How to regenerate blood platelets

RhiD887

On my recent visit with my doc I found out my platelets are too low. Anyone have any suggestions on foods with iron and other healthy choices to rebuild platelets? I know red meat has lots of iron but I'm not much of a red meat girl. Any suggestions. Thank you for the help

Kalikel

You should call the office and ask for a referral to a dietitian. They'll get your info and work with you on creating a diet that has what you need and includes foods you like.

Red meat is huge for iron. Many breakfast cereals have good amounts. Cooking in cast iron (not enameled cast iron - the black stuff) is very helpful. Lots of veggies list good amounts of iron and it's really in there, but we can't use much of it, so they're less helpful than they seem. Don't neglect your Vitamin C.

I'm working on iron, too. If I don't get it up it's back on iron pills for me, so I'm working really hard on it!

Absolutely go see a dietitian. It's the best hour you'll spend on your diet.

jgnatca

I take an iron supplement to get my levels up. Pairing your iron foods with something with vitamin C, folic acid, and B12 will also help absorb the iron.

I assume your doctor has follow-up tests to make sure your bone marrow and your kidneys are healthy.

queenliz99

RhiD887 wrote: »

On my recent visit with my doc I found out my platelets are too low. Anyone have any suggestions on foods with iron and other healthy choices to rebuild platelets? I know red meat has lots of iron but I'm not much of a red meat girl. Any suggestions. Thank you for the help

I think low blood platelets have nothing to do with adding more iron. What did your doctor tell you?

Vune

I got curious because I deal with just not enough blood at all, including platelets. I'm treated with shots every other week. A quick google search just told me that you basically need to eat a lot of different fresh, nutritious foods. Highlights include: leafy greens, orange-y fruits and veggies, shellfish and other lean proteins, and calcium-rich foods (to give the vitamin K in the leafy greens a boost).

So, if you look at your diet and admit you could do better in that department in terms of nutrition, that sounds easier than getting shots all the time! But definitely follow up with your doctor and find out if there's an underlying cause as to why you have a low platelet count.

lynn_glenmont

queenliz99 wrote: »

RhiD887 wrote: »

On my recent visit with my doc I found out my platelets are too low. Anyone have any suggestions on foods with iron and other healthy choices to rebuild platelets? I know red meat has lots of iron but I'm not much of a red meat girl. Any suggestions. Thank you for the help

I think low blood platelets have nothing to do with adding more iron. What did your doctor tell you?

This^^

Wikipedia, citing what sounds like a textbook on ambulatory medicine, lists dehydration, vitamin B12 deficiency, folic acid deficiency, and niacin toxicity as dietary causes for low platelet counts, along with a long list of medical problems, infections, diseases, immune-system issues, and pharmaceutical side effects, so hopefully as jgnatca suggested your doctor has ordered follow-up tests.

Or maybe the doctor said iron and it's not platelets but hemoglobin that is low? Could you have remembered that incorrectly? If that's the case, see jgnatca's list and advise on pairing with foods high in vitamin C (I did not know about B12 and folic acid helping iron absorption). Also, pairing plant sources of iron (beans, greens, etc.) with animal sources will help boost absorption. And I've often seen the recommendation for cooking in iron pots, skillets, etc. as another way to boost iron consumption, although I've also seen articles that question the efficacy of that.

You probably should call the doctor's office back to make sure you know what's actually wrong with you.