NUTRITION MYTHS IN SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA

Hey people, I hope you've been learning tones from what we've had on the blog so far. But our journey has only quite begun and it’s going to get more exciting. This week we will debunk at some of the nutrition myths surrounding SCA. It’s important to separate facts from fiction so than we are able to make wise decisions.

Let’s start!! Shall we??

1.       Medication is the only way to treat SCA. While it is important to follow a medical treatment regimen, it is equally important to ensure that SCA patients get adequate nutrition. It is important that their meals should be nutrient dense: adequate calories, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. They should also take not less than 2l of fluids daily.

2.       Iron supplements can treat the disease because the patients are anemic. Anaemia in SCA is a symptom. It is not caused by iron deficiency but difficulties in transporting or processing the iron. The use of iron supplements will also cause toxicity from a iron overload that will promote development of infection. Unbound Iron behaves like free radicals and these may lead to further organ damage.

3.       SCA is a genetic disorder and our fate is already sealed. This is false and SCA patients can have prolonged lives. Though we have little control of the disease’s expression, we can manage it by following the doctor’s instructions, taking medication, eating healthy and doing light exercises. This ensures that the body is able to fight of infections much better and reduce frequency and intensity of frequency.

4.       Animal proteins are rich in iron, the more I eat the better. While animal protein has significantly lower but adequate iron levels it may contribute to further complications especially of the liver. You cannot get toxicity from iron rich foods but in the case of SCA, when iron is assimilated from food, a small amount is taken up by the body. The excess must be removed by the liver which may be already overworked. This contributes to liver damage among other complications.

Remember proteins are still important for good health. They should not be completely eliminated but regulated. 

Food is important in maintenance of a good health status and it is crucial to know what we eat and how it is used by the body.

Well there you have it. 

Till next time,

Love life!!

Joyner