Foods to Increase Blood Platelets

Papaya

Papaya is the highly recommended fruit to be consumed when the blood platelets are at low levels. Apart from eating the ripe papaya fruit, you can also drink the concoction made from the papaya leaves that is equally helpful in increasing the blood platelets. All you have to do is boil the papaya leaves with water in a kettle, strain and drink the extract twice a day. You can try consuming both the leaf extract and the papaya fruit to increase the blood platelet count fast.

Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass has been found to be beneficial in elevating the level of platelet count. Rather, it has been observed that wheatgrass contributes significantly in increasing the red blood cell, hemoglobin, differential white blood cell counts and white blood cell. It is because wheatgrass is rich in chlorophyll and has a molecular structure almost similar to the human blood hemoglobin molecule. Drinking a half cup of wheatgrass juice mixed with a few drops of lemon juice daily helps to improve the platelet count.

Pomegranate

The red diamond like seeds of pomegranate is rich in iron just as all the red fruits and help to increase the blood platelet count. Pomegranate is also rich in vitamins, helps you to gain resistance and strength and fight low platelet related health diseases such as dengue fever.

Pumpkin

Just like papaya, another orange colored food, pumpkin is also known to be good at improving platelet count. Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A, helps to support the development of the platelet and regulates the proteins that are produced by the body cells. The regulation of protein cells is highly important for elevating the amount of platelets in the blood.
Prepare half glass of fresh pumpkin juice and add 1-teaspoon honey to it. Drink this twice or thrice a day to get maximum benefit. You can also include pumpkin in several other ways in your diet, such as by adding it to baked goods, smoothies, stews, soups and puree.

Vitamin C

Ascorbic acid, popularly known as vitamin C helps to increase the platelet count. A study published in the Japanese Journal of Hematology in 1990 had said that regular intake of foods rich in vitamin C helps to improve the platelet production in the body. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and higher doses of this vitamin prevent the free radical damage caused to the platelets. Considering your body's daily requirement of 400 to 2000 mg of vitamin C, you must include foods such as oranges, lemons, kiwi, bell peppers, spinach and broccoli that are loaded with ascorbic acid.

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens such as spinach, kale and fenugreek leaves are high in vitamin K and hence you should consume them when your platelet count hits the bottom. During an injury, the body activates proteins to stimulate formation of blood clots and stop the bleeding. These proteins depend upon the vitamin K for activation without which the clotting of blood is not possible. That is why, when the blood platelets are low, you must increase your consumption of leafy greens, especially kale as it contains high amount of vitamin K (1 cup chopped kale is equal to 547 micrograms vitamin K). Vegetable oil and parsley are also good sources of vitamin K.

Indian Gooseberries

Indian gooseberries also popularly known as amla are considered effective in increasing the production of blood platelets and boost the immune system. For best results, take 3 to 4 gooseberries on an empty stomach every morning. You can also take amla juice as an alternate by mixing it with honey. Drinking this mixture 2 to 3 times a day helps to increase the blood platelet production. Alternatively, if you are looking for eating something tasty, you can eat pickles and homemade jam made from the fresh Indian gooseberries.

Beetroot

Beetroot is often recommended for anemic patients. According to studies, one bowl of carrot and beets if taken twice a week helps to increase the blood platelet count. You can drink juices of beetroot, eat it as a salad or even prepare a beetroot soup.

Sesame Oil

Sesame oil is produced by cold-pressing method and is amazingly helpful in inducing the production of blood platelets. It reduces inflammation, damage from free radicals, and improves blood circulation. You can drink 1 to 2 tablespoons good quality sesame oil twice a day or rub it externally on the lymph node thrice or four times a day. Using sesame oil for cooking is also a good idea

Milk and Milk Products

Milk is high in calcium, which can help your body regenerate the number of platelets. The calcium content works along with Vitamin K and the milk protein fibrinogen. This is to increase your platelet count and improve the blood's ability to form clots. Calcium deficiency can lead to having your body take much time longer in forming blood clots, especially when dealing with excessive bleeding. Apart from milk, you can also consume cheese, yogurt and organic dairy products to keep your calcium levels at an optimum.

Raisins with Honey

Simply, you wrap about 10-15 raisins with some honey and then mix them with some warm milk before you have your breakfast. After following this remedy for about 2-3 weeks, your decreased blood platelet count will be able to get back to normal level. In fact, this is among the foods to increase blood platelets so that you should try to consume it for good.

Goat Milk

While goat milk is believed to help in increasing platelet counts, there is no scientific proof yet to back this evidence.

Papaya Leaves

As far as papaya is concerned, recently, a pill made of papaya leaf extract has been found to be effective in treating dengue patients.

Dates

Dates too are rich in iron and other nutrients that will help to increase the platelet counts naturally.