Anemia is characterised by the deficiency of the quality and quantity of hemoglobin, a molecule found in the red blood cells. Red blood cells are one of the major components of blood. Hemoglobin is important as it carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues in the human body. When the hemoglobin is unable to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues, the body develops anemia. An individual who has anemia may experience symptoms such as incessant fatigue, insomnia (sleeplessness), dizziness, pale skin, shortness of breath, a loss of regular menstrual cycle and unusually rapid heart beat.It is important that if one is diagnosed with anemia, he or she should seek advice from the doctor to figure out which iron rich health plan is best to treat the anemia. Anemia occurs in varying stages, so you should consume the exact amount of iron that your doctor prescribes to specifically tackle your anemia and avoid a fatal iron overdose.So, once you have figured out how much iron you need per day to treat the anemia, you can decide to take foods that are rich in iron and are quite effective at treating anemia rather than taking iron-containing tablets.Fruits such as apples and tomatoes are great to eat when treating anemia. You can either eat apples or tomatoes, drink 100% pure apple and tomato juice to treat anemia. Also fruits that effectively treat anemia are plums, bananas, lemons, grapes, oranges, carrots when eaten in large quantities.Honey is a potent source of iron, copper and manganese. When these elements are combined they aid in hemoglobin synthesis. Honey is therefore a powerful weapon against anemia. You can eat honey with slices of apples or bananas for iron and energy when treating anemia.Red meats such as kidney, heart and liver are effective at treating anemia. Red meat, as the name suggest, is the iron-rich meat that doctors suggest those suffering from anemia consume. Also poultry and fish are effective against anemia.Some vegetables such as spinach are iron-rich, energy-filled vegetables that treat anemia effectively. These vegetables are not only rich in iron but also Vitamin B-12 and folic acid, energy boosting nutrients that the body needs to heal from anemia. Beetroot juice is an iron-rich vegetable juice that those suffering from anemia can drink as a tonic against fatigue and lethargy.Legumes and nuts such as pulses, almonds, whole grain cereals, dry dates, peanuts and walnuts are effective against the symptoms and causes of anemia.Treating anemia is a matter of how much food we eat that aid in hemoglobin synthesis. In general, to treat anemia, focus should be placed on foods that are good sources of iron, copper, zinc, folic acid, Vitamin B-12 and protein. People suffering from anemia need energy as a lack of iron cheats the body of stored energy that the body always has.Legumes and nuts such as pulses, almonds, whole grain cereals, dry dates, peanuts and walnuts are effective against the symptoms and causes of anemia.Treating anemia is a matter of how much food we eat that aid in hemoglobin synthesis. In general, to treat anemia one should focus on foods that are good sources of iron, copper, zinc, folic acid, Vitamin B-12 and protein. People suffering from anemia need energy as a lack of iron cheats the body of stored energy that the body always has.Important to notice is that iron is one of the key dietary minerals necessary for normal bodily functions. This nutrient is necessary for the production of haemoglobin, the red blood cells that carry oxygen to the body. Iron deficiency can lead to the dangerous disease of anemia in human beings.Besides the role of Iron in formation of haemoglobin, iron is important in brain development and function, regulation of body temperature, muscle activity and catecholamine metabolism. One of the major benefits of iron is that it increases energy.Iron facilitates the binding of oxygen to the blood cells, which in turn contributes to cell respiration. It also helps in increasing the immune system of the body. So eating it in proper quantity can help an individual in fighting against infections. If the iron level is low, the dietitian may advice you to take iron rich foods in addition to iron or multivitamin tablets. There are two types of iron found in foods; heme and non-heme iron. Although iron is found in a variety of foods and supplements, its availability to the body varies significantly depending on the type of iron present in the food. Heme iron is found largely in meat, fish and poultry and non-heme iron is found primarily in fruits, vegetables, dried beans, nuts and grain products.Avoid high quantity of tea, coffee as in combination with high iron foods as they inhibit the iron absorption.The writer is a resident oncologist in Jerusalem, Israel