can lower haemoglobin over time.
6. Bone Marrow Disorders
Your bone marrow is where red blood cells are made. If it’s not functioning properly due to conditions like aplastic anaemia or leukaemia, your haemoglobin levels can drop.
7. Frequent Blood Donation
While donating blood is a great thing to do, doing it too often without giving your body enough time to replenish haemoglobin can lead to lower levels.
Read more : The Best Hemoglobin Supplement in Ayurveda
How to Tell If You Have Low Haemoglobin?
Your body has a way of signalling when something isn’t right, and low haemoglobin is no exception. The problem is that many people ignore the early signs, blaming them on stress or lack of sleep. But if you’ve been feeling “off” for a while, it’s worth paying attention. Here’s how to spot the symptoms:
- Constant Fatigue
- Pale Skin and Gums
- Shortness of Breath
- Dizziness or Lightheadedness
- Frequent Headaches
- Rapid or Irregular Heartbeat
- Cold Hands and Feet
- Unusual Cravings (Pica)
- Brittle Nails and Hair Loss
How is Low Hemoglobin Level Treated?
Doctors treat low haemoglobin by finding the cause of it and how severe it is. For example, if your blood reports show an iron deficiency, doctors may suggest iron supplements or adding more iron-rich foods like spinach, lentils, and protein to your diet. If the issue is a lack of vitamin B12 or folate, then taking vitamin supplements or getting injections can help bring haemoglobin levels back to normal.
In more serious cases, like severe blood loss or dangerously low haemoglobin, a blood transfusion might be needed to quickly restore healthy levels. Some people with chronic illnesses or bone marrow problems may need medications like erythropoietin, which helps the body produce more red blood cells. In most situations, addressing the underlying cause whether it’s kidney disease, cancer, or chronic inflammation helps bring the haemoglobin level back to a healthy range.
That’s everything you need to know about haemoglobin. Now, if you’re wondering how to boost your levels, here are some foods and supplement recommendations. Check them out!
- Iron-rich foods like beans, legumes, leafy green vegetables, such as kale and broccoli, nuts and seeds.
- Folate-rich foods like spinach, beans, peanuts, fruits, whole grains, sunflower seeds.
- Vitamin A and C-rich foods as they help the body absorb iron better. A few examples are, oranges, strawberries, squash and sweet potatoes
Adding Krishna’s Hemoglobin Booster Juice to your routine can help speed up the process. It’s packed with natural ingredients like Harad, Giloy, Bahera, and Amla that help your body absorb iron naturally from your diet. A simple daily dose of 30 ml of the juice with 30 ml of warm water in the morning and before dinner can support your body in making more haemoglobin and keeping you active.
Takeaway
You can boost your haemoglobin levels with these dietary changes and Ayurvedic medicine. But remember, with this method, your haemoglobin levels will rise gradually over the course of several weeks. So, if you have extremely low levels or if the levels remain low even after doing these things, speak with your physician to determine the correct supplement dosage and further in-hospital treatment, such as a blood transfusion or bone marrow transplant.
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