Home Remedies To Increase Haemoglobin

Low haemoglobin may improve when an iron, folate or vitamin B12 deficiency is corrected. Iron-rich foods such as meat, fish, beans, lentils and leafy greens can help, especially when paired with vitamin C. However, home remedies cannot treat every cause of anaemia, so blood tests are needed before using supplements or relying on diet alone.

Home Remedies To Increase Haemoglobin
Medically reviewed

Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD Google Scholar LinkedIn

Internal Medicine Specialist
Cancer Immunology Researcher

Low Haemoglobin: Causes, Symptoms and Safe Ways to Raise Your Levels


Low haemoglobin levels indicate possible health issues, including anaemia and cancer. Dietary changes and supplements may be helpful in increasing haemoglobin.


In red blood cells, haemoglobin, a protein rich in iron, is responsible for oxygen transportation throughout the body.


Anaemia is a condition characterised by low levels of haemoglobin in the blood. It is caused by a deficiency in red blood cells or a lack of functioning red blood cells. Anaemia results in insufficient oxygen supply to the body, which can be dangerous if left untreated.


This article covers the topic of haemoglobin levels, including how to boost them naturally, and discusses anaemia and its causes.



How To Increase Haemoglobin


People with low haemoglobin levels can take measures to increase and maintain their levels from the comfort of their own homes.


Increase Iron Intake


Anaemia caused by a lack of iron is the most prevalent form of anaemia.


By increasing the production of haemoglobin, iron helps to create more red blood cells in the body. Red blood cells will decrease if iron levels are too low, leading to insufficient oxygen supply.


Eating foods high in iron can help people with low haemoglobin levels.


Increase Folate Intake


Folate, a type of B vitamin, is essential for forming haemoglobin, an oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells. The body needs folate to make heme, a portion of haemoglobin that transports oxygen.


Folate is an essential nutrient for developing red blood cells; if a person does not get enough of it, their red blood cells will be unable to mature properly. This can cause folate-deficiency anaemia, characterised by low haemoglobin levels and other symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and pale skin.


Folate is present in many foods, such as

  • Beans, such as kidney beans

  • Sunflower seeds

  • Fruits

  • Spinach

  • Eggs

  • Peanuts

  • Whole grains


A person can also speak with a qualified healthcare professional about folate acid supplementation, which is better absorbed by the body. The body absorbs 85% of the vitamin when it is taken as a supplement, compared to 50% in foods.


Maximise Iron Absorption


Better absorption of iron can be achieved by consuming specific vitamins and minerals, including:

  • Vitamin A

  • Beta-carotene

  • Vitamin CTrusted Source


Vitamin C, vitamin A, and beta-carotene can all be found in the following foods:

Vitamin C

Vitamin A

Beta-Carotene

• Oranges

• Strawberries

• Papaya

• Guava

• Sweet Red Pepper

• Grapefruit

• Fish

• Liver

• Squash

• Sweet Potatoes

• Collards

• Carrots

• Turnips

• Squash

• Cantaloupes

• Mangoes


Taking vitamin C, A, and beta-carotene supplements can help increase the body's ability to absorb iron.


Vitamin C, A, and beta-carotene supplements enhance the body's capacity to absorb iron.


Take Iron Supplements


If a person's haemoglobin levels are deficient, a doctor may recommend they take iron supplements to help raise them.


Iron supplements are used to increase the body's iron levels over time. It can take weeks or months to build the body's iron reserves. A physician may suggest taking them for an extended duration to ensure the body has enough iron.


An excessive amount of iron in the body can lead to hemochromatosis, which can have serious consequences, such as liver disease and side effects like:

  • Constipation

  • Nausea

  • Vomiting


The body's iron will determine how much medication is needed.


Normal Haemoglobin Ranges


It is necessary to conduct a blood test by a healthcare professional to assess a person's haemoglobin, measured in grams per deciliter (g/dL).


People with lower than typical haemoglobin levels are said to have a low haemoglobin level, diagnosed through a blood test.

 

Normal (g/dL)

Low (g/dL)

Male

13.5-18

Lower than 13.5

Female

12-15

Lower than 12

Children

11-16

Lower than 12


Age-specific haemoglobin levels should be considered when assessing a child's health. If you are concerned about your child's haemoglobin levels, it is recommended that you speak with a medical professional.



Symptoms


The following symptoms may occur in people with low haemoglobin levels:

  • Pale skin and gums

  • Dizziness

  • Frequent or unexplained bruising

  • Shortness of breath

  • Weakness

  • A fast or irregular heartbeat

  • Reoccurring headaches

  • Fatigue


Causes


Numerous causes can lead to an individual having a decreased haemoglobin level and anaemia.


Trusted Sources include the following causes:

  • Liver disease

  • Drinking alcohol

  • Being deficient in iron, vitamin B-12, or folate

  • A bone marrow cancer, leukaemia, is one of the most common cancers

  • Pregnancy

  • Thyroid disease, such as hypothyroidism

  • Thalassemia

  • Substantial blood loss

  • Kidney disease

  • Genetics, such as sickle cell anaemia.

 

 

Summary


Consult your doctor about the best dietary changes and supplement dosage to increase your haemoglobin levels.


If haemoglobin levels are not restored to normal, additional treatments, including a blood transfusion, may be necessary.


You can connect with one of our doctors at Mobi Doctor with the click of a button and get the care you need.



FAQs About Increasing Haemoglobin Safely

Foods rich in iron, folate and vitamin B12 support red blood cell and haemoglobin production. Meat, poultry, fish and shellfish provide readily absorbed haem iron. Beans, lentils, tofu, fortified cereals, leafy greens, nuts and seeds contain plant-based iron. Eggs, dairy and fortified foods provide vitamin B12, while legumes and green vegetables are useful sources of folate.

Pair plant-based iron sources with vitamin C from peppers, oranges, berries, tomatoes or broccoli. Tea, coffee and calcium-rich foods can reduce iron absorption when consumed with an iron-rich meal or supplement, so having them at a different time may help. Eating meat, fish or poultry alongside plant foods can also improve the absorption of non-haem iron.

No, iron deficiency is only one possible cause of low haemoglobin. Other causes include vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, blood loss, pregnancy, kidney disease, chronic inflammation, thyroid disorders and inherited conditions such as thalassaemia or sickle cell disease. Because anaemia has several possible causes, blood tests should guide treatment.

Iron supplements are appropriate when iron deficiency has been confirmed and the correct dose has been determined. Common side effects include constipation, nausea, stomach discomfort and dark stools. Excess iron can be harmful, so supplements should not be taken unnecessarily. Iron tablets must also be kept away from children because an overdose can be dangerous.

Haemoglobin does not rise immediately. With effective treatment for iron deficiency, symptoms may start improving within three to four weeks, while correcting haemoglobin and replenishing iron stores can take several months. Dietary changes alone may work more slowly. Repeat blood tests help confirm progress and identify ongoing bleeding, poor absorption or another cause when levels do not improve.

Low haemoglobin can cause tiredness, weakness, pale skin, headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath and noticeable or irregular heartbeats. Mild anaemia sometimes causes no obvious symptoms, while a rapid or substantial decline tends to feel more severe. Because these symptoms can occur with other conditions, a full blood count is required to confirm whether haemoglobin is low.

Diet alone is unlikely to be enough when haemoglobin is markedly low, symptoms are significant or the cause involves ongoing bleeding, poor nutrient absorption, kidney disease, chronic inflammation or an inherited blood disorder. Treatment may require prescribed iron, vitamin B12 injections, folic acid or management of the underlying condition. Severe anaemia occasionally requires hospital treatment or a blood transfusion.

Beetroot and pomegranate can contribute to a balanced diet, but neither reliably corrects iron-deficiency anaemia by itself. Beetroot provides folate, while pomegranate supplies vitamin C and other nutrients, but both contain relatively modest amounts of iron. When tests confirm iron deficiency, improvement usually requires adequate iron-rich foods and, where medically recommended, an appropriate iron supplement.

Seek urgent medical help for chest pain, severe breathlessness at rest, fainting, confusion, uncontrolled bleeding, vomiting blood or black, tarry stools. A very fast or irregular heartbeat accompanied by marked weakness also requires prompt attention. These signs can indicate severe anaemia or active blood loss rather than a problem that should be managed with food or home remedies.


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