According to medical experts, one of the most common causes of priapism is sickle cell anemia. In fact, they add that up to 42 percent of men diagnosed with sickle cell anemia will have priapism at least once during their bout of the blood disorder. So to ward off priapism, sickle cell anemia should be managed properly and effectively.
Doctors recommend males with sickle cell anemia to take folic acid supplements. They say that folic acid is necessitated by the bone marrow for the production of normal and healthy red blood cells. Other than the intake of folic acid supplements, it’s a good idea for males with sickle cell anemia and at risk of having priapism to include in their daily diets the following foods that are rich in folic acid:
- Asparagus is said to be the vegetable that contains the most folic acid
- Dark leafy green vegetables such as spinach, mustard greens and collard greens are great folic acid sources
- Broccoli is not only an excellent source of folic acid, but also helps detoxify the blood
- Cauliflower, just like broccoli is a good supplier of folic acid as well as blood detoxifier
- Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits supply the body with folic acid
- Papaya and berries also contain good amounts of folic acid
- Avocados not only pack folic acid, but also healthy kinds of fat
- Pinto beans, garbanzo beans, lima beans, kidney beans, navy beans and green peas are all rich in folic acid
- Sunflower seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds all contain folic acid
- Various nuts, most especially almonds and peanuts, are high in folic acid
Medical experts say that having the blood thinned can help males with sickle cell anemia from encountering priapism, because it keeps blood from being unable to flow out of the penis. Luckily, there are numerous foods in our midst that are known to be excellent at thinning the blood naturally. Some of them are:
- Herbs and spices rich in salicylates, such cinnamon, dill, ginger, paprika, turmeric and cinnamon
- Garlic is a well-known natural thinner of the blood, considerably lowering one’s risk of heart attack and stroke
- Foods containing vitamin E like red bell peppers, wheat germ, and various types of nuts and seeds
- Omega-3 fatty acid rich foods like fatty fish, some of which include salmon, tuna, trout, herring and sardines
- Pineapple and pineapple juice that contain hefty amounts of the blood thinning enzyme called bromelain
- Red wine, when consumed in moderation, can help save the blood from becoming thick
We all know that a mineral so important for the production of red blood cells is iron. Aside from the intake of iron supplements, which can be dangerous if mistakenly consumed in excessive amounts, males with sickle cell anemia and are at risk of having priapism may simply include in their everyday diet iron-rich foods like:
- Various seeds such as pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds
- Different types of nuts are rich in iron, including almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, pecans and macadamia
- Chicken liver is rich in iron, but it should be consumed moderately due to its high cholesterol content
- Mussels, scallops, clams, oysters — seafood like these pack good amounts of iron
- All sorts of beans provide the body with iron, from kidney beans, garbanzo beans to black eyed peas
- Dark leafy green vegetables such as spinach, Swiss chards and kale are all excellent sources of iron
- Dark chocolate, which is at least 70 percent cocoa, also helps in the formation of healthy red blood cells
- Whole grains like bulgur, oatmeal, rice and barley all supply the body with iron
