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5 Facts about hemoglobin and how to regulate if it’s low


The cells of the body require oxygen for life and hemoglobin delivers it


Found in the red blood cells, it is the carrier of oxygen. The reason why hemoglobin is so important is because it takes the oxygen throughout the whole body and delivers essential oxygen to the all body parts and tissues. It is the reason behind many diseases and depending on whether it’s high or low, it can cause health issues that may need treatment.


Hemoglobin has different ranges for men and women


According to Mayo Clinic, the normal ranges are:

  • 13.5 to 17.5 grams per deciliter for men

  • 12.0 to 15.5 grams per deciliter for women

Obviously, there are exceptions to the principle. Children’s levels vary with age and sex and depending on the medical practice, hemoglobin ranges can be different.


In the metabolic balance® programme, we consider the range:

  • 130 to 170 grams per liter for men

  • For women - 115 to 155 grams per liter for women

Low hemoglobin levels can lead to anemia


The functioning of the body requires iron to make hemoglobin. When iron is low or in deficiency, it can cause a person to have low hemoglobin levels and develop anemia. This is a blood disorder that can exhibit a number of symptoms: feeling tired, trouble breathing, dizziness, headache, feeling cold and weak, pale skin.

A diet poor in iron can be one of the reasons to develop such a condition. However, you will need to consult with a doctor to determine whether the hemoglobin levels are due to poor diet or whether it’s something more serious. If it’s due to diet, you will need to increase the iron in your food intake.


The iron in food comes from two places: meat and plants


A lot of meats and plants can give you a good intake of iron and can help increase the iron levels in your blood and as a result, stabilise your hemoglobin. Very good food sources of iron are oysters, roast beef, lamb, tuna. For the vegetarians, you can try kidney beans, lentils, tofu, kale, and spinach.


Vitamin C may help to increase the iron and subsequently the hemoglobin in your body


Vitamin C is considered to help the iron production in your body that can help increase the levels of hemoglobin. Again, food sources of the healthy Vitamin C are citrus, strawberries and dark, leafy greens.


In the past, hemoglobin has been associated with a lack of oxygen for the body. But new studies have shed light on the importance of hemoglobin. The bottom line is that there are several things that may cause hemoglobin to go down, it’s important that you speak with your doctor. Iron deficiency anemia is the most frequent kind of anemia across the world. Sometimes, you can easily observe the symptoms and focusing your diet to include iron-rich foods in combination with foods rich in Vitamin C is a very good way of balancing your organism.


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