Nutrition Warriors: FOODS TO EAT TO INCREASE YOUR BLOOD PLATELETS

Sunday, May 6, 2012

FOODS TO EAT TO INCREASE YOUR BLOOD PLATELETS

What to eat to increase your blood platelets

Thrombocytopenia is the medical term for a low blood platelet count. Platelets (thrombocytes) are colorless blood cells that play an important role in blood clotting. Platelets stop blood loss by clumping and forming plugs in blood vessel holes.

Natural ways to increase blood platelets is to get adequate sleep and rest. Also, increase the consumption of beet roots, apples, potato skins and bitter gourd. Consume at least one serving of green leafy vegetables in a day on a regular basis. Once your blood count starts going up, complex foods can be added to your diet. Junk food and processed foods should be eliminated from the diet .

Omega 3 fatty acids are also good for battling low platelet counts. This includes cod liver oil, flax seed oil, tuna, wild salmon, free range eggs, and chia seeds.

Consume many healthy natural foods such as: organic foods, fruits and vegetables. This helps to stimulate your internal mechanism, which increases your platelet count. Add many green leafy vegetables to your daily diet; They tend to increase the hemoglobin level of blood, tackling the underlying cause of low levels of platelets. Vegetables like broccoli, dark leafy greens, kale and spinach help raise the platelet count and stimulate the body’s internal mechanism.
Wash all raw foods thoroughly to remove any parasites or viruses that could result in lowering your platelet counts. Toxic chemicals in many pesticides and chemicals used to process food may inhibit the growth of new platelets according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. To avoid these toxins, the Platelet Disorder Support Association recommends eating organic foods that are grown with natural fertilizer and not sprayed with pesticides.
Strengthen your immune system using cod liver oil or flax seed oils. These oils will also reduce inflammation,and improve your circulation.

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center suggests eating protein-rich and high calorie meals to increase your platelet count. For an increased effect, choose foods with high levels of protein and high vitamin K levels such as fish and eggs. Vegetarians may prefer high protein, fortified cereals instead.

Kale is one of the best foods to eat in order to increase blood platelets. The World’s Healthiest Foods states that the vitamin K found in kale helps boost blood platelet levels and helps them not to stick to each other so that they are more effective in clotting blood when necessary. Foods rich in vitamin K include leafy greens like lettuce and parsley, olive, soybean and canola oils as well as , kale, Swiss chard, broccoli, brussels sprouts and cauliflower. However, the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania cautions against eating raw vegetables when you have a low platelet count, as they may cause damage to your intestinal lining. To ease the digestion of these vegetables, steam them until soft, or mix them into baked dishes for a similar effect. Or another great way is to drink them in a smoothie or juiced. Eat a wide variety of organic vegetables, from as close to the source as you can find and as fresh as possible, advises the PDSA. Include plenty of leafy and other dark green vegetables, as they contain calcium and vitamin K, which are important for blood clotting.

Decrease your consumption of onions and tomatoes, blueberries, grapes, garlic, ginger and onions which can interfere with blood clotting.

You can help support proper platelet development by consuming foods rich in vitamin A, such as fish oil, carrots, kale, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin, as well as vitamin A-fortified cereals.Vitamin A plays a role in regulating the proteins produced in your cells and this regulation of protein production.

Folic acid-rich foods can also help support platelet functioning. Consuming foods rich in vitamin B9, such as cooked spinach and asparagus, fortified cereal, lentils and lima beans, can prevent a folic acid deficiency and support proper platelet function.
Consuming whole grain sources is vital if you would like to increase platelet counts, whole grains include whole grain cereals, breads, pastas, oats, rye, spelt and brown rice , garbanzo beans, black beans, lentils and cannellini beans. Hummus is great option.
The vitamin C in your diet increase your production of blood platelets, influencing the effectiveness of your immune system. One source high in vitamin C is the camu berry.

Wheat grass is high in chlorophyll and has been called the “blood” of the plant with a molecular structure almost identical to the hemoglobin molecule of human blood. about 70 percent of wheatgrass consists of chlorophyll, which is similar in composition to human blood and has a variety of effects on it.Wheat grass is considered non-toxic and can be readily grown and made at home as a nutritious juice or powder supplement.

A common home remedy is to drink the bitter extract from a papaya leaf.

Dietary Restrictions
Platelet Disorders Support Association also warns against eating foods with the additive quinine as this can also lower your platelet count. Avoid refined sugars, saturated fats, processed foods and grains and aerated (carbonated) beverages. These foods cause the platelets to decrease. Stay away from dairy products, alcohol and food additives.

Supplements to take

Vitamin C, D and K

As always check with your doctor

Sources

The World’s Healthiest Foods