Blood builders are a type of superfood that do exactly what the name implies—build and strengthen the body’s blood supply. Blood builders are popular in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and help treat conditions such as anemia, fatigue, and immune problems.
What are blood builders?
When it comes to the process of eating right and staying nutritionally sound, there are a lot of different schools of thought that each warrant their own methods.
One of these particular schools of thought is that of Traditional Chinese Medicine, sometimes referred to as TCM. Traditional Chinese Medicine is a subset of alternative medicine, and many people have sung its praises for successfully transforming their health in an incredibly positive way.
One of the main points of emphasis in TCM is the presence of what are known as “blood building foods” in their diet.
Blood building food has sort of a quirky name, but rest assured, it is based on legitimate science, emphasizing iron above all other ingredients, but also giving a very decent amount of love to vitamin B12 and folic acid.
These are the ingredients that are said to encourage the production of brand new blood cells in the body as they are taken in and used by its organs.
While many may opt for what may be described as a lazy man’s version of this diet, introducing iron supplements in the form of pills or other not so natural additions to the diet, it is just as effective, if not more, to eat a high diet of these blood building foods.
Blood building foods list
Now that introductions are out of the way, you may want to know some examples of what these blood building foods are exactly.
Using context clues we can arrive at the assumption that these foods are all high in iron, and that would be correct. There are some more appetizing blood building foods and some that are less appealing to a mainstream palate.
First, and perhaps the most palatable and enjoyable, is good old fashioned chicken. Chicken contains 10mg of iron in every cup. Animal sources such as chicken are extremely beneficial in increasing iron stores. While vegetables have long been touted as the healthiest of all the food groups, it is in this situation where meat like chicken truly shines, as vegetable sources of iron simply do not get absorbed in the human body in comparably efficient ways.
Alongside chicken in the fray of blood building foods is Turkey. Turkey is especially great for adding a large portion of vitamin B12 to the diet.
One of the best ways to prepare turkey and, by way of that, build some new blood cells, is to roast it and eat it together with pasta or spinach.
Many that subscribe to the blood building method of healthy eating also suggest these types of pairings, as many of the nutrients tend to work together to facilitate the healthiest outcomes.
Another fantastic source to round out the iron / B12 / folic acid trio is plain white rice. White rice is loaded with folic acid and, in eating it together with vitamin C-rich vegetables, can greatly add needed nutrition to any meal.
Other delicious foods that supply blood building supplements to the body include meats such as goose, duck, oysters, and lamb. All are rich in iron and quite good for you. It is also important to emphasize vegetables, as many of these meats should be served alone rather than paired with other meats.
Dark leafy greens like wheatgrass and spinach are definitely recommended for meals to build new blood. Other foods include kidney beans, mushrooms, soy products, raisins, apricots, and prunes. All are vegetarian-friendly as well.
You may also want to try some blood building spices, such as cardamom, alfalfa, ginger, licorice, or red dates.
Treating health conditions with blood builders
Another major benefit to eating blood building foods in your daily diet is that there is specific scientific data that suggests these foods can be very helpful as a supplemental treatment for many different types of diseases and health conditions.
Many people go through their lives feeling sluggish, tired, dizzy, and weak, without realizing that they may be experiencing symptoms of a disease that they haven’t been diagnosed for yet.
Someone that possesses these side effects could very easily be anemic. Anemia is a condition that is marked by a deficiency of red blood cells, or of hemoglobin in the blood, which results in the aforementioned issues.
The main task that blood carries out on a daily basis is in transferring oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. If your blood cannot do this in an effective manner, the weariness lingers.
This is another problem that can be solved by introducing blood building nutrients into your diet. There are many types of anemia, and the blood builders are most helpful when it comes to iron deficiency or vitamin deficiency anemia.
These types of anemia are fairly prevalent in higher risk situations such as when a woman is menstruating, those with chronic disease and poor diet, infants, the elderly, and especially those with intestinal disorders. Other anemias include sickle-cell, aplastic and hemolytic anemia.
The most important foods for people with these conditions to eat also happen to be foods that are most emphasized by a diet loaded with blood building foods, such as the examples listed earlier.
Blood Building Supplements
As noted before, there is a way to get your blood building nutrients without eating the foods that possess them outright.
Supplements are another way many people choose to get their blood builders. It is important to stress the recommended doses before taking a supplement, however.
Iron supplements come in ferrous and ferric iron salts to be taken daily as recommended. Vitamin B12 is another supplement that can be found in most drugstores. The recommended intake for B12 is 2.4 micrograms a day.
Vitamin B-6 also has a recommended intake of 1.5 milligrams a day for women, and 1.7 milligrams a day for men.
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