What should not be eaten by thalassemia patients? For patients diagnosed with this disease, let’s see what types of food should be avoided and what should be eaten to nourish the blood.
Thalassemia is a genetic disease that more than 20 million Thais are carriers of the latent gene without realizing it, which is considered a small number. Therefore, there is a risk that there will be more thalassemia patients in the future. And this disease requires good health care , paying attention to every detail, especially food. Today we have information about what people with thalassemia should not eat and what kind of food will help nourish the ทางเข้า ufabet https://ufabet999.app blood.
What is thalassemia?
Thalassemia is a type of anemia caused by genetic abnormalities that affect the production of hemoglobin, causing red blood cells to be in low numbers, have a short lifespan, and break easily. Patients with this disease will have iron overload and chronic anemia, pale skin, fatigue, low immunity, low bone mass density, and the body will grow less than normal. Therefore, you should pay attention to every detail of yourself, including food and drink.
What should people with thalassemia not eat?
Foods that thalassemia patients should avoid include:
1. Meat, animal organs
For example, pork, beef, pork blood, chicken blood, and liver, because these are foods that are high in iron. Therefore, thalassemia patients who receive blood continuously will already have an iron overload condition, so they should not eat more iron-rich foods.
2. Various types of shellfish
All types of shellfish, including seaweed, are high in iron. Therefore, if you can avoid them, it is better to avoid them. Or if you really want to eat them, you should eat them with food, such as tea, coffee, caffeinated drinks, or soy milk, which will reduce the absorption of iron.
3. Some vegetables
Such as asparagus, betel leaves, eggplant, asparagus, and betel leaves. All of these are high in iron. Therefore, patients with moderate or severe thalassemia should avoid eating them for now.
4. Pumpkin seeds
Despite their health benefits, pumpkin seeds are among the iron-rich foods that should be limited or avoided if possible.
5. White sesame, black sesame
Especially in the form of drinks extracted from black sesame, white sesame, or black sesame, white sesame supplements, including sesame cuts and menus that contain a lot of white or black sesame, I would like you to reduce your consumption first because sesame is also high in iron.
6. Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate contains a fairly high amount of iron. Although caffeine reduces iron absorption, patients with moderate or severe thalassemia may need to avoid eating dark chocolate.
7. Alcoholic beverages
Thalassemia patients have low immunity, so they should avoid drinking alcoholic beverages that will increase the deterioration of various organs in the body, causing their immunity to drop even more, and also harming the liver.
8. Bread and cereal
Some breads and cereals are fortified with iron, so be sure to read the label before consuming them. Also, avoid breads and cereals that contain chocolate, candied fruits and vegetables, and processed foods like sausage and ham. Instead, opt for sugar-free cereals or whole-wheat or rye breads.
Can people with thalassemia drink coffee?
For caffeinated drinks, especially tea and coffee, you can drink them in moderation. Drinking coffee with iron-rich meals can also help reduce iron absorption.
Can people with thalassemia take vitamin C?
Vitamin C is a vitamin that helps absorb iron, but it also affects the process of breaking down iron in the body. Therefore, vitamin C is used to treat thalassemia patients who are taking iron-chelating drugs so that vitamin C helps the body excrete more iron. It also has the benefit of stimulating the immune system. Therefore, thalassemia patients can take vitamin C supplements in the amount recommended by their doctor or pharmacist, but they should not buy it and take it themselves.
What should people with thalassemia eat?
What can people with thalassemia eat? Let’s take a look.
- High-protein foods such as eggs, chicken, sea fish, milk, etc.
- Cereals such as soybeans, mung beans, brown rice, barley
- Foods that contain calcium include milk, tofu, small fish that can be eaten whole, canned sardines, dried shrimp, etc.
- Magnesium-rich foods, such as nuts and green leafy vegetables, do not increase iron absorption, such as spinach, sweet greens, and fruits such as bananas.
- Foods high in vitamin C, such as guava and star gooseberry.
- Foods that contain vitamin A, such as egg yolks, yellow vegetables and fruits such as carrots, sweet potatoes, etc.
- Foods that contain vitamin E include jackfruit, mangoes, and vegetable oils such as soybean oil, wheat germ oil, etc.
If you have thalassemia,
what should you eat to nourish your blood?
Thalassemia patients have red blood cells that have a short lifespan and are destroyed. The body therefore needs to consume foods high in folate, such as jasmine rice, brown rice, green beans, spinach, kale, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, morning glory, chives, celery, lettuce, pineapple, guava, chicken, and fish such as catfish, to help produce red blood cells instead of taking folate supplement tablets alone.
How to care for the health of thalassemia patients
- Eat a balanced diet with all five food groups.
- Drink enough water
- Drink at least 2-4 glasses of milk per day to replenish calcium in the body and strengthen bones. Since patients with this disease have abnormal red blood cell production, it affects bone mass, making bones weak. In addition, anemia also causes calcium absorption to be low, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.
- Avoid foods high in iron, such as animal organs and liver.
- Eat foods high in folate, such as spinach, lettuce, cabbage, kale, brown rice, jasmine rice, etc.
- Take folate and a multivitamin without iron supplements to help with red blood cell production.
- Exercise regularly. Choose activities that are not tiring and do not involve too much impact, such as swimming or low-impact exercises.
- Avoid activities that involve extremes, falls, or impacts, because thalassemia patients have fragile bones.
- No smoking
- Avoid alcoholic beverages
- See your doctor as scheduled
- Take all medications as prescribed by your doctor. Do not buy or take supplements on your own. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist.
- Get vaccinated according to schedule
Thalassemia patients should undergo treatment according to the process and should strictly follow the doctor’s advice because each person may have different severity of the disease and health risk factors. Therefore, if you have any questions about food or self-care, you can consult your doctor.