In winter, many people feel their hands and feet are cold, their complexion is pale, and they lack energy. Some women even notice a sudden decrease in their menstrual flow.
This may actually be due to irregular lifestyle, or perhaps they have been eating too much and are now trying to lose weight, or it could simply be…too cold.
However, many people start to self-doubt or are kindly reminded by friends and family:
“Are you anemic?”
At this point, a large number of people turn to eating red dates and brown sugar to nourish their blood. Let’s hear what nutritionists have to say:
While eating these foods is not a big problem and can help warm you up a bit, I must emphasize three times that…
these foods do not nourish blood
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1. Brown sugar does not nourish blood
Brown sugar is unrefined sugar, with up to 96.6% of its composition being sugars, while the mineral content, including iron, is very low.
Relying on brown sugar to “nourish blood” is not reliable. Drinking brown sugar water will at most provide you with the essential sugars needed for energy.
2. Red dates do not nourish blood
Firstly, although the skin of red dates is red, their iron content is not high.
The iron content in dried dates is about 2 mg per 100 grams, and even lower in fresh dates, only 1.2 mg per 100 grams, and the iron in dates is not easily absorbed.
Similarly, the sugar content in dates is also relatively high. If you feel “energized” after eating red dates, it is due to the sugar.
The real foods that nourish blood are these
Clinically, common anemia is caused by a lack of iron, excessive destruction of red blood cells, or significant blood loss. The fundamental issue is that the amount of hemoglobin in the body is low enough to cause a series of adverse symptoms.
If you experience symptoms suggestive of anemia, especially if they are severe, you should first go to the hospital and have a professional doctor determine whether it is true anemia and confirm the type of anemia before treatment.
For iron deficiency anemia, in addition to receiving medical treatment, we should also eat more foods rich in heme iron, as well as foods rich in plant-based iron and vitamin C, such as:
1. Red meat
Red meats, including pork, beef, and lamb, are rich in heme iron. For example, beef contains about 3.3 mg of iron per 100 grams.
However, red meat is classified as a Group 2A carcinogen, so it should not be consumed in excess. An average daily intake of about 40-75 grams (including pork) is sufficient, which is roughly the size of one egg.
2. Animal blood
“Nourishing blood with blood” does have some truth to it. This is because various animal bloods are also high in heme iron, and the absorption rate of this iron is quite high, such as pig blood, which contains 8.7 mg of iron per 100 grams.
Additionally, animal blood has a low fat content, making it a good high-protein food for those trying to lose weight.
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3. Animal liver
For example, pig liver contains as much as 22.6 mg of iron per 100 grams, and the absorption rate is also high.
However, it is important to note that animal liver is very high in vitamin A, and excessive consumption can increase the risk of fetal deformities. For pregnant women, 15-20 grams per serving is sufficient.
4. Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables is helpful
Note that it is helpful, not to say that eating iron-rich vegetables like spinach and amaranth can directly nourish blood.
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Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamin C and folic acid. Vitamin C can help with the conversion and utilization of iron, while folic acid can prevent megaloblastic anemia and is beneficial for hemoglobin synthesis.
Finally, I must emphasize for the fourth time.
Red dates and brown sugar do not nourish blood, but eating a little is not a big problem.Just don’t expect them to cure your ailments!
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Source: Dingxiang Doctor (ID: DingXiangYiSheng)
Supervised by: Zhou Nianjun
Edited by: Wang Chao, Li Yongxi, Xu Buyun
Interns: He Ben, Qian Jiali
