July 3, 2024
Registered dietitian Patrick Traynor says diet is a frequent cause of microcytic (iron deficiency) and macrocytic anemia (vitamin B12 or folate deficiency), which results in smaller or larger than normal red blood cell counts, respectively. Vitamin C can help convert nonheme iron from plants to the more soluble heme iron found in animal protein, Traynor says, and consuming a diverse, nutrient-dense diet and not overcooking foods can also help improve iron levels.