A severe injury may make you to call up the emergency service. People deployed for this service, may rush to your place to provide you with the necessary treatment and care. They may wash your wounds, put some medications and put a bandage around them to do a "plugging" job! This is what the platelets do in our body when we sustain wounds.
What are Platelets?
Platelets or thrombocytes are plate shaped colorless blood cells which are formed in the bone marrow. They play a very important role in the clotting of blood. Whenever an injury is sustained by the body, the platelets are rushed to the site along with certain vitamins, proteins and minerals in order to create a blood clot so as to prevent any further loss of blood.
What should be the Normal Platelet Count?
The normal platelet count of the human body, or PLT, ranges from a hundred and fifty thousand to about four hundred and fifty thousand per micro liter of blood. A normal platelet cell can be active for up to ten days after which the cell dies and is removed naturally from the body. If the platelet count drops below the normal level then a disease called thrombocytopenia occurs. The blood stops clotting and an individual experiences huge blood losses even due to minor injuries. It may also result in anemia.
Causes of Low Platelet Count
Platelet count generally drops only when the platelets are either over utilized or destroyed due to any ailment or physical condition. Some of the causes for low platelet count are:
- Bone Marrow Problems like Anemia and Leukemia: The effect of anemia is of particular concern to women, especially during their menstrual period wherein their platelet count is severely low. Anemia demands special attention when it begins to rob the body of iron.
- Medications: Certain medications that are commonly used in chemotherapy are also known to reduce platelet count. Aspirin and Ibuprofen are also known to contribute in the reduction of platelet count.
- Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP): It is a rare disorder of the blood coagulation system causing extensive microscopic thromboses (blood clots) to form in small blood vessels throughout the body.
- Pregnancy: During pregnancy, the body produces more plasma in blood. However, the platelet count stays the same while the platelets get diluted, thereby resulting in low platelet count during pregnancy. This is called Gestational thrombocytopenia (GT).
- Autoimmune Diseases: Some of the auto immune diseases like Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and rheumatoid arthritis may also cause low platelet count when the body's immune system mistakes platelets as foreign invaders and destroys them.
- Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: It is a disease caused by E. coli bacteria which can kill off platelets, impair the abilities of the kidneys to function and also destroy the red blood cells.
- Blood Poisoning: Poisoning from infection causing bacteria (bacteremia) can quickly kill off platelets and may also cause difficulties producing new platelets to replace those that have been destroyed.
- Dengue: It is a mosquito borne disease which can also affect the platelet level in the blood.
Foods That Help to Build Platelets
Most nutritious foods that help improve your immune system and reduce inflammation can help build platelets. Below is a list of some super foods that will help to increase platelet count:
- Wholegrain Foods: Brown rice, whole wheat and their products, and other whole grains contain nutrients that help to build platelets in the blood.
- Antioxidant Containing Foods: Foods such as blueberries, oranges, lime, pomegranate, carrot, tomato and broccoli help in restoring platelet levels as they neutralize free radicals.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acid Foods: Omega-3 fatty acids boost the immune system, strengthen it and help in building up platelet levels. Some of the good sources are canola, olive and flaxseed oil and fish.
- Green Leafy Vegetables: Leafy greens such as kale and sea weeds contain large amounts of calcium and vitamin K that help in blood clotting. Drumstick leaves, amaranth, and dried fenugreek leaves (methi) may also help improve the platelet count. In cases of infections like dengue, papaya leaf extract or suspension of powdered leaves in palm oil has been shown to be useful in improving platelet levels.
- Organic Foods: Organic foods don't contain pesticides and herbicides that may worsen autoimmune disorders and lower platelet counts. They don't contain additives and preservatives that can increase toxic free radicals in the body causing inflammatory diseases.
In addition to consuming foods that help build platelets, it is important that you chew the food well to promote proper digestion. Drink warm, filtered water at regular intervals throughout the day to flush out toxic materials from the body.
Foods to be Avoided
- Avoid alcoholic beverages as it can damage the liver and hinder the production of platelets.
- Avoid greasy foods and trans fats like cakes, crackers and dips as they are overly acidic and destroy the acid-alkali balance in the body.
- Avoid or reduce refined sugars, fructose, corn syrup and fruit juice as they promote acidic diseases.
- Avoid or reduce the consumption of dairy products like milk, yogurt, cheese and ice-cream. These foods can contribute to mucus formation, which in turn, may aggravate autoimmune diseases. Eliminate these foods especially if you are dairy-allergic or if you are lactose sensitive.
- Avoid eating meat as they are high in saturated fat and may contain residual antibiotics and hormones.
- Do not eat foods that make you feel unwell.
It is a well accepted fact that eating well is related to staying well. And we are well aware of the foods that are really healthy for us. Sleeping while keeping your eyes open is worthless and hence, it is now time for you to stay alert rather than showing your repentance in the near future.
