Understanding and Preventing Anemia: What You Need to Know

Many people experience some form of anemia. The symptoms include extreme fatigue, exhaustion, shortness of breath, fainting, heart palpitations, headaches, lack of appetite, tinnitus, and more (it's important to differentiate if these are symptoms of other illnesses). Here are three common causes of anemia:

1. Iron Deficiency (IRON) – Sometimes there's a low level of iron in the blood (not necessarily anemia), and it doesn't mean the body lacks iron. What's important are the iron stores (known as ferritin in blood tests). It's crucial they are full. Sometimes, it's the opposite, where blood iron is enough, but stores are low, leading to anemia. For women of childbearing age, a good ferritin level in the blood should be at least 20-30 nanograms per millimeter to feel well, and during menopause, ferritin levels are generally higher as expected. If ferritin levels are below 20, it's advisable to increase them through proper diet, *kraepft*, liquid iron supplements that don't cause constipation, etc. It's important to check for hidden intestinal bleeding (special tests are available). Conditions like these can arise from intestinal ulcers or consumption of dairy products which may cause inflammatory and bleeding intestines even subtly and without visibility.

2. Vitamin B12 Deficiency – Poor lifestyle can lead to a decrease in the body's B12 levels, such as stress, acidic food, intestinal parasites (like candida, worms, etc.) which can reduce the population of good bacteria in the intestines that produce vitamin B12. Balancing the intestines with good probiotics (good bacteria in the gut) is crucial, preferably obtained from food – such as fruits, vegetables, and fermented foods (like homemade sauerkraut brine). But the most important thing is to detox the body from parasites for healthy digestion, nurture the population of good bacteria in the gut, and then there will be enough of this vitamin in the body, with Hashem's help.

3. Folic Acid Deficiency, B9 – Ideally, this supplement should not be taken alone but with the entire B vitamin family, known in health food stores as BX or B50. These contain good amounts of all the B vitamins, including folic acid and vitamin B12. Optimum amounts are also found in quality, natural multivitamins, but not in various "prenatal" supplements, which have a very low dosage of B vitamins.

To book home workshops with naturopath Ruth Liat Pelz(at no cost), call 073-2221290