Food allowed and disallowed for ITP

My daughter who is 26 has just been diagnosed with ITP and we are confused at what can/can't eat. She needs to increase her platelets by changing her diet. I have looked at many sites but they are all contradictive. Would someone be able to help me with that.

You can't increase the platelets by diet. She can eat what she likes although of course she should eat a balanced healthy diet.

Hi Anne, thanks for your response. well the doctor told her to change her diet. According to him there are certain foods that reduce platelets further and other foods that help raise levels. She will be seeing a hematologist next week so hopefully we get all the answers then.

I think another way to consider this is that there aren't many foods which change platelet counts. There are, however, foods and drugs which change platelet function. Fish oil, aspirin, NSAIDS, and some other things tend to be anti-clotting agents, so if you are already low on platelets, it might be a bad idea to make them less sticky.

However, there are people who have low platelet counts and are still subject to excessive clotting due to other issues.

Talking to your hematologist is the right idea.

There is a lot of controversy about this. There have been some claims that diet can raise counts. However, if it were that easy for everyone, we'd all just eat the foods that did it and never have to use the traditional medical treatments with the nasty side effects.

I have never seen anyone rid themselves of ITP based on diet alone.

There are some foods that tend to make platelets less sticky (as Mendenmh said). That decreases function, not numbers. Some people avoid those foods, but most people still eat them if they believe those foods are part of a wholesome diet. There are no real rules about this.

You can find the below info in pdf format on the ITP in Adults: Additional Resources section

ITP DIET SUGGESTIONS
In our Survey of Non-Traditional Treatments in ITP ( www.itppeople.com/surveyres/ ) about
40% of the responders reported some improvement in their bleeding symptoms and their platelet count
with either the macrobiotic diet or the diet recommended in Eat Right for Your Type by Dr. Peter J.
D’Adamo. Less success was reported for the Atkins and Zone diets, high protein, low carbohydrate
diets.
The recommendations listed in this article are based on principals from the macrobiotic and
“Eat Right” diet, general nutritional research and research linking the impact of diet changes on other
diseases that have common features with ITP.
If you would like to implement some of the diet changes listed in this article, please make the
changes slowly so your body can adjust. Sometimes diet changes can cause withdrawal and
detoxification symptoms as your body adjusts to the new foods and eliminates the old.
These suggestions are guidelines only. Be sure to discuss any diet changes with your physician.
1. Eat a wide variety of fresh food
Maximize the value of each bite. Eat food from as close to the source as possible and as soon
as possible. Avoid canned and frozen foods and leftovers. The nutritional value of food
deteriorates with time. A wide va riety of food assures your body gets the variety of nutrients it
needs.
2. Eat whole foods
Eat whole grain cereals, brown rice, and whole wheat products. Reduce the amount of white
flour, white rice and processed foods. Processed grains are stripped of their natural nutrientrich
coating.
3. Eat organic foods
Eat un-sprayed foods grown using natural fertilizers. Some pesticides and herbicides have been
shown to exacerbate autoimmune diseases and lower platelets. Additives and preservatives can
increase the disease-causing free radicals in your body.
4. Reduce sugar
Reduce the amount of white refined sugar as well as fructose, corn syrup, honey and other
sweeteners. Limit fruit and fruit juice. Sugar contributes to an acidic disease-promoting body
condition.
5. Reduce dairy products
Reduce or eliminate milk, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt from your diet based on your reaction
to these foods and other dietary needs. Dairy foods have been shown to contribute to mucus
formation and exacerbate some autoimmune diseases.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
© Platelet Disorder Support Association, 2004 www.pdsa.org P. O. Box 61533, Potomac, MD 20859 1-877-528-3538
6. Eat healthy fats
Use cold pressed oils such as olive or canola in cooking and baking. Avoid hydrogenated,
partially hydrogenated or trans- fats. These contribute to free radical damage. Reduce the
amount of deep fried food which also adds to the free radical load.
7. Eat green
Eat as many leafy greens as possible, especially kale and collards. Add sea vegetables (sea
weed) to your diet. These choices contain large amounts of calcium, minerals, and vitamin K
to help clotting.
8. Limit meat
Rely on lean, white fish, whole grains and beans and some nuts for protein. Meat is often laced
with residual antibiotics, hormones, and saturated fat.
9. Avoid problem foods
Avoid alcoholic beverages which can damage bone marrow. Reduce the amount of
blueberries, red/purple grape products, garlic, onions, ginger, ginseng, and tomatoes. These
foods can interfere with blood clotting. Avoid food and drinks containing quinine. These can
lower platelets. See www.itppeople.com/warnings.htm .
10. Avoid allergic foods
Many people have delayed food allergies that produce vague and difficult-to-diagnose
symptoms. If you don’t feel well, consider having a food allergy test.
11. Chew your food well
Chewing each bite until it is liquid can aid digestion, aid the passage of nutrients into your
blood stream, and promotes healthy alkaline blood chemistry.
12. Drink pure warm water
Drink plenty of filtered or bottled water at room temperature or above. Taking periodic sips of
hot water can cleanse impurities from the body. Ice water can slow and hinder the digestive

I've found that it's been more helpful to google search for "foods to avoid if you are taking prescription blood thinners". People taking prescription blood thinners don't want to inadvertently thin their blood even more so there are a lot of lists out there with information on what foods to avoid.

I also came across the links below while looking for information on establishing a healthier diet. This website was put together by a woman who has a connective tissue disorder. She has compiled a lot of information on diet that I've found helpful as she also has thin blood and excessive bleeding issues.

Foods and Related Factors That Cause the Blood to Clot
www.ctds.info/clot.html

Foods that Naturally Thin the Blood
www.ctds.info/natthinners.html

If her doctor is telling her that, he needs to give her the list of foods that will do that. He could be rich if it works.