Vitamins to increase white blood cell count

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Vitamins to increase white blood cell count

ImmunizationGeneral Health FoodAllergyImmune systemNutrient

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Our immune system can weaken due to stress, insufficient rest, nutritional imbalances and a lack of exercise.
  • Basic indicators of a weakened immune system include regularly catching colds, wounds healing slowly, feelings of exhaustions and frequent bouts of diarrhea.
  • White blood cells are the body’s personal bodyguards. It strengthens the immune system and protects us from disease.

Living a lifestyle that strengthens our immune systems has always been crucial. And now, even more so than ever.

Here are 6 nutrients you could add to your diet in order to boost to your immune system:

  1. Fats: Fats play a key role in hormone production, including sexual hormones and stress-resistant hormones. Consumption of healthy fats can, therefore, boost your immune system. Fish, avocado, rice bran, nuts and grains are all good sources of such nutrients.
  2. Mushrooms: These contain a range of essential nutrients. Mushrooms have polysaccharides, which aid white blood cell function, and Beta Glucans, which play a key role in resisting cancers and keeping the body safe from infection.
  3. Vitamin C: Found in many vegetables and fruits, vitamin C helps to build up immunity to disease.
  4. Probiotics: These work in tandem with health microbes such as lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and can be found in probiotic drinks, as well as yogurts. They boost white blood cell production in the peripheral intestinal mucosa which, in turn, reduces inflammation as well as helps the immune system respond rapidly to danger.
  5. Vitamin D: These vitamins boost the immune system’s production of cathelicidin, which stimulates white blood cell function, ensuring it is ready to fight off illness and disease. We can get vitamin D from exposure to sunlight (weak sunlight during the early mornings and evenings is best), various types of mushroom, fish (especially salmon), milk, cheese, yogurt and orange juice.
  6. Vitamin A: This vitamin aids white blood cell production, as well as strengthens them. We can source vitamin A from fish liver, carrot, spinach, bitter gourd, tomato, passion fruit and broccoli.

Additionally, try to avoid stress, smoking, alcohol, and a bad diet as these weaken the immune system.

A strong immune system means our white blood cells are strong enough to fight off bacteria, viruses or any other body invaders. It is what will keep us healthy, given any circumstances. Thus, if we focus on strengthening our immune system, we will significantly reduce our chances of getting sick. And if we do get sick, our body will be able to heal itself.

Phaisit Trakulkongsmut, M.D.

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Vitamins to increase white blood cell count
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Vitamins to increase white blood cell count

White blood cells, also called leukocytes, are cellular components found in the blood. They are created in the spongy tissue present inside bigger bones called bone marrow. Unlike red blood cell, they lack hemoglobin. However, they do have a nucleus. They are bigger than red blood cells, but fewer in number.                                                                                             

As an important part of the immune system, the primary function of white blood cells is to protect the body from infections and disease by fighting and destroying the various organisms that attack it.  They also contribute to the production of antibodies.

There are different types of white blood cells in the bloodstream. Some of these are monocytes, lymphocytes, basophils, and neutrophils. Each type is present in a certain quantity. However, sometimes the white blood cell count can decrease below the normal range. The medical term used to describe this condition is called leukopenia.

Quite a few reasons can result in leukopenia. Here are a few of them:

  • Alcohol abuse
  • Lupus
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Congenital disorders
  • Poor nutrition
  • Viral infections
  • Lymphoma

Why should you be concerned if your white blood cell count is low? Because white blood cells fight foreign entities that enter your blood, a drop in your white blood cell levels lowers your body’s immunity and makes it vulnerable to infections. Listed below are some of the symptoms of a low white blood cell count:

  • Sweating
  • High fever
  • Chills
  • Body aches
  • Headaches

The following are some of the foods you can take to increase your white blood cell count back to a healthy level.

Vitamin-Rich Foods

Vitamin C, A, and B9 are all very important for increasing white blood cell count. Vitamin C helps towards improving your overall immunity. Vitamin A boosts the production of lymphocytes. Vitamin B9, on the other hand, boosts the production of neutrophils.

Foods such as fish, sweet potato, spinach, carrots, meat, and eggs are rich in these vitamins. After consulting a doctor, you can also take vitamin supplements.

Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds are abundant in vitamin B6, vitamin E, and magnesium. All these nutrients are ones that boost white blood cells in attacking foreign organisms in the bloodstream. You can toss sunflower seeds on your salad to consume them. You could also grab some and munch on them.

Yogurt

Yogurt contains probiotics in a high amount. Probiotics contribute towards boosting immunity and also towards increasing white blood cell count. Take a bowl of yogurt daily. You could top it up with granola, chia seeds, and frozen berries.

Papaya Leaves

Acetogenins are a compound that also increases white blood cell count and can be found in papaya leaves. Once or twice daily, wash a bunch of papaya leaves and blend them in a little water. Next, strain the mixture and drink a tablespoon of the juice. Add some honey to the mixture to make it less bitter.

Noni Fruit

Noni fruit contains vitamin C. Consuming 30 to 60 ml of noni fruit juice will increase the count of lymphocytes in your blood. You could either use organic juice bought from the store or extract it yourself from the fruit.

Apart from using the remedies mentioned in this article, make sure to visit a cura4u healthcare provider if your white blood cell count is low.

Diagnosis Heaading

Quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

Vitamins to increase white blood cell count

Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)

Vitamins to increase white blood cell count

Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)

Vitamins to increase white blood cell count

Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)

Vitamins to increase white blood cell count

Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)

Symptoms Heaading

Feeling weakness when quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Again when quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. This time will pass.Feeling weakness when quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Again when quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. This time will pass.Feeling weakness when quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Again when quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. This time will pass.Feeling weakness when quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Again when quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. This time will pass.

Vitamins to increase white blood cell count

Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)

Vitamins to increase white blood cell count

Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)

Vitamins to increase white blood cell count

Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)

Vitamins to increase white blood cell count

Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)

Diagnosis Heaading

Recommended Tests

CBC (includes Differential and Platelets)

A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test used to evaluate your overall health. It may be used as a screening test or monitor for a wide range of disorders, including anemia, infections and platelet disorders.

White Blood Cell Count WBC Count

A white blood cell (WBC) count is a test that measures the number of white blood cells in your body

EOSINOPHIL COUNT URINE

Eosinophils are a type of white blood cells involved in certain allergic and immune reactions. This test detects presence of eosinophils in urine and helps in diagnosing various causes of kidney diseases such as acute interstitial nephritis.

CBC Differential and Platelets with Smear Review

CBC (includes Differential and Platelets) with Smear Review - A complete blood count is used as a screening test for various disease states including anemia, leukemia and inflammatory processes.

CBC includes Differential and Platelets with Pathologist Review

CBC (includes Differential and Platelets) with Pathologist Review - To assist in diagnosis of hematologic disorders.

Differential Count Blood

The differential blood count gives relative percentage of each type of white blood cell present in blood. 

White Blood Cell Count WBC and Differential

White Blood Cell Count (WBC) and Differential - A screening test for various disease states to include leukemia and inflammatory processes.

Lymphocytes Total (differential count)

Eosinophil Count Blood

Automated instrumentation performs white blood cell count and calculates the absolute eosinophil count.

Absolute Neutrophil Count

Used to assess the staus of the immune system and evaluate the risk of infection.

Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Manual Differential

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Vitamins to increase white blood cell count

Farah Jassawalla

Farah Jassawalla is a graduate of the Lahore School of Economics. She is also a writer, and a healthcare enthusiast, having closely observed case studies while working with Lahore's thriving general physicians at their clinics.

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