Platelets are so small that they make up only a tiny fraction of the total blood volume. Their function is mainly to avoid bleeding by coagulating the blood. However, in rare cases, some people develop a condition that causes the bone marrow to produce too many platelets. This could lead to the formation of large blood clots which can cause stroke or heart problems. Read on for more information on how you can reduce your blood platelet count through diet, lifestyle, and medical treatments.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Through the Diet and Lifestyle
Step 1. Eat raw garlic to reduce the number of blood platelets
Raw or crushed garlic contains a compound called "allicin" which affects the body's ability to produce platelets, thereby reducing them.
- The body responds to a lower level of platelets by improving its immune capabilities, which help protect the body from any foreign factors (such as viruses and bacteria) that enter the system.
- The allicin content in garlic decreases very quickly with cooking, so try to eat it raw. For some people, raw garlic causes stomach upset, so be sure to eat it with food.
Step 2. Take ginkgo biloba to reduce blood viscosity
This plant contains elements called "terpenoids" which reduce the density of the blood (ie make it less viscous) and prevent the formation of clots.
- Ginkgo biloba also helps improve blood circulation and is an adjunct in dissolving clots.
- This product is available as a supplement in liquid or capsule form. You can buy it at health food stores or in pharmacies and parapharmacies.
- If you can retrieve the ginkgo biloba leaves, you can boil them in water for 5-7 minutes and drink it as a tea.
Step 3. Use ginseng to prevent clots
This plant contains "ginsenosides" which help reduce platelet aggregation and thus prevent the formation of clots.
- You can find it on the market in capsule form in health food stores and pharmacies. It is often added to energy foods and drinks.
- This product causes insomnia and nausea in some people, so you need to try taking it for some time to see how your body reacts.
Step 4. Eat pomegranate for its anti-platelet effect
This fruit contains substances called polyphenols that have an anti-platelet effect, that is, they reduce the production of platelets and prevent existing ones from causing blood clotting.
You can eat the pomegranate fruit fresh, whole, you can drink its juice or add its extract to your preparations in the kitchen
Step 5. Eat Omega-3 rich fish to inhibit platelet production
Omega-3 fatty acids affect the activity of platelets, thin the blood and reduce the risk of clotting. These oils are abundant in sea fish such as tuna, salmon, scallops, sardines, shellfish and herring.
- Always try to include 2 or 3 servings of these fish every week to meet the recommended weekly Omega-3 requirement.
- If you don't particularly like fish, you can still supplement your Omega-3 intake by taking 3000 or 4000 mg of fish oil each day in supplement form.
Step 6. Drink red wine to reduce the chances of clots forming
Red wine contains flavonoids, which derive from the skin of red grapes during the production of the drink. These substances prevent the overproduction of cells in the lining of the artery walls (a process caused by too many platelets in the blood). This reduces the possibility of blood clots forming.
- Half a glass of standard wine (175 ml) contains one unit of alcohol. Men should drink no more than 21 units of alcohol per week and no more than four per day.
- Women should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week and no more than three per day. However, both men and women should completely avoid alcohol at least two days a week.
Step 7. Eat fruits and vegetables containing "salicylates" which facilitate blood thinning
Foods that contain this substance help prevent clotting. They also increase the body's immune capabilities and help keep platelet counts normal.
- Vegetables rich in salicylates are cucumbers, mushrooms, courgettes, radishes and alfalfa.
- The fruits that contain them are all kinds of berries, cherries, grapes and oranges.
Step 8. Add cinnamon to the dishes you cook to reduce platelet clumping
This spice contains a compound called "cinnamaldehyde" which is known to reduce platelet aggregation and therefore blood clotting.
Add ground cinnamon to baked goods or stewed vegetables. You can also try boiling a cinnamon stick in tea or wine
Step 9. Stop smoking to prevent blood clots
Smoking increases the risk of blood clots, due to the various harmful compounds found in cigarettes (such as nicotine). Smoking thickens the blood and makes it easier for platelets to clump together.
- Serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke often occur due to the formation of blood clots. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do to avoid them.
- Quitting is difficult and not something you can solve overnight. Read this article for some helpful tips on how to quit smoking.
Step 10. Drink coffee for its anti-platelet effect
Coffee has the property of reducing the number of platelets in the blood and preventing them from aggregating.
The anti-platelet effect of coffee is not due to caffeine, but to phenolic acids. Therefore, you can also benefit from its positive effect by drinking the decaffeinated one
Method 2 of 2: Through Drugs and Medical Procedures
Step 1. Take anticoagulant medications to dissolve blood, as prescribed by your doctor
Under certain circumstances, your doctor may prescribe these medications that prevent blood stickiness, platelet aggregation, and clot formation. Some of these popular drugs are:
- Aspirin
- Hydroxyurea
- Anagrelide
- Interferon alpha
- Busulfan
- Pipobromano
- Phosphorus-32
Step 2. Undergo a procedure known as platelet apheresis
In severe emergency situations, your doctor may recommend this treatment, which allows you to quickly reduce the number of platelets in your blood.
- During this procedure, an intravenous needle is inserted into one of the blood vessels to remove the blood. This blood is passed through a machine that removes platelets.
- Platelet-free blood is injected back into the body through a second intravenous line.
Advice
- To measure the platelet count, a blood sample is taken and sent to the laboratory for analysis. A normal level of platelets is between 150,000 and 350,000 per micro liter of blood.
- Dark chocolate is also believed to inhibit platelet production, so try eating a few squares after dinner every night.
