Human Nutrition and Anemia: Causes, Prevention and Treatment

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of the relationship between human nutrition and anemia, a condition caused by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin, leading to inadequate oxygen supply to the body's tissues. It highlights the crucial role of nutrients like iron, vitamin B12, and vitamin C in preventing anemia and emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. The essay also discusses the risk factors, symptoms, and potential treatments for anemia, referencing reports from the World Health Organization and insights from Professor Brian Thompson on meeting iron requirements through both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food sources. It concludes by suggesting dietary changes and lifestyle modifications, such as increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and avoiding alcohol, to combat anemia.

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Nutrition is considered as one of the basic and important aspect of every individual’s
health, it is the only factor where the life of a person depends upon. Having a good nutrition
helps in maintaining a good and healthy weight of a person which helps in reducing various
diseases in a person’s body.
Anemia refers to a disease or a condition in the human body where an adequate
amount of oxygen does not reach in the tissues of human body due to lack of adequate
quantity of red blood cells. The basic nutrient of red blood cells is haemoglobin which helps
in carrying out oxygen in each and every tissue of the human body.
The reason for such disease is due to deficiency of iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin C
which develops the problem of Anemia in the body of a person. The deficiency of these
nutrients causes paleness of the red blood cells which results in lack of oxygen in the body.
Nutrients also play an important role in fighting various diseases (Brazier 2019). However,
these nutrients are not enough to restrict these diseases to come inside the human body
therefore the body with the help of these nutrients various micro-nutrients which helps the
human body to fight with such diseases (Kassebaum, 2016). Lack of nutrition in the body has
resulted in the problem Anemia in the body of people, the signs of Anemia are Jaundice, easy
brusing etc.
As per the reports of World Health Organisation, nearly thirty percent of the world’s
population is being affected by the problem of Anemia (Thakur, Rai, & Siddiqui, 2016). The
reason by World Health Organisation indicates that a lower level of red blood cells causes the
problem of Anemia. It’s symptoms are headaches, fatigueness etc. In absence of these
nutrients the body of the individual will be able to produce fewer amounts of red blood cells
in the human body which ultimately leads in deficiency of oxygen in various tissues of the
body. As per the World Health Organisation the iron deficiency syndrome is one of the most
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common deficiencies in the world. Such type of deficiency are the most common in both
developed as well as in developing countries. As per the reports the following people have
greater chances of Anemia in their body:
 People focused on weight loss.
 People who are vegetarians.
 People having a greater intake of anti-acids.
 People who do not have easy access to food.
 Elderly aged people.
As per the report of Professor Brian Thompson, the requirement of iron depends upon
the age and sex of the human being (Thompson & Amoroso 2011). The requirement of iron
in the human body can be met in two forms of food that is non-vegetarian food and in organic
food. According to Professor Brain the report reflects that people with adequate intake of
non-vegetarian food have few chances of having the disease called Anemia. The report also
suggested that the requirement of these nutrients lacks majorly in the female population all
around the world (Bianchi, 2016).The report also indicates that people having intake of high
calorie food such as pizza, cheese sandwich, burgers etc. are the major cause for the lack of
nutrition in the body of the people which has resulted in the problem of Anemia. Professor
Brian Thompson has also promoted the idea of balanced and healthy lifestyle where he laid
equal emphasis on intake of nutritional foods and having a complete exercise which will
improve the life expectancy of the people. Such nutrients should be consumed in such a
manner where the requirements of the micro-nutrients are duly filled which will ultimately
help in curbing the problem of Anemia from the human body.
Sufficient amount of nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamn B12, etc. can help in
enhancing the functioning of the body in producing iron and other micro nutrients. These
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nutrients help in removing the problem of Anemia from the body of human being. The
following actions can be taken by a person who is suffering from Anemia:
 By increase in the consumption of fruits and vegetables such as apples,
oranges, grapes or any other content which contains vitamin C.
 By consumption of iron rich foods.
 By avoiding the consumption of alcohol.
 By frequent consumption of milk and other dairy products.
As per the World Health Organisation a large amount of population in United States are still
fighting with the problem of Anemia. However, such disease is curable disease which can be
cured by only having balanced diets and having regular exercises.
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References
Bianchi, V. E. (2016). Role of nutrition on anemia in elderly. Clinical nutrition ESPEN, 11
Brazier, Y. (2019). What is nutritional-deficiency anemia?. Retrieved from
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/188770.php
Kassebaum, N. J. (2016). The global burden of anemia. Hematology/Oncology Clinics, 30(2),
247-308.
Thakur, N., Rai, N., & Siddiqui, A. F. (2016). Nutrition in anemia. In Handbook of nutrition
and diet in leukemia and blood disease therapy (pp. 353-370). Wageningen Academic
Publishers.
Thompson, B., & Amoroso, L. (2011). Combating micronutrient deficiencies: food-based
approaches. Rome: Wallingford.
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