The key to being able to work out is to have loads of energy. It’s why runners will carb load before a run so they have excess energy to get them through the race. For people with anemia, energy can be in short supply. Since they have trouble getting oxygen to the blood, it can be a challenge to be athletic when you have anemia.
Does this mean that people with anemia shouldn’t go to the gym or play sports? No, it just means that you have to be careful and be prepared. When you take some precautions you can work out safely and effectively. In this article, we will go over several tips for those with anemia to be able to work out.
1 – Adjust your diet
Having the right diet is key for people with anemia to manage their health. Even if you aren’t planning to work out or play sports this is very important. Anemia causes an iron deficiency in sufferers so it is important to eat foods that are high in iron. Especially before a workout so your hemoglobin levels stay high enough to keep the oxygen pumping.
Liver is one of the best things to eat for iron, but the problem is that many people don’t like the taste or texture. Luckily, there are desiccated liver tablets that can be taken instead that will provide the same health benefits and iron boost.
Leafy greens like spinach are high in iron as are beans and red meat like beef. If you are eating foods high in iron but still feel sluggish then iron deficiency supplements are a good way to get some extra.
2 – Know your body
Your body is always communicating with you and letting you know when you can push and when you need to stop. The problem is that people often ignore the signs that the body is giving them.
There is a time when everybody is going to feel tired from the workout. There is a fine line between just being a little out of shape and having trouble catching a breath, and having an abnormal amount of fatigue due to anemia. Get to know what the signs are when you are starting to crash and have to stop what you are doing. If you continue to push on when your body is telling you to stop it can have dangerous consequences.
3 – Take recovery into account
People that have a hard workout behind them usually feel muscle stiffness and soreness because of a buildup of lactic acid in the muscles. This happens to everybody but it can cause problems for those with anemia.
Lactic acidosis is when there is a buildup of lactic acid in the bloodstream that grows faster than it can be removed. For those with anemia, this means that it takes longer to recover from a workout than people without it.
Make sure to do things for fast recovery and make it an essential part of your workout routine.