The Top 5 Foods To Raise a Platelet Count

People who have a low blood platelet count have a condition called thrombocytopenia. Platelets are the tiny, plate-shaped bodies in the blood that help it to clot when the body receives an injury. They actually form clumps, stop up the injury much like a plug and release compounds that heal the wound. Most forms of thrombocytopenia are mild. Treating it is relatively easy and there are many foods that support the production of platelets. A simple change in diet can make a big difference.

Vitamin A rich foods. Vitamin A not only helps with low platelet count but is an antioxidant, which protects the body from damage from free radicals. Foods rich in vitamin A include colorful red, yellow or orange fruits and vegetables. This would include sweet potatoes. One sweet potato has about 500 international units or I.U. of vitamin A. This means that only one sweet potato has nearly as much of the daily recommended dietary allowance for women which is 500 I.U. and half as much of the RDA for men. Other foods that are good sources of vitamin A are carrots, boiled spinach, butternut squash, cantaloupe and boiled beet greens. Fresh, cooked tuna is also a good source of vitamin A.