Short Answer: Pickled beets are good for anemia. Because they have iron, vitamin B12, and folate, and they can increase the hemoglobin level and prevent different types of anemia.
Anemia is a condition that affects your blood.
In anemia, your body does not have enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen to your organs and tissues.
This can lead to various health problems, such as fatigue, weakness, pale skin, cold hands and feet, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, and headaches.
One of the key factors in managing anemia is diet.
What you consume can affect your iron, vitamin B12, and folate levels, which can impact your anemia symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage anemia, you should consume iron-rich foods like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and fortified cereals; vitamin B12-rich foods like animal products, dairy, and fortified plant-based milks; and folate-rich foods like leafy greens, beans, lentils, and citrus fruits.
You should avoid foods that can interfere with iron absorption, such as tea, coffee, grapes, wine, chocolate, and sorghum.
Now, pickled beets are cooked beets that are preserved in a vinegar solution, usually with sugar, salt, and spices.
People usually eat them as a side dish, salad ingredient, or snack.
Pickled beets are good for anemia because they contain iron, vitamin B12, and folate, which are essential for red blood cell production and function.
One cup of pickled beets can give you about 1.34 mg of iron (7% of your daily needs), 0.12 mcg of vitamin B12 (5% of your daily needs), and 136 mcg of folate (34% of your daily needs).
Iron can help increase the hemoglobin level and prevent iron-deficiency anemia, which is the most common type of anemia.
Vitamin B12 can help prevent megaloblastic anemia, which is caused by the inability of the bone marrow to produce normal red blood cells.
Folate can help prevent folate-deficiency anemia, which is also characterized by abnormal red blood cells and can cause birth defects in pregnant women.
Furthermore, pickled beets are a vegetable and vegetables are good for anemia.
Because, they provide antioxidants, fiber, and other nutrients that can support your immune system, digestion, and overall health.
You can eat one cup of pickled beets per day safely.
More than that can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, or kidney stones due to the high amount of oxalates in beets.
You should also be aware that pickled beets can change the color of your urine and stool to red or pink, which is harmless but can be mistaken for blood.
Also, you shouldn’t eat pickled beets if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or gout to prevent worsening your condition.
Because, pickled beets are high in sugar, salt, and purines, which can raise your blood sugar, blood pressure, and uric acid levels, respectively.
You can buy fresh beets in your local market or can order them online.
Always choose firm, smooth, and deep-colored beets with healthy greens attached.
Because, they indicate freshness and quality.
You can store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
You can also make your own pickled beets at home using vinegar, sugar, salt, water, and spices.
Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing/dealing with anemia effectively.
I always recommend my anemia patients to follow an anemia-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.