Platelets are red blood cells that help improve clotting that prevents severe bleeding. Although, blood is made up of various types of cells, mainly red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Numerous diseases, including anemia, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and medications, can cause platelets to fall. However, a decrease of platelets in the body can cause many symptoms such as fatigue, bleeding gums, easy bruising, and so on. A low blood platelet count is also known as thrombocytopenia.
Platelets are a necessary blood component that helps your body create clots to stop bleeding in an injury. In the inactive stage, these cells resemble plates, while in the active condition, they look like structures with tentacles.
When our skin is wounded, platelets clump together to create clots to stop bleeding. However, when we do not have enough blood platelets in our bodies, blood clots cannot form. A low platelet count may also be known as thrombocytopenia. The condition, if diagnosed, may be treated with a healthy diet. Some food items can increase blood platelets.
Mentioned below are a few of the symptoms of low blood platelet count-
- Bleeding nose
- Bleeding gums
- Blood in the urine
- Rashes
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Blood in the stool
- Prolonged wound bleeding
- In case of severe condition, you may eject blood
- Internal severe bleeding can also lead to bleeding in the brain.
You need to consult your doctor promptly if you have a low blood platelet count and experience headaches or any neurological issues. If you have a lower blood platelet count, your professional might suggest doing a hgb blood test. But certain food items can help you to increase your blood platelets.
What are platelet counts? Lower, higher, and normal range
Platelet counts are a method of measurement of the number of platelets per microliter of your blood. An average platelet value ranges between 1,50,000 and 4,50,000 platelets per microliter of blood.
Any count is higher than this normal platelet count range, known as high platelet count, resulting in thrombocytopenia.
Five foods that can increase your blood platelets, count:
The following are the food items that can help you to increase your blood platelet count.
1. Eating more leafy green vegetables-
Like kale and collards, leafy green vegetables are rich in vitamin K, which will not directly increase your blood platelet levels but can help your blood clot better. Vitamin K plays a crucial part in helping your body to produce proteins vital to the clotting process. And because blood clotting is a complex function that involves platelets and other biologic routes, eating sufficient vitamin K can preserve the body’s ability to stop bleeding.
2. Eating more fatty fish-
When you want to increase platelet counts, then fatty fish because it’s high in vitamin B12. This vitamin plays a crucial role in red blood cell formation, and some research suggests low platelet can be linked to B12 deficiency. Salmon, trout, and tuna are all filled with B12 punch, so add these fatty fishes to your meal to help boost your platelet count. You can take a B12 supplement instead, but getting B12 from food sources can help your body use the vitamin more effectively.
3. Increasing folate intake-
Folate or folic acid is another vitamin B that can help to elevate platelet levels. It is better to get folate from foods rather than from supplements since folate supplements give a high dosage of folic acid that can disrupt the ability of B12 to function properly inside the body. To boost your folate consumption, you need to eat more broccoli, brussels sprouts, liver, and beans. All these food sources can help you to raise your platelet level.
4. Consuming more citrus fruits-
Vitamin C plays a crucial role in how platelets work, so increasing your vitamin C level can help your existing platelets to function correctly. Vitamin C also helps the body absorb iron, an essential component of red blood cell production. To increase your vitamin C consumption, add plenty of citrus fruits, including lemons, oranges, lime, and grapefruits. You can also consult your doctor about eating grapefruit if you take any prescribed medicines, though, as compounds in grapefruit can alter medication absorption.
5. Consuming iron-rich foods-
When considering adding citrus fruits to your diet, you should also add iron-intake to your diet. However, you must remember to avoid iron supplements which can cause constipation. Instead, you can choose beef liver, tofu, kidney beans, or oysters. Iron plays an essential role in red blood cell production, which includes platelets. Boosting your iron intake can help to increase your platelet level. Even dark chocolate is an excellent source of iron.
Conclusion:
Platelets are essential cells that prevent the abundance of loss of blood and protect from resulting ailments. It not only protects from excess bleeding but also prevents infections.
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