Blood Disorders affect one or more parts of the blood.  Red blood cells (responsible carrying oxygen to the body's tissues), white blood cells (responsible for fighting infections), and platelets (which help blood clot) can be affected by a Blood Disorder.  Additionally, Blood Disorders can affect plasma, which is the liquid part of blood.  Common blood disorders include Anemia, Platelet Disorders, Blood Clotting, and Cancers of the blood such as Leukemia or Myeloma.   

Symptoms of Blood Disorders can vary depending on the disorder, however, symptoms are most commonly caused by decreased blood components. 

• Fatigue
• Shortness of Breath
• Muscle Weakness
• Unexplained Weight Loss
• Headache or Red Complexion
• Thickened Blood
• Inappropriate or excessive clotting
• Swollen Lymph Nodes

Blood Disorders can be caused by an existing or developed disease.  They can also be hereditary, for example, an iron deficiency due to a shortage of iron or because of a diet issue.  Autoimmune diseases like Lupus can harm your immune system and cause it to destroy platelets.  The causes vary depending on the blood disorder because red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, or plasma can be affected. 

• Iron Deficiency
• Low White Blood Cell Count
• Vitamin Deficiency (where one doesn't have enough B12 and can feel wobbly or clumsy)
• Foreign Invader (infection, virus, parasites etc)
• Environmental factors (toxins, chemicals etc)
• Penicillin and Antibiotics
• Stress (emotional or physical)
• Smoking
• Food Allergies
• High Blood Pressure
• Obesity

• Maintaining a raw foods, vegan, or vegetarian diet can help people with Blood Disorders.  Eating green leafy vegetables like spinach, red cabbage, beets, watercress, alfalfa sprouts, wheatgrass, and parsley are greatly beneficial. By eating foods that are rich in iron, for example, beans, lentils, or raw nuts and seeds, you can help increase your body's iron supply. 
• Sleep can be extremely important for people with Blood Disorders.  Because people with Blood Disorders often feel fatigued, ensuring that the body gets the proper amount of rest can be beneficial.   
• If you are traveling by plain, it is important to get up and stretch to increase blood flow.  Sitting cross-legged is also not recommended as it can dam circulation and cause Blood Clots.  To help prevent Blood Clots, you can avoid wearing tight clothing items as they constrict blood flow. 
• Water consumption is important when it comes to Blood Disorders.  It's suggested to consume eight 8oz. glasses of water each day.  A great way to remember how much water to drink is to halve your body weight and drink it in ounces of water per day. This means that if you weigh 150lbs, your water intake should be 75oz. daily.  
• Toxins such as alcohol, tobacco, artificial food additives, chemicals in household cleaners, herbicides, pesticides, and air pollution are not conducive to Blood Disorders.  These toxins harm your tissues, chemical processes, or the functions of organs when they are present in the body. 

• Dark Leafy Greens (Kale, Chard, Spinach)
• Raw Walnuts, Flax Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds
• Kiwi
• Broccoli
• Red Bell Peppers
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Berries (Strawberries, Blueberries, Cranberries)
• Oranges
• Alfalfa Sprouts
• Wheatgrass
• Red Cabbage