Is there a connection between human nutrition and platelet levels in the blood?

Platelets are protein-free nuclear compounds necessary for the formation of blood clots due to contact with collagen. The formation of blood clots occurs, for example, when the walls of blood vessels are damaged.

There are many factors that provoke platelet adhesion.

Is it possible to stimulate or inhibit their synthesis by any adjustments to your diet?

According to research, platelet levels in the blood can be changed with nutrition, including and excluding certain foods.

In this article, we will discuss which diet should be followed to increase the concentration of platelets in the blood, and which one to reduce it.

General information about platelets

The main function of platelets is the formation of plugs that close the holes in the vessels . This happens due to adhesion and aggregation, which is provoked by the same collagen, thrombin, and thromboxane.

Under certain conditions, aggregation can occur without damage to the walls of blood vessels, for example, with an increased concentration of platelets. It is because of this that blood clots and plaques form, which can eventually cause both a stroke and a heart attack. In this case, it is necessary to adhere to Platelet reduction diets .

Blood plates indirectly also participate in the processes of transporting nutrients through the circulatory system, regulating blood pressure, smooth muscle function.

And platelets, like any other shaped blood elements, are produced in the red bone marrow from blood plasma (mainly albumin– one of the simplest forms of amino acids). Accordingly, in order to regulate the process of their production, it is necessary to exert an effect on the concentration of proteins in blood plasma.

The human diet only indirectly affects the level of platelets in the blood. If the concentration differs significantly from the norm, then this is may indicate some infectious diseases, as well as diseases of the endocrine system .

In women, a significant fluctuation in platelet levels is also the norm in most cases and is explained by the physiology of their body (for example, during menstruation, the level drops to 75 thousand units per microliter of blood, whereas the rest of the time the indicator remains at 180 thousand units per microliter).

How does nutrition affect their blood content?

A person receives most of the micronutrients from food, including proteins. Those, in turn, are processed into the simplest amino acids, which the body uses in many biochemical processes.

The main protein in blood plasma is albumin. For the most part, platelets are formed from it. The body produces albumin independently in the liver, but Vitamins, minerals and amino acids are needed to stimulate this process .

On average, 12 grams of albumin are synthesized daily in the liver. Even if the diet consists only of protein food, no more albumin will be produced. Therefore, it may take a fairly long period of time to increase the concentration of blood plates.

Respectively, for increase in platelet concentration you just need to normalize your diet by including proteins, minerals, vitamins, as well as a sufficient amount of liquid.

7 products that increase their level

K products that will help boost platelets , can be attributed to:

  1. Salt. Gives the body chlorine and sodium. The last specified element participates in water-salt metabolism. With an increase in sodium, potassium decreases and the body accelerates the withdrawal of that sodium to normalize their balance. And this happens through the urethra. Accordingly, the concentration of fluid in the blood decreases, it becomes thicker and the concentration of platelets increases (although the number remains the same).
  2. Barberry. Tincture of their barberry leaves helps to quickly increase platelet levels. Its key benefit is the presence of a large amount of vitamin A in the composition, which indirectly stimulates the production of blood plates from megakaryocytes.
  3. Alcohol. Also leads to a sharp violation of the water-salt balance, stimulates the withdrawal of liquid. Therefore, the blood density is increasing, and the platelet concentration is also increasing. And, by the way, that's why alcoholics are significantly more likely to develop thrombosis.
  4. Linseed oil. It contains unsaturated fatty acids (about 60% of all fats that are part of the oil). And omega-3 and omega-9, which are just among them, stimulate hematopoietic function.
  5. Sesame oil. Its chemical composition is very similar to flaxseed, it has unsaturated fatty acids, thereby regulating hematopoietic function.
  6. Honey. Due to the presence of minerals, as well as iron, phosphorus, zinc, it slightly increases platelets.
  7. Nettle. It is best to use in combination with milk, as well as honey – this allows you to get rid of the bitter taste.

5 products that reduce their level

To reduce the rate of platelets in the blood the following foods should be included in the diet:

  1. Beetroot. Among vegetables, it is one of the richest in iron, therefore it stimulates mainly the production of red blood cells. It also retains water in the body due to its high fiber content.
  2. Bananas. Due to the presence of iron in the composition (up to 1 mg per 100 grams), they contribute to the production of red blood cells, but you should not abuse bananas – they contain a lot of simple carbohydrates, which, when excessive, transform into fatty acids.
  3. Coffee. The action turns out to be controversial, since blood pressure also increases due to it. The platelet level decreases by only 5-10 units per microliter.
  4. Garlic. For the most part – normalizes the balance of shaped elements, and at the same time helps the body to remove waste products of various kinds of infections.
  5. Red wine. Promotes the production of red blood cells , but it reduces the concentration of platelets, but the effect lasts for a short period of time. When abusing any alcoholic beverages, the effect is reversed due to an imbalance in water-salt metabolism. It is relatively "safe" to consume only 30-40 milliliters of red wine directly during a meal.

Interesting video

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Conclusion

Thus, changing the diet can actually indirectly regulate the content of platelets in the blood.

But we should not forget that self-medication can be extremely dangerous. Before adjusting the diet, it is recommended to consult with a therapist, and if necessary, he will prescribe a referral to narrow-profile doctors for a more detailed diagnosis.