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Hello Doctor,

Last year I turned 31 and started seeing grey hair, diagnosed with osteophytes and generation in spine with low B12 and hemoglobin. I'm so worried about my health and want to know proper diet for me at this age and with existing conditions.

Shailly Sanoriya

1 year ago

Hello Doctor,

Last year I turned 31 and started seeing grey hair, diagnosed with osteophytes and generation in spine with low B12 and hemoglobin. I'm so worried about my health and want to know proper diet for me at this age and with existing conditions.

Nutrition
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Happy Tummy Expert

1 year ago

Dear Shailly Sanoriya, Thank you for the question

An osteophyte is a fibrocartilage-capped bony outgrowth that is one of the features of osteoarthritis. Osteophyte formation is in addition to joint space narrowing. Osteophytes can have a significant clinical impact and can be a source of pain and loss of function. This can occur mainly through nerve compression, limitation of joint mobility and obstruction of tissues and organs.

A number of conditions and injuries can affect the spine and may damage the vertebrae causing pain, and limit mobility. Some of the common spine disorders are Degenerative spine and disc conditions like Arthritis, Degenerative disc disease, Herniated disc, Spinal stenosis, Spondylosis etc.

Spine disorders have a wide variety of causes depending on the particular condition. For some conditions, the causes are unknown. Common causes include: Accidents or falls, Congenital disorders (present since birth), Inflammation, Infection, Inherited disorders, Injuries ranging from minor to traumatic and Degenerative wear and tear that comes with aging.

 We would kindly request you to contact a specialized health care professional for such as an orthopaedic for further assistance, diagnosis and management.

It is important to take care of calcium and vitamin D requirements for bone health, maintain Bone mineral density and prevent the risks of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis.  Some of the calcium sources include milk, cheese, paneer, Ragi, curd, yogurt. Sunlight is the one of best sources of vitamin D, exposing yourself to the sun or sunbathing for 10-15 minutes can help maintain bone health and vitamin D increases the absorption of calcium in the bones. Other sources of Vitamin D include eggs, fatty fish, fortified cereals etc.

Recommended daily allowance for calcium is 1000mg per day for both men and women and for Vitamin D is 15mcg per day for men and women.

Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin. Vitamin B12 is used as a cofactor for enzymes that are involved in the synthesis of DNA, fatty acids, and myelin. As a result, B12 deficiency can potentially affect hematologic and neurological functions.

The causes of Vitamin B12 deficiency can occur due to autoimmune disorders, inadequate intake of dietary vitamin b12 and malabsorption due to certain gastrointestinal disorders.

Management & Treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency involves repletion with B12 through natural dietary food sources or with b12 supplements that can be consumed under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of Vitamin B12 for a woman is 2.2µg/day

Some of the rich food sources of Vitamin B12 are-

  • Lean meat- chicken, fish, prawns. Crabs etc
  • Eggs
  • Milk & milk products
  • Fortified cereals
  • Vegetables – Mushroom, beetroot, potato

Women face more risk of iron deficiency across lifecycle due to increased iron needs during menstrual blood loss & childbirth etc.  some of the reasons iron deficiency inadequate intake, malabsorption, low intake of vitamin C, infections and/or underlying health conditions. Iron deficiency may potentially increase the risk of anemia. For further diagnosis and assistance please contact a health care professional.

The richest sources of heme iron in the diet are lean meat and seafood and non-heme sources include nuts, beans, dark green leafy vegetables, and fortified grain, milk, whole grains, legumes and dry fruits etc.

Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of Iron for women is 29mg per day.

As a general dietary guideline, for an apparently healthy individual/ with no specific health or nutrition needs and/or metabolic condition it is recommended to consume 2000kcal/d and the RDA for protein requirement is 46g/d for women.

Here are few guidelines for healthy balanced diet that can be considered:

  • Have a Diversified Balanced Diet that includes all the food groups in the right quantity which thereby provides you with all the essential macro and micro nutrients that your body requires daily for proper functioning.
  • Try to incorporate the My plate Concept by dividing your plate into 4 quadrants, fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables, the other two quadrants with cereals and protein. A small quantity of dairy intake is recommended.
  • Some of the good sources of protein include pulses, lentils, milk, paneer, soybean, eggs, lean meat, nuts & seeds, etc.  
  • Begin your day with a well-balanced breakfast as it is an important meal of the day.
  • Avoid skipping meals. Also, try to avoid fasting and feasting too often.
  • Consume small frequent meals, with healthy snacking options.
  • Consume minimum 5 servings of vegetables and 1 serving of fruit as they are rich in Fiber, essential minerals & Vitamins as well as they give you a feeling of satiety.
  • Try to consume more of Whole grains, Millets and Multigrain foods as they are a good source of fiber.
  • Limit intake of deep-fried foods. Method of cooking like baking, grilling, boiling, steaming is preferable over deep frying with excess fat/ oil.
  • Have your last meal at least 2-3 hours before sleep time.
  • Drink adequate amount of water (minimum 8 glasses) of water daily to keep yourself well hydrated
  • Engage in at least 30-45 minutes brisk walk/physical activity of moderate intensity at least 5 days a week.
  • Try and follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and Quality.

For a customised and personalised meal plan for specific conditions, please contact your Health care professional.

Hope we have answered your query.

Wishing you a great day ahead

1 Reply

Shailly Sanoriya

1 year ago

Thank you so much such a detailed answer. So helpful 🙏🏼

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