What are Anemia and Goitre? How do they occur and how can they be prevented?

Anemia: The deficiency of iron results in this disease. A person suffering from anemia larks adequate percentage of hemoglobin or adequate number of red cells. As we know that iron is used in making hemoglobin so the deficiency of iron in our food results in the deficiency of hemoglobin in the red, blood cells. The symptoms of this deficiency disease are the person looks pale, fatigues soon, looses appetite, looses weight. Anemia can be cured or prevented by eating food-stuff which are rich in iron and vitamin B12 Such food-stuffs are meat, liver, cabbage, fruits like apple, guava etc.

Goitre: Deficiency of iodine results in the abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland situated in our neck. This condition is called goitre. The symptoms of this disease are the neck of the person with goitre look swollen, in severe cases the body weight increases, nervous disorder also takes place. It is a disease common in hilly areas. On the other hand, people living along the sea coast do not suffer from goitre.

Goitre can be prevented by taking sufficient iodine in the diet. e.g. by taking iodized salt in our food. Iodized salt is obtained by adding pbtassium iodate and potassium iodite to common salt.