People who don’t consume enough folate (vitamin B6) are at risk of anemia.
Anemia is a condition in which the blood does not supply the body with enough oxygen, either because
- There are not enough red blood cells circulating in the body or
- Those red blood cells don’t contain enough hemoglobin.
Hemoglobin is the iron-containing pigment that gives blood its ability to carry oxygen. The body needs Vitamin B6 to make hemoglobin.
To be sure you consume enough vitamin B6, eat a diet rich in whole grains, leafy greens, and legumes. One cup of lentils provides nearly 90% of the recommended daily allowance of folate. Other excellent sources of folate are beef liver, yellowfin tuna, and salmon.
Learn more about anemia.