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Diet plan
Hemophilia: Diet and Nutrition Tips
Hemophilia - Diet plan
Taking care of your health is of great importance in the case of hemophilia. The focus should be on keeping the joints strong and healthy, and extra weight off to avoid bleeding and muscle strains in vulnerable joints. Excessive weight can put a strain on joints that can lead to bleeds. So, patients with hemophilia should pay special attention to their diet and maintain a healthy weight. The key is to make small healthy choices during every meal. It is ok to eat a small piece of cake at the party but compensate it with fresh leafy vegetables at your next meal.
Foods to include in diet plan
- Select a rainbow of colorful fruits and vegetables for your diet.
- Eat dark leafy vegetables
- Include whole grains, oats, brown rice in your diet.
- Switch to skimmed milk, low-fat cheeses, Greek yogurt
- Choose baked, boiled, or grilled lean meats like poultry and fish
- Incorporate dried beans, nuts, and seeds into your diet.
- Eat foods like liver, lean red meat, poultry, leafy green vegetables, broccoli, dried beans, grains, and raisins.
- Eat oranges, tomatoes, red and green bell peppers, broccoli, melons, and strawberries.
- Choose fish, chicken, turkey, eggs, beans, nuts, and tofu.
Foods to avoid in hemophilia
Generally, you should avoid foods high in saturated fats and sugar. Also, fried foods, snacks, candy, and soda should be avoided. In addition, also reduce the intake of the following:
- Soft drinks, energy drinks, and sweetened tea
- Heavy gravies and sauces that are full of calories.
- Butter and lard
- Full-fat dairy products
- Foods that contain trans fat
- Pastries, pizzas, pie, cookies, and crackers.
Tips to remember when eating out
Sometimes it can be difficult to stick to your plans if you are eating out. But there are some ways which can help you avoid overeating and maintain your diet.
- Avoid large meals and keep your portions small.
- Don’t eat fried side dishes or order them in small sizes. You can have baked snacks like pretzels. They are low in fats.
- Eat slowly and if possible only eat half of the meal and bring half at home to be eaten later.
- Avoid mayonnaise or ketchup as they are high in fats. You can instead have mustard that is low in calories.
- Select lean meats
- Skip cheese or choose a low-fat cheese if available.
- Choose salad dressing on the side to control the amount you use.
Supplements to avoid
Maintaining normal blood volume and blood cell production is crucial for people with hemophilia. Iron, protein, copper, vitamin C, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and folic acid are the main nutrients involved in red blood cell production. Even vitamin E is involved in red blood production but high doses can increase the risk of bleeding. So, if you are considering dietary supplements, it is important to consult with your doctor first as some might cause bleeding. In general, you should avoid supplements like vitamin E, fish oil, ginkgo Biloba, bromelain, flaxseed, garlic, willow bark, Asian ginseng, feverfew, and ginger.
Stay hydrated
Water is the most important part of a healthy diet. You need water for the proper function of your cells, organs, and joints. Moreover, it is easy to find a vein to give yourself an infusion if you are well-hydrated. It is advised to drink at least 8 to 12 cups of water daily.
