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How to Increase Your Red Blood Cell Count Quickly

How to Increase Your Red Blood Cell Count Quickly

Max Lab

May 25, 2022

Are you feeling fatigued and lacking energy lately? Low red blood cell count could be the culprit. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout your body, so a low count can result in tiredness, weakness, and even anemia. Red blood cells are a component of blood and contain the protein called haemoglobin, which has the ability to bind oxygen. The bone marrow, where RBCs are produced, is stimulated by the erythropoietin or EPO hormone for increased RBC production, to ensure effective transportation of oxygen throughout the body. RBCs give blood its characteristic colour, carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body, carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs to be expelled, and much more.

Why Increase Low RBC Levels in the Blood

Calculating the RBC count in the blood is always a part of the Complete Blood Count test, which is performed to determine the levels of the different components of blood. One should not be worrying about how to increase their haemoglobin or RBC count if it is in the normal range, as a higher-than-normal RBC count can also lead to serious issues like renal cell carcinoma, heart diseases, and pulmonary fibrosis. On the other hand, a low red blood cell count can lead to serious conditions like anaemia, heart palpitations, etc.

Following the right diet and affecting some lifestyle changes is one of the best answers to how one can increase their red blood cells quickly.

What Causes a Low Red Blood Cell Count?

There are several conditions that can lower the RBC production in the body, including cancer, cancer treatment, iron deficiency, chronic kidney disease, sickle cell disease, major blood loss, organ failure, malnutrition, etc.

People who are over the age of 60 years, pregnant women, women who experience heavy menses, people on blood thinners, etc. are also at an increased risk of low RBC counts.

Symptoms of Low RBC Count

Low levels of RBCs can cause the following symptoms:

If the CBC test report comes up with a low RBC count and the abovementioned symptoms are showing up, it may be time to start wondering about how to increase one’s haemoglobin, in order to avoid the more serious complication it can lead to.

How to Increase the Haemoglobin or RBC Count

Adding the right kind of food to the diet to increase RBC count is one of the best ways to ensure good haemoglobin. Making sure that the body receives enough essential nutrients goes a long way to increase red blood cells in the body.

  • Iron

Iron is required by the body to produce haemoglobin, which makes it an important food nutrient to increase RBC production. Some iron-rich foods that can be added to the diet include spinach, tofu, lentils, chickpeas, liver, shellfish, tuna, etc.

  • Vitamin B12

Important for RBC production and brain function, low levels of vitamin B12 can prevent RBCs from maturing properly. This nutrient binds itself to protein and can be found in foods like milk, cheese, shellfish, fish, and red meat.

  • Vitamin B9

Also called folic acid, vitamin B9 can be found in brussels sprouts, green leafy vegetables, oranges, peanuts, kidney beans, etc.

  • Vitamin C

This nutrient does not directly increase the RBC count in the blood, but it does enhance the body’s ability to produce RBCs and helps improve iron absorption. Grapefruit, oranges, baked potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, and kiwi are some of the foods that can be added to the diet for vitamin C.

  • Copper

This essential mineral helps with the proper absorption of iron in the body. Good sources of copper include shellfish, tofu, avocados, chickpeas, mushrooms, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, cashews, etc.

  • Vitamin A

Foods rich in vitamin A include dark leafy greens, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, mangoes, apricots, cantaloupe, cod liver oil, salmon, etc.

Apart from following a proper diet, there are also certain lifestyle changes that can help increase one’s red blood cells.

  1. Limit Alcohol Consumption
  2. Ensure moderate exercise in daily routine
  3. Give up smoking

If dietary or lifestyle changes are not doing much to increase the production of red blood cells, consulting a doctor becomes necessary to check whether there is an underlying condition or risk factor that is affecting the haemoglobin level. In case that is the case, the doctor can prescribe further testing or start a treatment plan to target the underlying condition, the treatment of which should allow the RBC count to go back to normal. Other than this, most cases of low red blood cell count can be dealt with naturally, with the abovementioned lifestyle changes.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Red blood cells (RBCs) are the most common type of blood cell and are responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

 

A low red blood cell count, also called anemia, can be caused by many things such as:

  1. Cancer
  2. Chronic kidney disease
  3. Bone marrow failure
  4. Sickle cell disease
  5. Thalassemia

Low red blood cell count, or anemia, can cause a variety of symptoms. These may include fatigue, shortness of breath, pale skin, and dizziness.

 

There are a number of ways you can increase your red blood cell count quickly. These include:

  1. Taking iron supplements
  2. Eating foods rich in vitamin B12 and folic acid
  3. Getting regular exercise

Many different diseases can cause a person's red blood cell count to drop. Some of the more common ones include: anemia, leukemia, and lymphoma

 

If the RBC count is low, it means that there are fewer red blood cells in the body. This can lead to a variety of problems, including:

  1. Anemia
  2. Increased risk of infection
  3. Bleeding

 

Eating foods that are high in iron, such as beef or chicken, can help increase your RBC count. You can also eat foods that are rich in vitamin C, such as oranges or strawberries.

 

A dangerously low RBC count is typically defined as a level below 3.5 million cells per microliter (mcL) of blood for men and below 2.5 million mcL for women.

 

Comments


Brandon

B9 isn't called folic acid, naturally it's folate. Only the man made version is called folic acid. I take Deplin for my anemia caused by MTHR gene.

Leave a Comment

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