by Marika
As a longtime athlete and a pediatrician’s daughter I was never sick. Even the slightest cold went away after only a day. I was raised on healthy food, I knew how to boost my immune system when I felt it was necessary and most importantly, I exercised. I was active. In the morning I would walk to school. After school I kept busy with ballet for two or three hours, then karate classes for another three and I usually walked home. On weekends I would horseback ride. I was on the swim team, I ran track and as I became older I piled on a few nights of clubbing to my nightly routine, sweating out my toxins.
After I graduated from college, I completed a year of graduate law studies that led to a post graduate internship in Washington, D.C. That is when I turned to ‘junk food’ eating in a hurry, usually ‘on the go’ and often, late at night. I didn’t realize what my father always knew - that our DNA carries disease for a long time until the onset is triggered.
I inherited a lot from my dear dad, including his blood type, the rare O-Negative. According to Health Research Funding Org. statistics, the number of deaths attributed to iron deficiency each year is 4,988. Globally, 1.6 billion people suffer from anemia, and several hundred million routinely manifest iron deficiency anemia. Based on data collected between 1993 - 2005 relatively, 10% of all African Americans have sickle cell trait. As reported on www.who.int an estimated 1620million people worldwide are affected by anemia. According to Peter J. D’Adamo’s book, Eat Right for Your Blood Type, all type0 individuals have African origins.
Depression, bad eating habits and weight gain triggered my disease, when my father passed away from lung cancer. I experienced extreme fatigue, exhaustion, and dizziness. I was, or I should say, I am always cold. I was diagnosed with anemia when I received my first - non daddy provided - blood test. This time, my doctor was female. She said I should consider transfusions, only, I wasn’t comfortable with that. I was scared. As a holistic practitioner, I thought, perhaps, I will first try food and supplements, then, if all fails, turn to transfusions.
I changed my diet, my sleep routine, I began taking appropriate supplements and vitamins, then, after three weeks, I took another blood test. This time, results showed I was no longer anemic. “Whatever you are doing, keep on doing it.” My doctor said. I slipped up for a month, and discovered anemia had returned. It was clear my routine was going to be a lifelong regimen. I gave it another try. I only ate spleen friendly foods, I doubled up on iron supplements and I began taking daytime naps, as well as going to bed early. I knew our body makes new blood when we sleep. For anemics, sleep is very important. After age thirty our body requires supplements for that which we no longer make naturally. My daily supplements are A, B12, C, D, E, as well as CoQ10. It was imperative that I live a healthy lifestyle. This includes a vegan diet and superfoods, such as chia, coconut, chlorella.
Anemia is not a death sentence, but I must live a healthy lifestyle in order to keep anemia on a leash. I’m in control, not my disease. Although, I found a way to combat my iron deficiency I am still, always cold. This I must accept. If only someone created heat lamps for humans!