Hemoglobin, or Hb, is a red-colored substance in the blood that binds oxygen in the blood and circulates it throughout the body. When hemoglobin levels are low, your body is at risk of oxygen deprivation, making you feel tired and weak. To restore hemoglobin levels to normal levels, you can consume foods and drinks that increase hemoglobin.

What is low hemoglobin?

Hemoglobin is one of the components in red blood cells that binds oxygen in the blood and circulates it throughout the body. Hemoglobin is also responsible for binding carbon dioxide to return to the lungs, where it is then exhaled out of the body.

Normal hemoglobin levels differ between men and women. In adult men, normal hemoglobin levels range from 13–17 g/dL, while in adult women, normal hemoglobin levels range from 12–15 g/dL. When your Hb level falls below this range, it can be said that your Hb level is low.

There are various causes of low hemoglobin levels, including:

• Nutritional deficiencies
• Pregnancy
• Blood loss due to injury or bleeding
• Blood disorders (red blood cells that die faster than the body can replace)
• Chronic illness due to chronic kidney disease, cirrhosis, cancer, or hypothyroidism
• The body cannot absorb iron

Foods that can increase hemoglobin

To increase hemoglobin, your doctor will conduct an examination to find out the cause of the low hemoglobin level in your blood. If the cause of low hemoglobin is a chronic disease, the doctor will conduct a medical examination and determine the best treatment for the condition. If the low hemoglobin is caused by pregnancy, the doctor may recommend that you consume foods that can increase hemoglobin.

Some foods that can increase hemoglobin include:

Foods rich in iron

Iron promotes the production of hemoglobin, which also helps form more red blood cells. Low iron levels can result in low levels of red blood cells, which leads to insufficient oxygen being transported throughout the body.

Some iron-rich foods that can be consumed to increase hemoglobin include:

• Meat, fish and poultry
• Organ meats
• Legumes
• Nuts and seeds
• Eggs
• Green leafy vegetables, such as kale and broccoli

To maximize iron absorption in the body, you can also eat foods that contain vitamin C, vitamin A and beta-carotene. Some of these foods include:

• Fruits such as oranges, strawberries, papaya, guava, grapes, and mangoes
• Fish
• Yam
• Carrots

Foods rich in folate

Folate is a type of B vitamin that plays an important role in the production of hemoglobin. The body uses folate to produce heme, a component of hemoglobin that helps carry oxygen. Red blood cells will not be able to mature if a person does not get enough folate intake. This can lead to folate deficiency anemia and low hemoglobin levels.

Some good sources of folate include:

• Spinach
• Nuts, such as kidney beans
• Fruits
• Whole grains
• Sunflower seeds
• Eggs

Low hemoglobin levels can deprive the body's tissues of oxygen. Although generally harmless, low Hb levels can indicate chronic problems.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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