The role of nutrition is very important in the life of
someone living with sickle cell. Since I started writing this column, I have
received numerous emails from readers with questions like, ‘I will like to know
about food that can help so that one do not go into crises, some ask for
themselves and while others ask on behalf of their kids.
Sickle cell, as you know, is an inherited disorder,
characterised by lifelong anaemia and painful crisis. A good diet is of essence
in the life of those with the disorder.
Sometimes we are so busy, we forget to eat, or we lose our
appetite for food because of other things going on in our lives.
My suggestion is this, if you suffer from sickle cell, young
or old, the best thing that you can do for yourself is to make sure that you eat well and regularly.
The thing about sickle cell is that sometimes, one can get
very tired and it will be the good food that one had eaten that would help
fight tiredness or sickness.
People with sickle cell need to eat foods rich in iron,
calcium and vitamin D. If you live in
Africa, the sun will help with the vitamin D and if you are able to get enough
vitamin D in your system, it will help your bones and as you know, the pain is
in the bones and joints.
Before I list the foods that will help us fight any form of
crisis, mild or severe, I will like to remind us that if we do not take care of
other things in our lives, they can increase the likelihood of a crisis.
Dehydration
Not drinking enough water and being dehydrated due to
fasting can lead to crisis. If you don’t stick to your recommended medications
or injections; you are exposing yourself to extreme cold or hot temperatures,
you engage in stressful and strenuous activities, then you will fall ill
regularly.
These are trigger factors for crisis in the life of someone
with sickle cell. I have come to
recognise them and if I find myself
experiencing any one of these symptoms, I slow down and try to take extra good
care of myself.
Are you up to date with your recommended vaccines? Are you taking your recommended malaria
tablets, if you live on the African continent? Do you take folic acid daily?
What about Vitamin C and penicillin tablets?
You could do all these and still succumb to a crisis. Never mind, that is the life of a sickle cell
patient.
However, it is important to eat a well-balanced diet,
meaning, eat a good amount of your vegetables and fruits daily, reduce salt
intakes and consume less fatty food.
I have tried to compile a list of food that is good for us
to eat and fight the disease while staying healthy and most importantly out
of the hospital. The list is by no means exhaustive and I will
publish more in the future. The main
thing is, try and consider eating foods on the list below because these are
high in iron and good for people with sickle cell.
Foods
Liver, turkey, pork, lamb, chicken and red lean meat egg yolk and
canned sardines are good.
Fish, shrimps are beneficial. Beans, dates, raisins and many
forms of cashew nuts are nutritious. You should eat more of whole wheat bread,
corn, watercress, okra, yam, sweet potato, tomato with plenty of fruits
alongside green vegetables.
Drinks
Eat oranges, carrots, apples, cherries, grapes and tomatoes.
Take a lot of pomegranate and dairy products (milk, cheese, yoghurts).
With good nutrition and
a healthy lifestyle, I can assure you that having a crisis will be
minimal as you drink plenty of water and eliminate stress, until next time, I
wish you a happy health life without crises
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