Poor Nutrition Can Cause Disease 173
Treatment and prevention:
• If malaria, parasites, or worms are causing your anemia, treat
these diseases first.
• Eat foods rich in iron (see page 167), along with foods
rich in vitamins A and C, which help the body absorb iron.
Citrus fruits and tomatoes are rich in vitamin C. Dark
yellow and dark green leafy vegetables are rich in vitamin A.
If a woman cannot eat enough foods rich in iron, she may
need to take iron pills (see page 73).
• Avoid drinking black tea or coffee, or eating bran (the outer
layer of grains) with meals. These can prevent the body
from absorbing iron from food.
• Drink clean water to prevent infection from parasites.
• Use a latrine for passing stool, so that worm eggs will not
spread to food and water sources. If hookworms are
common in your area, try to wear shoes.
• Space births at least 2 years apart. This will give your body
a chance to store some iron between pregnancies.
155
clean water
150
cleanliness
Beriberi
Beriberi is a disease caused by lack of thiamine (one of the
B vitamins), which helps the body turn food into energy. Like
anemia, beriberi is most often seen in women from puberty to
menopause, and in their children.
Beriberi occurs most often when the main food is a grain
whose outer skin has been removed (for example, polished
rice) or a starchy root, like cassava.
Signs:
• not wanting to eat
• severe weakness, especially
in the legs
• the body becomes very
swollen or the heart stops
working
Treatment and prevention:
Eat foods rich in thiamine, like
meat, poultry, fish, liver, whole
grain cereals, legumes (peas,
beans, clover), milk, and eggs.
If this is difficult, a person may
need thiamine pills.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012