Hemoglobin, abbreviated Hb or Hgb, is produced in developing red blood cells in the bone marrow.  It is responsible for giving blood its red color. Its function is the transport of oxygen from the lungs to be released to the different tissues of the body and, in exchange, collects carbon dioxide to be transported back to the lungs.

The normal levels of hemoglobin is 14 - 18 g/dL in males and 12 - 16g/dL in females. A deficiency of hemoglobin would decrease the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. This also decreases the number of red blood cells, resulting in a condition called anemia.  Causes of low levels of hemoglobin levels include poor nutrition, certain diseases affecting the bone marrow, chronic diseases like cancer and kidney disease, blood loss, certain drugs and cancer therapy. Low levels of hemoglobin contribute to a variety of symptoms such as dizziness, lethargy, pale skin, and if severe, result in organ damage.

Ways to Increase Hemoglobin Levels

1. Food and Medicine

There are medicines and natural ways to increase hemoglobin and therefore prevent anemia.

Vitamin and mineral supplementation. There are several minerals and vitamins that can increase hemoglobin levels. Most important of these are iron, vitamins B6, B9 (folic acid), B12, and vitamin C, which is important for enhancing the absorption of iron. The recommended daily allowances are:

• Iron: 20 mg
• Vitamin B6: 50 mg
• Folic Acid: 500 micrograms
• Vitamin B12: 1500 micrograms
• Vitamin C: 1000 mg

Foods that are rich sources of iron, vitamins B6, B9, and B12

• Iron: whole-egg, iron-fortified cereal; leafy-green vegetables (like artichoke and spinach), legumes (like beans and lentils), meat (like lean beef and liver), and seafood like (clams and oysters)
• Vitamin B6: meat (like chicken, beef, turkey, and pork), fish (like salmon, cod, halibut, tuna, trout, and snapper), vegetables (like spinach, bell peppers, baked potatoes, yams, broccoli, green peas, turnip greens, and asparagus), nuts and seeds (like peanuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, and hazelnut), whole-wheat bread, cereals, bran; and chickpeas, lentils and soybeans
• Folic acid: dried beans, peas, leafy green vegetables (like spinach and turnip greens), and fruits (ex. citrus fruits)
• Vitamin B12: Beef liver and clams, fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and other dairy products
• Vitamin C: Citrus fruits (like grapefruit and oranges) and their juices, red and green pepper and kiwifruit,  broccoli, strawberries, cantaloupe, baked potatoes, and tomatoes

Herbs. How to increase hemoglobin? Certain herbs contain iron or increase its absorption thereby increasing hemoglobin levels.

• Withania: used in Ayurvedic Medicine in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia; its use has been supported by studies showing increased hemoglobin levels in children.
• Nettle Leaf: used traditionally in the treatment of arthritis, a rich source of iron
• Dong Quai or Angelica: traditionally used for menstrual cramps, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menopausal symptoms, anemia, and constipation. Studies on rats fed on low iron diet showed restoration to near normal levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit and red blood cell counts with Dong Quai

Chitosan is a dietary fiber from shellfish. A study showed that patients with kidney failure given chitosan were shown to reduce high cholesterol, improve anemia, and improve physical strength, appetite, and sleep.

2. Foods to Avoid

Foods that are rich in calcium like milk and cheese and high fiber foods as well as beverages like coffee, tea, and alcohol should be avoided or taken in small quantities because these prevent absorption of iron. Gluten-containing foods like pasta, bread, and wheat products also cause anemia.

3. Blood Transfusion

How to increase hemoglobin on severely low hemoglobin levels? Blood transfusion is a safe and common medical procedure where blood or blood products are transferred by way of an intravenous line into a blood vessel. It is given to patients in case of loss of blood due to:

• Trauma or surgery
• Illnesses causing bleeding, like a bleeding ulcer
• Diseases that destroy the blood, like hemolytic anemia
• Bone marrow diseases, like aplastic anemia