Platelets are tiny disc-shaped pieces of cell found in the blood and the spleen. The National Cancer Institute of the United States explains that platelets help produce blood clots to slow or stop bleeding and to facilitate wound healing.
There are problems when the number of platelets is too low or too high, or the platelets do not work the way they should. Thus, Measuring the number of platelets in the blood can sometimes help diagnose certain diseases or disorders.
Under normal health conditions, a person has between 150,000 and 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. To keep them at those levels or raise them, the magazine specialized in health and lifestyle UnComo, through the portal Mundodeportivo, listed some foods that help:
1. Kiwi: Thanks to its content of folic acid and vitamin C, it helps increase platelet levels.
2. Carrot: It can provide large amounts of vitamins and increase the body’s platelets. Despite this, it depends on the origin of the condition.
3. Lemon: most citrus fruits help accomplish this goal. Orange and grapefruit also contribute.
4. Spinach: Green leafy vegetables such as spinach are rich in vitamin K. Medical News Today indicates that this vitamin is essential for blood clotting and also helps increase blood platelets.
5. Guava and Red Pepper: They can help raise platelets. It is possible to combine these two ingredients in juice to combine the properties of both products and improve the energy and condition of the body.
6. Beetroot: “It contains antioxidants, vitamins A, C and K and minerals that would help prevent the deterioration of blood vessels and the decrease in platelets,” explains the portal better with health.
Other tips from UnComo with which it is possible to raise the levels of platelets and improve health, are:
- It is important to stay hydrated, however, Not only should water be consumed, it is also crucial to drink those liquids that provide mineral salts to the body, such as serum.
- If the origin of the low platelets is anemia, foods rich in iron should be consumed. Among them, spinach, iron, lentils and lean meats.
- Sometimes, low platelets are the product of infections or diseases such as dengue, vitamin K deficiency, leukemia or the result of some chemotherapyso it is essential to consult the opinion of a specialist to determine the cause and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
- After a drop in platelets, it is essential to keep the body at rest. Therefore, avoiding efforts will facilitate recovery, especially if you have diseases such as dengue or anemia.
It should be noted that, according to the Mayo Clinic, these are some conditions that can cause the body to use up or destroy all platelets faster than it can produce them:
- Pregnancy: usually mild and improves shortly following delivery.
- Bacteria in the blood: caused by serious bacterial infections in the blood (bacteraemia) can cause platelet destruction.
- Medicines: Some medications can reduce the number of platelets in your blood, because certain medications may confuse the immune system, causing platelets to be destroyed. Some examples are antibiotics and anticonvulsants.
- Immune thrombocytopenia: caused by autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the platelets and destroys them. When the exact cause of this disease is unknown, it is called “idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura”.