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Bonnie (Florida, US) on 11/07/2014
5 out of 5 stars

I was diagnosed with Polycythemia Vera in 2010. My red blood cells were at 1 million and normal is 200,000 to 400,000. My cancer doctor started giving me phlebotomys and hydroxyurea. The lowest my red cell count ever got to was 800,000. Two years ago I looked up foods that thin your blood and started eating them. I was visiting my dad at the time and went to his doctor after two weeks being on this diet. He did a blood test and my count was 300,000!!! He asked if I was sure about being diagnosed with PV and I told him I had a bone marrow biopsy and was positive. He couldn't believe it.

If you want, just look up foods on the internet that thin your blood and avoid the ones that thicken your blood. I no longer take hydroxyurea or get phlebotomys and am normal!!

Replied By Greg (Nj) on 12/31/2014

What was the diet?

Replied By Sagarie (Srilanka) on 01/22/2015

I read with interest how the blood counts came to normal with foods that thin the blood. Please let me know what you ate. My father has been diagnosed with polycythemia Vera. Thanks sagarie

Replied By Anatoli (New York) on 01/27/2015

Hi please let me know what diet you used, my father's count is very high.

Replied By Ruth (Malta) on 02/01/2015

Very good news to hear that you learned how to optimize your health and return your red blood cells to normal and healthy levels! Please do let us know which foods you ate, it would help out a lot of people. Polycythemia Vera also runs in my family. Thank you and good health to you and all other PV sufferers out there.

Replied By Bee (New York, US) on 02/01/2015

Hi, I would like to do baking soda protocol but last time I tried it my bp went up and I have high blood pressure.. Is there baking soda without a lot of sodium. Thank You..

Replied By Leonard (Nampa, Idaho) on 02/09/2015

I would like to know how I can keep my phlebotomys down. I started with having one three times a week, then I gradually got up to every 6 to 9 month. Now it's every 3 months. I really need to know what I can eat to get back to 6 or 9 months or never. Thanks for your time.

Replied By Abdul (India) on 02/10/2015

Hi Bonnie, Thanks for sharing your experience, but you are not saying which food you ate, so that we can also try and get benefited. Thanks..:-(

Replied By Hoodedclaw (Saffron Walden, Essex) on 02/12/2015

I would like to know the diet for polycythemia vera please as my wife is not getting on with hydroycarbamide.

Replied By Dave F. (Chicago) on 03/29/2016
In my and most cases enlargement of the spleen and a rise in hematocrit, platelets and white cells were not inhibited by diet and supplements. The drug that does slow or stop PV is Pegasys, a weekly dose of Interferon. There is not other drug that improves the bone marrow and attacks the underlying disease. I take many a supplement and they help, along with exercise with your overall health. I avoid supplemental B6- B12 and Iron since they part of the blood making process.

Replied By Egla (Saint Petersburg, Fl) on 09/12/2022
What about P32? That's an injection done once a year that controls the overproduction of bone marrow.

Replied By Hoodedclaw (Saffron Walden, Essex) on 02/13/2015

What is your platelet count?

Replied By Susan (Usa) on 02/24/2015

Isn't the 800,000 your platelet count? My platelets were at 1 million and normal is 200,000-400,000. I am totally confused. I had essential thrombocythemia diagnosed 3 years ago. (Jak2+). Now after new symptoms and a bone marrow biopsy I have polycythemia vera and all my counts are high. With hydroxyurea my platelets have gone down to around 500,000.

I guess I just want to know if I am mistaken in thinking that the numbers you quoted are actually a platelet count not a red blood cell count??

Replied By Kevin (Mo., US) on 03/20/2015

I have been eating kiwi's, taking turmeric and red wine extracts along with ginko biloba. My counts stay down for a ten to 12 week period before needing a phlebotomy. I too am interested in the above diet. Given what I have researched and tried on myself I am skeptical that Bonnie was able to achieve that great of a success. Do share Bonnie, what's your secret?

Replied By Charity (Faithville, Us) on 03/20/2015

Water thins the blood, most people are at some stage of dehydration but aren't aware of it, and there are a lot of websites that have loads of information on thinning the blood. Bonnie stated she searched for them and added those things to her diet. The internet is our library.

http://www.ctds.info/natthinners.html

Replied By Rick (Charlotte, Nc) on 07/05/2015

What was the diet that lowered your planet count?

Replied By Shimi (Hod Hasharon) on 07/11/2015

Hi bonnie Can you please ellaborate about the diet? I have been diagnoised with pv for 11 years now and I also use aspirin and hydrea. Would love to hear about other natural treatments. Thanks a lot Shimi

Replied By Kay (Texas) on 08/12/2015

I have just been recently diagnosed with PV, I have learned that you have to stay iron deficient, that is why the platelet count stays high. I am certainly going to research this diet, I do not like taking blood thinners and hopefully I won't have to for very long. My hematacrit when diagnosed was 64.8, normal as you know is less than 45, I was fixing to have a stroke, very important to keep under control. I was just diagnosed at the end of June this year so this is all new to me. Thanks for all the info this far.

I was told by MD Anderson physician that you never take vitamins with iron and the platelet will always be high. Just keep on monitoring, I still go twice a week. Stay healthly everyone. Take care

Replied By Cayenne (Florida) on 08/23/2015

Hello, everyone. Bonnie is my mom, for her diet we researched what foods are high and low in vitamin k and iron. She eats foods that are lowest in each of these. Lots of raw garlic and cayenne pepper. Lots of pomegranate juice. Food high in salicylates but also check they are not ones high in iron or vit k. Lots of water. Omega-3 righ foods. You have to follow a very strict diet.

Replied By Brenda (SC) on 04/25/2021
Thank you for sharing the information. Would it be possible for you to share some of the foods that she uses and those that she avoids? I really would appreciate any help that you could give me at this time. Thank you.

Replied By Sylvia (Holland) on 11/02/2021
Thanks for the tips!

Replied By Alicia (San Diego, Ca) on 08/23/2015

Hi, I was diagnosed with PV 4 years ago and am seriously allergic to hydroxyurea. I am a Registered Nurse and understand the progression of PV but have no knowledge of holistic foods/ medicine to relieve burning/itching skin that keeps me awake at night. Please share any experience/knowledge others have experienced regarding reducing high RBCs, Platelets and WBCs headaches and burning/itching skin. I was diagnosed at age 51. Thank you, Alicia

Replied By Veronica (Rhode Island) on 11/03/2015

Alicia, There is something called the coumadin diet - just look up foods that are high in salicylic acid. This is what I am doing now and am crossing my fingers that it will work.

Replied By Pamela (Saint George) on 11/03/2015

I also have been diagnosed with PV / ET in 2009. I believe It is your platelets that are going that high not the red blood cells which makes it essential thrombocytosis or ET.. the red blood cells also get dangerously high with PV but not those numbers you were using. maybe you have essential thrombocytosis. Pamela

Replied By Arleen (Ny) on 06/22/2016
I am contemplating interferon. I am also listening to the talk about defeating p.c.v. with an herbal approach. Did you consider that? Have you had any side effects from the interferon? Thank you

Replied By Syed (Hyderabad, India) on 07/03/2016

Can you suggest the diet which will increase the RBC WBC Platelet count. and the diet which will decrease the levels,

I have polycithimia vera with higher levels of RBC. WBC AND Platetes I am taking Hydrea 500 mg once a day and ecosprin 75 mg one per day. I am 70 years of age.

Replied By Eli (Los Angeles, Ca) on 09/26/2016

I was diagnosed with PV about 20 years ago. Taking Aspirin low dose, phlebotomy every 4-6 weeks. Now was prescribed Hydroxyurea. I am afraid to take it: looks like it has a lot of side effects. Also developed Iron deficiency. Constantly feel tired.

What food/supplements can I take to improve? Can anyone recommend a diet?

Replied By Denis (New Zealand) on 03/23/2023
Hi Eli, I was diagnosed with Polycythaemia Vera Almost a year ago, at the beginning I was having two Venesections a week, I was taking a small Aspirin and a Hydroxyurea capsul once a day, I've had no problem at all with that medication, Venesection went down to once a fortnight then once a month until my blood count was normal, I then went five and a half months before my next Venesection and since that one, I have not have not been asked to do another for almost three months. I have the People at the Venesection unit along with my GP Checking my blood count, Hope your well and all others on this site. Denis

Replied By Judy (California) on 10/21/2016

I've had PV JAK2 + for 2 1/2 yrs. I take Floradex with iron an herbal supplement that has no side effects. I have been able to get my ferritin level from 6 to 12 over time. It hasn't changed how my Hct goes up, or effected my platelets or WBC. My Doctor is not supportive of me taking this but I track all my lab values so it is obvious it hasn't effected anything but my ferritin.

Replied By Deepak Sharma (Delhi) on 11/26/2016

Can you please suggest some foods that you have tried in your problem? So that I can look for the similar foods for my mother.

Replied By Rosie (Mn) on 01/31/2017

Hi, I have high platelets (Essential Thrombocythemia, a Jak2 gene mutation), diagnosed in 2011. I actually had symptoms for about 10 yrs but the MDs were unable to discover the cause. My main symptom was burning in my great toes.... which was caused by clotting in the bone marrow of my toes. I would get relief for 4 days by taking ONE ibuprofen. (NSAIDS mess w your platelets, make them less sticky).

Any way, I am on Hydrea 500 mg daily, and my platelets are now fairly normal. The burning stopped soon after the platelets decreased. They went from a high of 850,00 to 450,000. I would prefer to stop the Hydrea, aka Hydroxyurea, but would risk clotting again. (The Hydrea side effects I have are dry skin and some darkened facial spots.)

I am an RN.

My RN friend was diagnosed with PV last yr. She slowly improved after diagnosis, and phlebotomies, and she takes Hydrea 1000 mg daily. Her itching was very bothersome. I suggested she take a supplement called Cellular Energy and the itching stopped!

Replied By Donna (USA) on 07/31/2023
Rosie, research Nattokinase and Serrapeptase for blood thinning and fibrin /blood clot dissolving.

Replied By Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 02/01/2017

Dear Rosie,

Thank you for sharing this. I am fascinated that one ibuprofen would improve your condition for 4 whole days.

20 years ago I had a fallopian tube rupture as part of a complication of a tubal pregnancy. I had multiple surgeries and blood transfusions because of life threatening blood loss. They never concluded the source of the continue bleeding (this was after they had tied off the ruptured tube). I did have ITP at the time and so was always low in platelets, but had had surgery before and since with out complications.

However, prior to the rupture (I didn't know I was pregnant) I had been taking ibuprofen regularly for headaches.

I have suspected before that the ibuprofen use had made the bleeding situation worse, especially on top of my already low platelets.

I think it isn't recommended to take it up to 20 weeks before surgery. Of course, you never know when you will have surgery.

~Mama to Many~

Replied By Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 02/02/2017

GASP MtM!!! You HAVE been thru the mill, haven't you!! No wonder you've learnt so much!

Replied By Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 02/02/2017

Oopsie - I meant that you are not supposed to take ibuprofen 2 weeks prior to surgery. :)

Replied By Valentin (Argentina) on 04/22/2017

Low iron is high platelet (high blood clot risk) and viceversa...

Iron lowers platelet counts.

But if your levels of iron and iron reservoirs are over the top and you keep dieting on iron high foods you will have problems.

Iron foods result in low blood clots, if your body doesn't have sufficient iron you will probably suffer from blood clots.

BALANCE the body is the result?

Replied By Lawrence (Nashville Tn) on 05/28/2017

I want to heal my polysythemia vera and would like learn specific foods to eat during my breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Replied By Regina F. (Canada) on 05/29/2017

For polysythemia take Blood Palace, and for thinning your blood, take garlic, white willow

and so many more.

Replied By Khalid (Wah Cantt Pakistan) on 08/17/2017

i m 56 male .weight 113 kg too much. got two heart attack 4years and two years ago .both time my hb was 19 and hct was 52.unfortunately my country pakistan. after two years diagnosed P.V secondary .polibotomey 6 time. now it controlled.my hb is 11.8 and hct 47. iron in body just 9. can I take Omega 3. because I have eye decease. please tell what can I do please please

Replied By Semi (California) on 09/13/2017

I diagnosed with PV last week, age 42, have healthy life routine. Thanks a lot for sharing this Bonnie, this is very promising and I am not wrong to the followings. I have started having 1/2 clove raw garlic with glass of water on empty stomach every other morning. I also have mix of 2 table spoon of organic apple cider vinegar( with mother) in a glass of water on empty stomach in the morning. We use a lot of turmeric and garlic in Persian food. Good idea to check the vitamin K. I am so glad that I found this fourm. Does any body know about effect of kiwi & guava for PV patients? Thanks, Semi

Replied By Crystal Mcgraw (Arizona) on 09/14/2017

My test results have also changed drastically with a VERY strict diet. After 6 small strokes in May, my NMD put me on a vegan like diet. I was getting phlebotomized every 3-4 weeks. Staying low on iron and vit k is a must, but you also eat to clean your blood. Vegis until you can't eat anymore. We looked up a ton of vegan recipes on a website called knifesoverforks and eventually we added very little organic poultry and wild caught salmon along with goat or sheep cheese. This makes it much more sustainable for our family. I haven't had a phlebotomy in 3 months now and my tests are normal. Foods can heal. ðŸŒ¹

Replied By Semi (Ca) on 09/14/2017

Hi, I am curious to know how much turmeric you eat everyday. We add turmeric powder to the food during cooking process.

Thanks, Semi

Replied By Jan (New Zealand ) on 09/30/2017

I am interested in What you take - especially the blood palace . What brand do you buy and how much do you take also has it stopped your PCV from going up . I have tried many things and are still trying to get on top of my condition find it hard to balance as I have also very low ferritin levels.

Replied By Tracey (Cairns Queensland ) on 10/23/2017

Did you have the jak2 mutant? thanks

Replied By Barbara (Las Cruces, Nm) on 12/31/2017

Could someone suggest more diet details or recommend literature/book?

Replied By Sadeck (Durban, South Africa) on 01/05/2018

Please can you send me the foods that helped you with polycethemia Vera and the diet that I can use?

Replied By Mark B. (New Zealand) on 02/03/2018

Cannot see how thinning the blood could ever lower the red blood cell count but good luck to you.

Replied By Janet (Tacoma, Wa, Usa) on 04/04/2018

I am interested in what you ate that helped you.

Replied By Sabiha (Pakistan) on 04/30/2018

Hi could you plz tell me about which food I should take as I'm also a PV affected. Thanks

Replied By Excitr1011 (New York) on 07/30/2018

Just diagnosed with this, age 41. What kind of life can be expected?

Replied By Frank (Quebec) on 08/25/2018

I also have been diagnosed with PV and it is treated well with Hydrea and baby aspirin. I have seen references to using curcumin but it also is a blood thinner. Does that quality lead to too much blood thinning?

Replied By Camelia (NM) on 09/12/2022

My Menu for the day I was just told I have polycythemia vera and went on a massive dietary research for five days. Here is what I found we can eat. This is the lowest iron foods, at least in the USA. Salmon (not raw) Tuna (not raw) White meat chicken (no skin) Garlic Avocado Apple Pear Black tea (no sugar) Green tea (no sugar) Coffee (no cream or sugar) One can eat white cheeses in very small dose if desired. I saw a site or two that said we can eat walnuts, and also boiled eggs, but I am still checking on that. I've seen some good talk about pomegranate juice and cranberry juice. Herbs: (See if you have an herbologist in your town, otherwise call one on the phone and start a conversation about an herb plan.) Research says these help us: Turmeric Garlic Cayenne Pepper Aloe Vera Cinnamon Ginkgo biloba Dong quai Feverfew Bromelain Evening primrose Melatonin Also suggested on some sites, a spoon of baking soda in glass of water. But see how you feel after a week of this. A spoon of apple cider vinegar every day. But see how you feel after a week of this.

Replied By Sikandar (Pakistan) on 07/04/2023

What foods helped u to thin your blood and which one to avoid?

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