In winter, many women feel cold hands and feet, pale complexion, and lack of energy, and all these symptoms seem to indicate “you are anemic.”
At this time, many people often choose to eat red dates (Hongzao) and brown sugar (Hongtang) to nourish their blood.
While eating these foods is not a big problem and can help warm you up a bit, it must be emphasized
1
These foods do not “nourish blood”.
1. Brown sugar does not nourish blood
Brown sugar is unrefined sugar, with up to 96.6% of its composition being sugars, and it contains very little minerals, including iron.
2. Red dates do not nourish blood
The iron content in dried dates is about 2 mg per 100 grams, and in fresh dates, it is even lower, 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.
Feeling “energized” after eating red dates? That is also due to the sugar.
3. Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin) does not nourish blood
Ejiao is made from donkey skin, and its main component is actually collagen.
Collagen, as a protein, cannot meet the body’s amino acid needs, and Ejiao does not deserve the title of “blood-nourishing holy product”.
4. There is also a type… Ejiao dates, which also do not nourish blood
Ejiao dates have negligible amounts of Ejiao.
Even if the Ejiao content is as high as 10%, it is merely a mixture of the first three, and it is clear that it does not nourish blood.
2
The real blood-nourishing foods are these
Clinically, common anemia is caused by a lack of iron, excessive destruction of red blood cells, or significant blood loss.
The fundamental problem 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 before proceeding with treatment.
Additionally, we should eat more foods rich in hemoglobin iron, as well as those rich in plant-based iron and vitamin C, such as:
1. Red meat
Red meats, including pork, beef, and lamb, are rich in hemoglobin iron.
For example, beef contains 3.3 mg of iron per 100 grams.
2. Animal blood
“Using blood to nourish blood” does have some truth to it.
Various animal bloods have high hemoglobin iron content, such as pig blood, which contains 8.7 mg of iron per 100 grams. Moreover, the absorption rate of this iron is very high.
3. Animal liver
For instance, pig liver contains as much as 22.6 mg of iron per 100 grams, and its absorption rate is also high.
However, it should be noted that animal liver is very high in vitamin A, and excessive consumption can increase the risk of fetal malformations.
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 nourish blood.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamin C and folic acid; vitamin C can help with the conversion and utilization of iron, and folic acid can prevent megaloblastic anemia, which is beneficial for hemoglobin synthesis.
Red dates and brown sugar do not nourish blood
Eating them is not a big problem
Just don’t expect them to help you treat your illness
Source: Dingxiang Doctor (ID: DingXiangYiSheng)
Editor: Wang Shuai
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