7 Foods SC Patients Need

There are many different foods that help to improve circulation and red blood cell production. But for those of us that aren’t so adventurous here are a few foods that you probably use everyday, and have so many positive benefits for sickle cell patients. Try to incorporate at least 2 of these in every meal you eat, and seriously avoid fatty foods…I cannot stress that enough!

1. Green, leafy vegetables like Kale, Spinach, Bok Choy, Turnip Greens and pretty much every vegetable with a leaf. They are high in folate aka folic acid.  This aids in improving appetite, cell production, growth and red blood cell formation.

2. Beets: Beets are high in iron, help build the blood and oxygenate the body. Beets have an added advantage of detoxify-ing the kidneys, liver and bladder…which we need since we are on so many ‘other’ harsh meds.

3. Brown Rice: If you must eat rice regularly (like I do), then switch to brown rice. This is one of the most energetically balanced food. It strengthens the lungs and the spleen.

4. Garlic: When my mom used to make me eat garlic everyday, I hated it with a passion, but I never feel sick with colds and the flu. Garlic is a great immune system builder, relieves cramps and helps to expel cold and dampness from your body by increasing your inner body temperature. How awesome is that?

5. More Veggies: I cannot stress the importance of vegetables. Diets high in meats and fatty foods tend to make sickle cell patients go into crises more. Try to eliminate meat from your diet completely, and if not, then try to limit your meat intake to small amounts a couple of times a week. Instead, bulk up on veggies like cabbage, mustard greens, onions, radishes.  Also throw in kidney beans, lentils, sorghum, millet and you have yourself a balanced diet.

6. Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne is another great detoxifier. It strengthens your immune system, disperses congestion, clears your sinuses, expels cold and helps to calm abdominal pains (by dilating the veins/arteries in the abdomen, increasing circulation, thereby increasing oxygenation). I love me some cayenne pepper…I can sprinkle it on almost everything.

7. Root vegetables: Root veggies like carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, yucca root, African yam, cassava and anything from that family are known to inhibit sickling and helps to increase red blood cell production. You can bake, steam, juice or broil them. As long as you don’t fry them…you are doing good.

I hope this gives you a starting point. If you have any other tips, please do share.

SC Warrior

42 Comments

  1. Bridget Reynolds on May 28, 2010 at 10:34 am

    Nice article. This should be incorporated into my Plant a Healing Garden series.
    Why not plant a healing garden, especially for those with sickle cell?

    I attest to the yam, beets and bok choi, garlic as well as brown rice. Put those beets in your salads. Eat them hot or cold. Add some cloves. I like to boil the beets, cube them place them in a jar with water and a little (just a little) vinegar, cardamon and cloves you can add a little sugar, honey or agave nectar.

    Don’t forget the beans! Thanks Warrior, its always good to visit your site. Keep up the great work. Love you.



  2. Cyndi on January 21, 2012 at 5:09 am

    Thank you for all the info you provide. God bless you for giving back.



  3. Lovelyn Ejele on March 22, 2012 at 9:42 am

    Thank you for the enlightenment
    You are appreciated



  4. Kalu Bright on May 31, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    Am i sickel cell patient and like to meet some like me



  5. Joyce on April 7, 2013 at 10:00 am

    Dear sickle cell warriors.i ve a kid sister who is sc.can i please know the food she should eat since we are in africa( ghana).am worried about her and wants to give all the care n attention.pls help me.



  6. ollie hodges on April 12, 2013 at 1:35 pm

    thanks a lot and god bless you. You may have just saved my life thank you so much.



  7. sarat chandra deheri on June 27, 2013 at 8:28 am

    Thanks a lot for all that information. Plz keep it up.



  8. Der on July 30, 2013 at 6:50 am

    I am askin whether it is possible for an Sc patient to be fat



  9. Candy Johnson on August 30, 2013 at 1:46 pm

    Hi i`am 24yrs old i have sickle cell i been though it my whole life with!!! I whould really love to meet people like me cause alot of people don’t understand my life r my pain find me on facebook n box me @jjuvanda1989@gmail.com i whould love to have new people to talk too !!!!



  10. Mike on February 7, 2015 at 2:02 pm

    Hello to all, This the first time I have come across your site and I was really shocked to see someone with the same last name as I have. I just started eating Beets and I searched for beet juice and found that it could be harmful if drinking too much, therefore I searched for sickle cell patents eating beets and came across your site. I have SS and my life was not bad until I turned 40. when I turned 40 my life went down hill fast, I went from working in law-enforcement and benching about 300 to 400 lbs., to being unemployed and no exercise at all because of PAH. Now after months of no exercise I am feeling better and try hard to eat right. I am impressed with what I read on your site and would really like to join and get to talk to other sickle cell patients on your site especially Bridget Reynolds. I Know at the age of 50 with sickle cell there is not many days left for me, but keep up the good work for the younger generation with sickle cell and so much to look forward to.



  11. Gee on February 21, 2016 at 10:39 am

    I am an AS and my love one is SC can we still go ahead and marry?



  12. mallia on June 3, 2016 at 11:57 am

    .i`m wel pleased to know pple wid the same problem as i ,i wish u a happy long lyf and i love u all



  13. Leopoldina on September 1, 2016 at 10:31 am

    Thanks for the information,I now know am not the only one in this.love you all



  14. jossy on November 23, 2016 at 1:51 am

    The information you have provided is very educative. Thank you.



  15. Eben on January 12, 2017 at 6:58 pm

    Thanks for the information.



  16. bummy on February 22, 2017 at 9:32 am

    Good write up. I’m health worker as a profession.l just discovered a SC patient in my clinic today through Laboratory test. At least, l get some tips here for health education. Thank you and stay blessed



  17. Dodie on April 5, 2017 at 8:13 pm

    Thank you for your information. I am a 46 year old woman with Sickle Cell (SC) and I am tired of the doctors not understanding this disease. I am fairly healthy but when I have a crisis it is hard to get the doctors to listen to me.



  18. Mercy Andrews on April 8, 2017 at 2:41 pm

    hello viewers, i want to testify on how a wonderful great man called Dr EROMOSELE HERBS cured my families sickle cell anemia.. On a faithful day when i was browsing through my Internet i saw so many testimony on how he has helped so many people from sickle cell anemia i was so curious and eager to contact him on facebook. when i came in contact with him, i was so lucky that he created time for me and i was told on what to do.. i was only charge 100 dollars for the herbs to get to me , he prepared the herbs and send it to me through flight, he gave me the prescription on how to drink it and i did as instructed.. then i begin to experience a great change in my families body system so we decided to go to our family doctor for test, to my greatest surprise we were all negative.no more leg pains, bacterial infection, heart injury, nor liver congestion me and my families are now a living testimony. ALL THANKS TO DR EROMOSELE.With the pure herbal root and health Natural herbal medicine that can cure any types of diseases easily Natural treatment for any types of diseases the following ailments and diseases Heart Diseases Immune Deficiencies High Blood Pressure Fibroid Cancer Diabetes Eye Problem Asthma/Cough Low Sperm Count Pile Arthritis Infertility/Male/Female Ulcer Obesity Menstrual Pain Prostrate Problems Stroke Marriage Broken Marriage Divorce Spiritual Attack Mental problem also he cures any type of skin Diseases etc…….facebook him on [EROMOSELE HERBS] come and received your healing thanks………….



  19. nakky on September 30, 2017 at 11:23 am

    Hi.I have two kids with sickle cells and they have different signs one it affects her on her back she can’t sleep,sit or stand and the other one the whole body swells and the eyes turns green.pliz I need ur help on what to do and to avoid from them



  20. Patricia on November 3, 2017 at 12:05 pm

    I am 57 years old just found out that I have SCT, for the last 20 years I very been told that I have gout now I wonder if the pain that I get in my shoulder and both ankles are because of this trait



  21. Ikoona rogers on November 11, 2017 at 6:21 am

    Thanks very much all of the given adivase!



  22. Helena on November 19, 2017 at 11:42 am

    Thanks for your advice, please l don’t know the “beet ” I have not seen some before. Can you please show us some in your site?



  23. Fiwa on December 20, 2017 at 5:56 am

    Never knew there was a diet for sickle cells. Just decided to check if there is. Now I know why am always feeling sick (I haven’t been eating right at all).

    Thank you Tosin



  24. Baba Aisha on January 28, 2018 at 9:08 am

    I just got information that my first daughter is Sc. I need someone to educate me about this genotype. Is it worse or better? Is As stronger than Sc?



  25. Racy on February 25, 2018 at 4:09 pm

    This is an amazing site. I am a 43 year old sickler and my health declined so rapidly after 40. I have not been able to exercise due to excessive tiredness and insomnia. Water consumption has never been a problem, but now I am having heart trouble and am 50 pounds overweight.
    I want to excercise but I am afraid of the pain that may come from a crisis. Does anyone have any advice?

    The article was amazing and the only thing on the list that I don’t eat is beets! I eat lots of citrus as vitamin C helps with blood oxygenation.



  26. Ann on March 22, 2018 at 10:00 am

    My husband was AS & I was SC, we had a child that was SC, he is now 20. We weren’t educated on genetics, but it is a 50/50 chance of your child having SS or other. I was stressful when he was young, but after reading the western way of health, instead of the european way, this has helped his condition a lot. I chose not to have more children, due to this. Hope this helps



  27. confidence on April 8, 2018 at 4:26 am

    I have a friend with SC and I wish I could help during a crisis. What do you think I can do to be of help?



  28. Flotob on April 16, 2018 at 9:21 am

    My fiancée is AS and I am AC…we are about to get married, what should I to expect?



  29. Juju on April 17, 2018 at 7:48 am

    I have found my peace now, but I did not take it serious when I heard that I’m a SC carrier. Later I started feeling more pains in my body and I started remembering the symptoms in the past. I am happy that my future is secured. Thanks very much.



  30. Bertha on May 15, 2018 at 2:55 pm

    I am pleased to read this. Kindly Add me to your page so I can have much information to take care of my little niece with sc.
    God bless you.



  31. Benardette on May 25, 2018 at 7:12 am

    Thank you for this family, I have a 1 and half year old child who is a sickler. I give him a combination of beet, apple,carrot, mango, ors, and other fruits, together with his pen-v, folic, and anti malarials. I also dress him up heavily when it’s cold.
    Members I also pray and cry to God everyday telling Him to help give me His grace and mercy to carry on.



  32. Ruby on June 7, 2018 at 4:38 am

    Thank you for this family. My daughter is AS and at times she experiences pain crisis as it common to AS too.



  33. Omoh on June 8, 2018 at 5:02 am

    Thanks for this info. I have a girl of 10 yrs who is SC, always with yellow eyes and always tired. What are the drugs that can help her? Thanks.



  34. Jack on June 9, 2018 at 7:01 am

    Thank you for the education. I have a son who is sc genotype. Is it possible to do a marrow transplant?



  35. fomdarl on June 14, 2018 at 5:28 pm

    How long can beet juice be taken for anemia (PCV of 14%)?



  36. Ojara Francis on June 30, 2018 at 12:23 am

    IF there any good which can help reduce problems for someone who has already had a stroke?



  37. Obaapa on July 8, 2018 at 7:02 am

    A very useful site I have found. I have a 4yr old daughter with SC. The information here would be of great support. Please any advice on how to improve the colour of her eyes? They are mostly light yellowish .



  38. Chizzy on July 28, 2018 at 3:04 pm

    Thanks for this info. My son is 2 and I would like any advice on how to improve the color of his eyes.



  39. boy on August 4, 2018 at 10:03 pm

    Is it possible to do a bone marrow transplant for 4 year old and where is it done?



  40. lynn on August 17, 2018 at 12:09 pm

    Hi, I am so glad to find this site. I have SC and have been getting blood transfusions. I am pregnant and my doctor said it is not healthy and I’m at risk. What food will help me?



  41. Love on September 20, 2018 at 1:27 pm

    Thanks for the hints! I appreciate it as I am a SC patient, but only suffer when it is very cold. I am very strong at work. All I normally had when it was very cold were cramps in all my joints.



  42. IkeE on March 26, 2019 at 10:07 am

    I am a 13 year old boy and am always getting blood transfusions about every two weeks. What can I take to avoid drugs or what foods are best?



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