Platelets are blood cells that collaborate in the blood clotting process, and their work is essential to avoid serious problems such as internal bleeding. Average platelet values in the body are usually between 150,000 and 450,000, but specific pathologies, treatments, or other factors can cause platelet levels to drop.
When a low platelet count is obtained in a blood test, it is essential to resort to medical supervision, but diet can indeed become a good ally and help you improve levels. At FastlyHealwe bring you all the information about this problem and a list of foods to raise platelets and thus strengthen your health.
Table of Contents
Causes and symptoms of low platelets
Several factors can lower these values, from serious illnesses and infections to specific medical treatments. Among these cases, we can find HIV, dengue, anemia due to lack of iron, folate, or vitamin B12, liver diseases such as cirrhosis, leukemia, chemotherapy, and certain drugs. Diet is also a factor to consider; a poor diet lacking certain nutrients can increase the chances of suffering from this problem.
The most common symptoms that usually appear before the drop in platelets are tiredness and fatigue, minor rashes and frequent bruising, and the risk of internal bleeding, which may present bleeding in the mouth, nose, and gums.
Diet to raise platelets
It is important to note that a change in diet can be more or less effective depending on the cause that causes low platelets. An improved diet can be very effective, for example, in dengue or anemia, but less so in leukemia. If you want to know more about how to raise platelets for this specific condition, we invite you to read our article on foods to increase platelets by chemotherapy.
Faced with a low platelet problem, avoid processed products such as sweets, industrial pastries, soft drinks or sausages, and refined foods like white bread or sugars. Alcohol can also contribute to a decrease in platelets. Therefore, choose foods that provide you with vitamins and minerals and help your body generate more platelets. Here is an example of a diet to increase platelets :
Breakfast
- 1 vegetable omelet
- 1 glass of orange juice
- Two slices of whole-wheat toast
Meal:
- Chickpea salad with spinach
- One glass of carrot juice with beets
- One skimmed yogurt with chia seeds
Price :
- Carrot cream or puree
- Chicken breast
- Fruits: grape, blueberry, or pineapple
Recommended foods
Here is a list of some foods that you should keep in mind depending on the nutrient they will provide you:
- Vitamin K: green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, lettuce or cabbages are rich in vitamin K, which is essential for proper blood clotting. They will also provide you with many more nutrients such as fiber, folic acid, potassium, and magnesium.
- Iron: in cases of anemia, it is essential to raise the body’s iron level, so foods such as lentils, lamb’s lettuce, spinach, red pepper, liver, and guava can be of great help.
- Folate: This vitamin of group B also plays a vital role in the cellular health of our body and therefore influences the level of platelets. You will find it in foods such as asparagus, oranges, chickpeas, or whole grains.
- Vitamin C: This nutrient will help improve your platelet count and strengthen your immune system. You can find it in many fruits like kiwi, strawberries, lemon, or orange. There is nothing more vitamin than a natural fruit juice.
- Proteins: specialists recommend opting for a diet rich in protein to increase the number of platelets. Fish, chicken, beef, turkey, and eggs will provide you with the necessary proteins in your body.
- Minerals: a good combination of several minerals cannot be missing from our diet. Consuming carrots, celery, and beets, you will get potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iodine, calcium, and iron, among others. Try them raw in a salad or the form of a cream.
Remember that a varied and balanced diet positively influences this problem, but it is not a substitute for medical treatment. Consulting a specialist will allow you to know the origin of the problem and assess the possible measures to take.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Foods to raise platelets , we recommend that you enter our Immune System category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.