Your blood has several different components. The ones responsible for keeping you from losing too much blood during an injury are platelets. They are called that way because they resemble small plates during their inactive stage. Once they enter the active stage, however, they develop tentacles that make them look like tiny spiders or octopuses.
It’s important for you to have blood platelet count within the normal range. Otherwise, you may suffer from what’s known as thrombocytopenia. You certainly don’t want to have this problem because it may lead to problems such as:
Slow blood clotting
Excessive or uncontrollable bleeding
Bleeding from the nose and gums
Bruising or development of petechiae (red or purple spots in the skin)
Longer or heavier periods in women
There are costly medical treatments for having low blood platelet count normalized. Luckily, there are also certain foods that can help in increasing the number of those very important blood components. Including them in your diet can keep you from having thrombocytopenia and experiencing the various signs and symptoms of the condition. Here they are:
Fresh Milk
There are a couple of reasons why fresh milk is good for your blood. First, everyone knows that this white liquid is loaded with calcium, a mineral necessary not only for stronger bones but platelet regeneration. Second, fresh milk contains vitamin K which is important for proper blood clotting.
Vitamin K-Rich Foods
Milk is not the only good source of vitamin K. Some other sources of the said nutrient are parsley, basil, kale, spinach, mustard greens, Swiss chards, watercress, celery, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus and okra. It’s practically impossible to run out of food options that are loaded with vitamin K!
Carrots
You may already know that carrots are good for your eyes. But did you know that it’s also outstanding at maintaining your normal blood platelet count? Vitamin A is what makes carrots very good for your blood. Other top sources of vitamin A include sweet potatoes, kale and pumpkin.
Raisins
Packed with iron, it’s no wonder why raisins are good for your blood. Snacking on raisins is a great way to normalize your blood platelet count. It is a great idea to sprinkle some of them on your yogurt, cereal and oatmeal. You may also have them included in your homemade trail mix.
Pomegranates
The lovely red color of pomegranates is a clear sign that they are good for your blood. Consuming them on a regular basis, be it as they are or in juice form, can help normalize your platelet count. Pomegranates are also loaded with all sorts of vitamins and minerals that keep your health in an optimal state.
Lean Protein
Foods that are excellent sources of lean protein also supply your body with zinc and vitamin B12, both of which important for keeping your blood platelet count within the normal range. Fish, chicken and turkey are superb lean protein sources as they do not clog up your arteries.
Beans
Speaking of protein, beans are wonderful sources of protein that are ideal for vegans or those who wish to reduce their consumption of animal protein sources. The nicest thing about beans is they are loaded with vitamin B9 or folate, a nutrient needed by those with low platelet count. Other sources of vitamin B9 are spinach, asparagus and oranges.
Garlic
There’s one herb that can be found in so many home remedy listings: garlic. It doesn’t come as a surprise why garlic is also an entry in this list of foods that help increase your blood platelet count naturally. Aside from this, consuming foods with garlic is said to help lower cholesterol and heart disease risk.
Papaya Leaves
It’s no secret that papayas are rich in vitamins A and C. If you are suffering from low blood platelet count, it’s a good idea to boil papaya leaves and drink the resulting tea. Many swear by the effectiveness of this homemade remedy most especially if it’s consumed twice a day.
