Minerals like iron play a major role in the production of red blood cells. As a result, low levels of iron, as well as nutrients like vitamin B and folate, can result in anaemia, a condition where a person lacks a sufficient number of red blood cells or haemoglobin (a protein within red blood cells).
While it is a common health disorder, misinformation regarding anaemia is rampant and can potentially prevent a person from getting help. Accordingly, here are some common myths about anaemia and why you shouldn’t believe them.
A lack of nutrients in one’s food can cause a whole host of health problems, but anaemia doesn’t always result from poor dietary choices. A person may eat enough iron-rich foods to remain healthy but may still experience anaemia if they have a problem absorbing the nutrient efficiently. Uncontrolled bleeding can also lead to anaemia, regardless of the quality of a person’s diet.
People sometimes claim that a meatless diet is likely to lead to anaemia, but this is simply not true. Vegans and vegetarians must choose foods carefully to ensure they are getting the same nutrients found in animal proteins, but there are lots of non-meat, iron-rich foods, including:
These foods make a wonderful addition to meat-free diets when it comes to nutrition. A doctor or dietician can also provide guidance to people following meatless diets.
This myth contains a small kernel of truth, as some forms of anaemia are indeed genetic. For example, sickle cell anaemia results from genes passed along by a child’s parents, while Fanconi anaemia is a rare genetic disorder where a person’s bone marrow fails to generate new blood cells efficiently.
While these conditions do have genetic components, most forms of anaemia do not. In the majority of cases, the problem results from being deficient in certain nutrients or is caused by an illness, such as a bleeding ulcer or heavy menstruation linked to conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome and uterine fibroids.