A small plate of mozzarella cheese.
Image Credit: IPGGutenbergUKLtd/iStock/Getty Images Vitamin K, calcium and zinc are all necessary for the reactions in your body that cause blood to thicken and clot, so eating foods rich in these nutrients may be beneficial for thickening your blood. While nutrient deficiencies can make thin blood more likely, a number of other health conditions could also cause this condition. In these cases, food alone won’t thicken your blood, so speak with your doctor if you’re worried your blood might be thin to get to the bottom of the problem.
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Foods Rich in Vitamin K
Vitamin K is sometimes used to limit the risk of excessive bleeding in certain conditions, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Women need at least 90 micrograms of vitamin K per day, and men require at least 120 micrograms. Cooked leafy green vegetables are among the best sources of vitamin K. A 1/2-cup serving of cooked kale provides 664 percent of the daily value for vitamin K. The same amount of cooked spinach or mustard greens will also give you more than 500 percent of the DV, and beet greens, collards, turnip greens, Swiss chard and dandelion greens have more than 100 percent of the DV per serving.
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Foods High in Calcium
Adults need at least 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day. Dairy products are among the best sources. A cup of lowfat milk provides 31 percent of the DV, and the same amount of nonfat plain yogurt has 49 percent of the DV. Each ounce of nonfat mozzarella contains 29 percent of the DV. Other foods with smaller amounts of calcium include canned fish, almonds, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, tofu and okra.
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Foods Rich in Zinc
Women need at least 8 milligrams of zinc per day, and men require at least 11 grams. Seafood is one of the best sources, with a 3-ounce serving of oysters providing 445 percent of the DV and the same amount of crab or lobster offering more than 40 percent of the DV. Beef and lamb contain more than 30 percent of the DV per serving, and pork has about 28 percent of the DV per serving. Other foods that provide small amounts of zinc include nuts, seeds, beans, mushrooms, spinach and chicken.
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Blood-Thickening Meal Ideas
For breakfast, have a bowl of nonfat yogurt topped with a sprinkle of nuts and some dried blueberries, which contain a small amount of vitamin K. Serve lean beef along with a glass of milk and a spinach salad containing mushrooms, sunflower seeds and a small amount of lowfat shredded cheese for dinner. Vegetarians can make a kale and tofu stir-fry topped with a sprinkle of nuts.
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references
Health-Alicious-Ness.com: Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin K
University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin K
Linus Pauling Institute: Calcium
Health-Alicious-Ness.com: Top 10 Foods Highest in Calcium
University of Maryland Medical Center: Zinc
Health-Alicious-Ness.com: Top 10 Foods Highest in Zinc
references
Health-Alicious-Ness.com: Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin K
University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin K
Linus Pauling Institute: Calcium
Health-Alicious-Ness.com: Top 10 Foods Highest in Calcium
University of Maryland Medical Center: Zinc
Health-Alicious-Ness.com: Top 10 Foods Highest in Zinc
A small plate of mozzarella cheese.
Image Credit: IPGGutenbergUKLtd/iStock/Getty Images
Image Credit: IPGGutenbergUKLtd/iStock/Getty Images
Health-Alicious-Ness.com: Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin K
University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin K
Linus Pauling Institute: Calcium
Health-Alicious-Ness.com: Top 10 Foods Highest in Calcium
University of Maryland Medical Center: Zinc
Health-Alicious-Ness.com: Top 10 Foods Highest in Zinc
