Blood is the fluid that circulates in the veins and arteries of human beings as well as other vertebrate animals. It literally supports life. Red blood cells (RBC) have a high composition of hemoglobin, which is the component of blood that helps carry oxygen around the body. The body cannot survive without red blood cells, so a blood count is important. Learning how to increase red blood cells is also of paramount importance.
Results of a red blood cell count can vary but according to leukemia and lymphoma society, the optimum figures are as follows:

• For men, the RBC should range between 4.7 and 6.1 million cells per microliter.
  
  
• For women, the RBC should be between 4.2 and 5.4 million cells per microliter.
  
  
• For children, the RBC count should be between 4.0 and 5.5 cells per microliter.
  If results show values below the optimum range, there is a variety of strategies as proposed by the American Society of Hematology and other bodies that address how to increase blood count.

How to Increase Red Blood Cells?

Proper Diet

Food is the single major thing that keeps the body at the optimum operating condition. Dietary items that help increase the red blood cell (RBC) count are:

• Iron-rich food: Iron helps make the hemoglobin that helps transport oxygen. Thus, by implication, lower iron levels in the body translates to lower red blood cells. To increase iron in the blood the following foods should be consumed: beans, green leafy vegetables, dried fruits, and red meat.
  
  
• Folic-rich food: Folic is important in the production of healthy red blood cells as well as boosting DNA repair. Folic rich foods that can address how to increase blood in this category are cereals, bread, dark green leafy vegetables, peas, beans, and nuts.
  
  
• Copper-rich food: Copper is a part of many metalloenzymes in the human body. Two such enzymes are Ceruloplasmin and ALA Synthase. This two help in the formation of heme-molecule, which later forms hemoglobin, the main functional component of RBCs. Foods to eat in this category are poultry, shellfish, liver, whole grains, chocolate, beans, cherries, and nuts.
  
  
• Vitamin A-rich food: According to a study carried out on Indonesian children, depletion of vitamin A causes a decrease in hemoglobin levels. Foods that help boost vitamin A in the body include sweet potatoes, carrots, squash, dark green leafy vegetables, sweet red peppers, and fruits like apricots, grapefruit, watermelon, plums/prunes, and cantaloupe melons.
  
  
• Vitamin C-rich food: According to a pilot study, vitamin C has been found to increase the glutathione component in red blood cells. Glutathione prevents cellular damage. Vitamin C also helps the body to better absorb iron. Some of the foods that can be consumed in this category are papaya, strawberries, oranges, kiwi fruits, and green vegetables.
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Exercise Regularly

Exercising affects the red blood cells by altering the concentration of either plasma or hemoglobin. Plasma adds volume, while hemoglobin adds efficiency in carrying deoxygenated blood to the lungs and oxygenated blood to and from the heart. Exercising for 30 minutes per day is most effective.

• Jogging: This helps to make the bones stronger and concentrates minerals in the essential areas. It is a good way on how to increase blood count because the majority of blood cells are made in the bones.
  
  
• Running: Running increases the concentration of red blood cells in two stages. Firstly it leads to an increase in blood plasma and secondly, it creates a balance in the blood; the red blood cells multiply faster to match the plasma volume.
  
  
• Swimming: Research was carried out on the hemorheological alteration in both trained and untrained rats. The first group was actively trained to swim while the other group was sedentary. Samples were taken five minutes or 24 hours after swimming. Results indicated that there was minimal peroxidation or RBC concentration index changes in the active rats.
  
  
• Cycling: Helps increase the red blood cell count as the body adjusts to the high oxygen requirement during cycling. If you are a cyclist, you have to learn how to increase blood, so that you can withstand pressure associated with biking and cycling in mountainous areas.

Avoid Alcohol and Smoking

Alcohol consumption damages the bone marrow where red blood cells are made. Although the concentration of red blood cells returns to normal after the alcohol leaves the system, overindulgence can lead to a very low level of red blood cells.
Smoking also damages the body and reduces the lifespan of red blood cells according to the National Cancer Institute. They have outlined harmful chemicals in cigarettes and how they negatively impact the body's health.

Visit a Doctor

Sometimes it is hard to know when your RBC reaches critical levels and thus the best option is to visit a doctor if you are concerned that your RBC count is compromised. This can be detected by feeling tired or having pale skin or a bluish coloring, due to lack of oxygen in the blood.

What Do You Need to Remember?

Red blood cells are the biggest component in the blood. These cells are important as outlined in the American Association for clinical chemistry since they help transport both blood rich in carbon dioxide and oxygen. Due to bad habits like alcohol consumption or diseases like blood cancer, RBC concentration can fall.
Eating well and exercising regularly will help you raise your red blood cell count. In case of any complications, seek medical advice. There should be no assumption when it comes to blood performance efficiency since this is the mechanism on which your body runs. For people with a low red blood cells count, learning how to increase red blood cells will help to improve overall blood health.