For regular readers of my blog, you might already know that my MIL just suffered from a GI Bleed and is recuperating. The first thing we needed to take care of was to increase her hemoglobin/haemoglobin after all the blood loss she had gone through. We were very successful in doing this naturally through iron-rich foods and I share my tips here for anyone else who might need this information.

1. Apples and Pomegranates Juice

The best and the first thing to work in the case of low hemoglobin levels was apple and pomegranate juice. We started with juice because it was recommended for our patient but if you are looking for solutions for someone able to eat fruit directly, don’t bother with taking out the juice all the time. For our juice, we used 2 apples, 1 pomegranate and a citrus fruit (they help absorb the iron in the other fruits properly). We alternated oranges and limes. If the patient is low on energy, add a couple of spoonfuls of glucose powder to the juice. This really caused her haemoglobin to shoot up.

2. Soup of Greens

A few days later, we made an addition to the iron-rich diet plan. Leafy green vegetables like spinach are a great source of iron and we started cooking them together with other nutritious vegetables like carrots and peas to prepare an iron-rich soup. Since ours was a case of post-GI Bleed recovery, we chilled the soups before serving.

3.  Prunes, Dates, Apricots and Raisins

After we were sure of the bleed being healed completely, we started regular food along with a daily intake of one of the above mentioned dried fruits taken as they are, or soaked overnight in water to soften them.

4. Whole Grains and Beans

As my MIL progresses with her recovery, we will start giving her whole grains, cereals and beans as an integral part of her diet.