Are Your Red Blood Cells Aging You Too Fast?

They could be if you don't have enough of them!

Your red blood cells play a vital role in your health and an insufficient supply of them could put you at risk for a variety of health ailments – including anemia, lethargy, cognitive impairment, ADHD, hair loss and unexplained fatigue.

Most people are familiar with anemia as a problem associated with low amounts (or poor quality)of red blood cells, but did you know there are various types and levels of anemia? Having "just enough" RBCs isn't going to help you with healthy aging.

Facts to know about your blood:

The life cycle of a red blood cell is 120 days

The average adult has 5 quarts of blood

There are 1 billion RBCs per drop of blood

Blood carries oxygen and nutrients

What types of nutrients are important for red blood cell production?

Iron

Iron deficiency is the main cause of anemia, but it can arise from many conditions, such as chronic illness, cancer or even just normal aging.

Vegetarians need to be aware of their iron levels as most of the vegetables that contain iron are less absorbable. That does not mean you can't be a healthy vegetarian.

Although iron supplementation may help some cases of anemia, it is possible to take too much iron. Also, calcium should not be taken with iron and iron supplementation may lower zinc absorption.

Folic Acid?

With less than 11% of North Americans consuming even the minimal amount of fresh vegetables and fruits, it's no surprise that many people are low in folic acid. You should consume folic acid and Vitamin B12 together.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 works similar to Folic Acid and needs stomach acid to absorb it. People with low stomach acid or on acid blockers may have reduced levels.? An increase in the size of RBC is a common condition associated with aging. Blood vessels are generally narrower as we age, so having a larger red blood cell trying to pass through is not a good thing.

Other nutrients important to red blood cell production are Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and Riboflavin.