The Best Foods To Increase Platelets

Before proceeding to change the diet, it is advisable to consult with the doctor about which are the best foods for our case. 

The best foods to increase blood platelets that we are going to discuss below are of plant origin. However, this is not to say that it is not necessary to consume foods of animal origin to improve health and shorten the recovery period.

The ideal would be to include these foods in a balanced diet, in order to provide the body with everything it needs and, therefore, notice an improvement in health in general.

Let’s see what platelets are, what are the most common health problems and other related aspects to understand the importance of eating a good diet.

Platelets, essential cells

Platelets are small cells that are made in the bone marrow and circulate in the blood. Its role is to form clots to heal wounds and prevent excessive blood loss when injuries occur. They are also known as ‘thrombocytes’.

Inside, they have small sacs, called ‘granules’, which release chemicals that attract other platelets to the site of the injury to form what is known as a ‘platelet plug’.

So it is understood that platelets are cells that play a key role in controlling bleeding and therefore their existence is vital for all people.

The most common platelet disorders

When platelet production is drastically reduced or increased, or platelets don’t act the way they should, that’s when health problems arise. This produces what are known as platelet disorders.

According to the MSD Manual, platelet disorders include the following:

• Platelet dysfunction.
• Thrombocytopenia (decreased number of platelets).
• Essential thrombocythemia and reactive thrombocytosis (Abnormal increase in the number of platelets).

The sooner the diagnosis of any problem is made, the better, since this way the patient can receive the most appropriate treatment and recommendations to improve their health.

To diagnose a platelet disorder, usually only a blood test is needed. However, the doctor may order other tests if he considers it necessary.

Before any complication, treatment and medical control is essential. Along with this, it is convenient to improve lifestyle habits. In this sense, food comes to play a key role, since it can contribute to health in various ways.

The best foods to increase platelets

To increase blood platelets it is essential to maintain a balanced diet, which provides the body with all the nutrients that it so badly needs. In it, the following foods should not be missing, since in addition to being delicious, they are sources of various vitamins and minerals.

1. Pumpkin

The first of the best foods to increase platelets is pumpkin. Even its seeds have amino acids and vitamins that are essential for the formation of platelets. For this reason, it is considered that its regular consumption improves the absorption of proteins and vitamin A, which are nutrients that participate in the production of these small cells.

In addition, it is a delicious food that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, depending on your preference. With cheese, without cheese, with a little carrot, parsley …

2. Citrus fruits

Among the best foods to increase platelets are also fruits and, specifically, citrus. This is because they provide vitamin C, an essential nutrient that raises the platelet count.

When consumed in moderate quantities, within a healthy diet, citrus fruits turn out to be a good supplement for the health of the entire organism.

At the popular level, citrus fruits are considered to promote the health of the immune system, which could lead to an increase in the production of antibodies.

3. Indian gooseberry

Although it is an exotic and not so popular fruit , the Indian gooseberry is part of the group of foods that contains vitamins A and C, which can promote the formation of platelets and contribute to health, in general lines.

4. Aloe vera juice

Aloe vera is a plant that contains : calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, sodium, copper, vitamin C and E, vitamins of the B complex, among others.

In the popular sphere, it is considered that aloe vera juice can be an ally to take care of cardiovascular health and promote the production of platelets. Be careful, when consuming it it is essential to consult your doctor first; and if you authorize consumption, it will be essential to maintain moderation, since the drink has a laxative effect.

5. Spinach, one of the best foods to increase platelets

Another of the best foods to increase platelets is spinach. They stand out for their significant contribution of proteins and vitamin K, which participates in the metabolism of coagulation factors; which may be helpful in reducing the risk of excessive bleeding.

They can be consumed in many ways, including in fruit salads, so there is no excuse not to take them at least once in a while.

6. Papaya

The extract from the leaves of the Carica papaya is being highly studied, since there is the hypothesis that this extract could be useful in the treatment of bleeding disorders. However, there is still much to analyze in this regard.

For now, what may be recommended for patients is to consume papaya within a balanced diet. Like other fruits, it contains various nutrients and papain, an enzyme with a positive effect on health.

7. Beet root

Beets are another of the best foods to increase platelets. It contains antioxidants, vitamins A, C and K and minerals that would help prevent the deterioration of blood vessels and the decrease in platelets.

In the popular sphere, it is considered that drinking its juice regularly could help strengthen the immune system, as well as contribute to the improvement of the patient in case of suffering from a platelet disorder.

A healthy diet keeps platelets in order

As you may have seen, these are some of the best foods to increase platelets that you can include in your diet on a regular basis. Combine them as you like and try to incorporate other healthy foods into your diet to make the most of all their contributions.

Always keep in mind that the consumption of a single food, drink or natural remedy will not cause platelets to rise or cure you of any disease. In order for you to be healthy, you must maintain a balanced diet, not rely solely on a single food.

Of course, it is always recommended that you follow your doctor’s guidelines while maintaining a healthy lifestyle, so that you can really appreciate an improvement in your health, as well as other benefits.

When in doubt, it is best to consult your doctor about the amounts and the best ways to ingest food, since other lifestyle habits, medicines and complementary therapies must be taken into account.