What's causing your chronic anaemia?

Causes of anaemia

Many people have anaemia but struggle to overcome it. Finding and addressing the root cause can be an answer.

Two types of anaemia

Anaemia is a reduction in the total amount of red blood cells or blood haemoglobin, or a lowered ability of the blood to carry oxygen.

There are two main types and many others:

  1. Iron deficiency – the most common one

  2. Vitamin B12 & 9 (folate) deficiency. This can cause pernicious anaemia

Signs and symptoms of these types of anaemia include fatigue, weakness, paleness, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, low blood pressure, shortness of breath, headaches, cold hands and feet, and more.

What causes anaemia?

Some causes of anaemia include...

  • Lack of dietary iron

  • Lack of dietary B12 and folate (e.g. vegan)

  • Not absorbing iron properly due to gut health problems

  • With B9/12 anaemia, this can be a triggered genetic mutation (MTHFR)

  • Excessive bleeding (more common with women)

  • Low stomach acid

  • Gut permeability (leakiness)

  • A processed 'food' diet

  • Chronic, thyroid, kidney, liver disease

  • Infections like HPylori in the stomach

  • Inflammation

  • Autoimmunity

  • Pregnancy

  • Lack of vitamin C

A comprehensive blood analysis can help work out what type of anaemia you have and its cause. I offer this in my clinic.

Best sources of iron

There are 2 types of iron. Their source matters because of their availability to your body.

Haeme iron

Haeme Iron comes from animal sources. It is the most absorbable type at 10%. Good animal sources include liver, grass fed beef and sardines as above.

Non-haeme iron

Non-Haeme Iron comes from plant sources and is an inferior source of iron at 1%. The best plant sources include spirulina, dark chocolate and spinach.

What to choose

Choose a mix of these sources. Your body loves the variety of nutrients that different foods provide.

Importantly, you need adequate stomach acid and Vitamin C to absorb the iron you eat. If you're taking something to reduce stomach acid, you may want to resolve the underlying issue or risk becoming anaemic.

Next, you need a healthy gut lining, which can be damaged by eating too many carbohydrates, not having enough stomach acid, drugs, gut infections and chemicals.

If you're eating sufficient iron and can't improve low levels, consider the state of your gut health.

Natural ways to overcome anaemia

Here are some natural ways you can improve your iron or vitamin anaemia:

  1. To improve stomach acid levels, and the breakdown and absorption of nutrients, sip 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar before meals. If you react, you probably need to do some gut healing first

  2. Eat a whole natural foods, anti-inflammatory diet filled with loads of non-starchy vegetables and some fruit, healthy fats with a focus on Omega 3s, and a mix of proteins including wild or pastured animals

  3. For iron eat pastured red meats, chicken liver and sardines. They're 10 times higher in absorbable iron than vegetable sources

  4. For folate, eat pastured beef and chicken liver, pastured egg yolks, almonds, avocados and spinach

  5. For B12 eat pastured beef, chicken and their livers, pastured eggs and pastured yoghurt if you tolerate dairy

  6. Heal intestinal permeability and food sensitivities

  7. Heal bacterial, parasitic and viral stomach and gut infections

  8. Eat fermented foods for better absorption

  9. Take quality, natural vitamin C and B9/12 as appropriate. But iron supplementation should only be used as a short term stopgap when levels are critically low. Iron supplements can be inflammatory and don’t address the root cause

Gutsy by NutritionComment