Foods and Supplements for blood counts
 

Hi Tanya,
There have been a few discussions about anemia in other areas recently. I shared information about food and/or supplements that have been helpful to me. I never needed shots or blood transfusions to keep my blood counts within normal ranges during treatments. Would you be willing to share some information about foods and/or supplements that might help us keep our white blood, red blood, hemoglobin and platelets within normal ranges during treatments? I think some information on this subject might be very helpul to many of our members.

Re: Foods and Supplements for blood counts
 

don't know if it will help anybody else or not but with my onc's permission i took prenatal vitamins(can get otc) and ate protein bars and shakes.

Re: Foods and Supplements for blood counts
 

I have had anemia off and on for 30 years, long before I was diagnosed with cancer.
I take liquid iron. Liquid is better than pills which can cause constipation. I am a vegetarian, but I still manage to eat foods that help all my blood counts. I never needed transfusions, procrit or other shots for my blood counts. Blackberries, blueberries, papaya, citrus fruits, dark orange sweet potatoes, beets, apricots,a couple cherry tomatoes, raisins, kelp, dark leafy veggies, broccoli or other crucifous veggies, lentils, other beans, and various kinds mushrooms are some of my favorites. I try to get all the colors of fruits and vegetables everyday. Organic blackstrap molasses also has iron. My naturopath told me a spoon of sesame seed oil once a day with food helps the body absorb the nutrients. I am not a big fan of sesame oil, but I try. I prefer olive oil.
I heard that for chocolate to act like an antioxidant it has to be 70% or more cocoa, so I started eating a small piece of dark chocolate that is 70% or more cocoa a couple times a week. I also try to eat fresh or frozen food and try to cook from scratch as much as possible.
I don't eat very many prepared foods. This takes a little more time, but I do it for my health.

Re: Foods and Supplements for blood counts
 

Hi Elaine, I eat the same way as you, the same foods and had and have(herceptin is still going on)also a reasonable blood count during treatments, but some anemia, which I had all my life already. It's a kind of anemia which is not from a lack of iron, but because the blood cells aren't made in enough quantity. The only thing is that I have a crave for chocolate and I eat too much of it, but it is 85 percent cacao chocolate. I support your question for Tanya and would like to ask also if ginseng is a good supplement for us.

Re: Foods and Supplements for blood counts
 

My husband has severe anemia and iron overload, I add liquid chlorophyll and chlorophyll capsules to his supplements. He has leukemia and I tried to lower the count with green tea extract.

Re: Foods and Supplements for blood counts
 

I use chlorophyll and/or wheatgrass too. A serving of wheatgrass is supposed to have the nutrients of one serving of vegetables. Chlorophyll which can also be found in many dark green veggies helps to increase the oxygen levels in the body. I read that cancer does not like a high oxygen environment.
Tanya please feel free to add your imput to this thread and the other recent threads about nutrition.

Re: Foods and Supplements for blood counts
 

Unfortunately, there are few studies that prove any particular foods or supplements can increase white blood cell production. However, we absolutely know that a diet rich in antioxidants and generally well-balanced supports a healthy immune system. Of course, as one goes through chemotherapy we must use caution with high doses of supplemented antioxidants but antioxidants from food is considered safe and desirable. In terms of hemoglobin (increasing will increase oxygen levels in blood) we know that adding high iron foods is beneficial. These would include dark, leafy greens like spinach, broccoli, kale. Dried fruit, beans, nuts, eggs and lean meats/poultry, fish are also good sources. Lastly, I would suggest including probiotics such as in yogurt as another addition to supporting the immune system and untimately the blood counts.

Re: Foods and Supplements for blood counts
 

Thanks for your imput Tanya. Good discussion everyone.

Re: Foods and Supplements for blood counts
 

Thnak you all that nutrition stuff was helpful.