In people who suffer from anemia, red blood cells are less rich in hemoglobin.
Hemoglobin is the blood pigment that contains iron and carries oxygen from the lungs to cells and carbon dioxide from the cells to the lungs.
You might think that an anemic person is pale, but mild anemia does not cause a change in skin color.
Anemia is the most common blood disorder, most often caused by insufficient iron.
Ferropenic (iron deficiency) anemia is usually triggered by the increased need of hemoglobin, occurring due to rapid growth during puberty or blood loss.
Without enough iron, the body can not produce enough hemoglobin.
Women lose iron during menstruation, so they need more food rich in iron than men.
Healing iron deficiency anemia is possible by changing the diet.
Anemia symptoms Any anemia resulting from a significant lack of hemoglobin can cause fatigue, lethargy and headaches.
If it's very serious, physical activities will cause dizziness, loss of breath, chest pain (angina) and heart palpitations.
Iron deficiency anemia can cause tongue and mouth corners pain, dry, thin and brittle nails and, in serious cases, pale skin.
Rarer forms of anemia In general, anemia is caused by a low iron diet or the inability to absorb iron during digestion.
However, there are other causes of anemia:

• Megaloblastic anemia due to the deficiency of vitamin B12 or folic acid.
  It sometimes occurs during pregnancy;
• Pernicious anemia is caused by the lack of intrinsic factor, a substance necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12.
  Blood type A is the most at risk;
• Aplastic anemia is caused by the low or absent production of red blood cells due to the inactivity or damage of the bone marrow;
• Hereditary anemias have different causes.
  Thalassemia is caused by the defective production of hemoglobin, occurring in populations of the Mediterranean, the Middle East or Southeast Asia.
  Sickle cell disease is characterized by the presence of abnormally shaped red blood cells and it occurs in people of African descent;
• Hemolytic anemia is caused by the premature degradation of red blood cells, which can be triggered by medication or infection.
  

How to prevent anemia Risk of iron deficiency anemia is relatively small if you enjoy health and varied diet.
But if you lose a lot of blood - due to heavy and prolonged menstrual periods, untreated hemorrhoids, or a digestive bleeding, etc - you need a diet rich in iron.
If you are pregnant Pregnancy can bring both iron deficiency and megaloblastic anemia.
Prevent them by eating foods rich in vitamins A, B6, C and E, folic acid, pantothenic acid, flavonoids, iron, manganese, zinc and essential fatty acids.
Take supplements recommended by your doctor.