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Hemoglobin and helping Foods/supplements

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
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black1

New Member
Aug 12, 2009
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Since hemoglobin is a protein is there any particular food or supplement that is beneficial for your hemoglobin and O2 transport, something that helps us? thanks.
 
Iron is very important.

I used to be anemic, but since taking iron pills it has gone away.
 
To boost your hemoglobin, take 20g of Spirulina per day (contains ferredoxin and other blood production stimulants), and also take 36mg of Ironsorb or 27-54mg of Ferrochel. Add Vit C, B6, 2mg Folic acid, and then take a daily sublingual of methylcobalamin (highly active B12--try iHerb.com).

Add to that hypoxic training of any kind several days per week, and you should notice results in as little as 2-3 weeks.

If you want to check your results, tell your doctor that you need bloodwork and get a complete blood count (CBC). Or go on ebay and buy a Hemocue B-Hemoglobin analyzer for $300.
 
When you've done this, have you had any improvement in freedive performance? The two don't seem to be that closely related.
 
Well actually hemoglobin contains protein structure globin and non protein structure or hem, the hem contains oxidized iron and takes oxygen trough the blood stream. Production of erythrocyte is controlled by serum erythroprotein or EPO, and production of that serum is mainly trigger by low partial pressure of oxygen in blood. It can be trigger by high aerobic activity to. The food you take will not boost your EPO production, it will just give your body the building blocs to make new erythrocytes when needed. Of course, vital supplements to take is Iron, Folic acid, and B 6 - 12. Today you can find a lot of mixed Iron supplements with right amount of all that mixed together.
 
When you've done this, have you had any improvement in freedive performance? The two don't seem to be that closely related.

It is certainly possible to do huge dives with poor blood quality. When I did the 82m record in 2001 I was mildly anemic (13g/dl hemoglobin). Once I started iron/B12 supplementation my hemoglobin rose to 15g/dl and performance improved. 15g/dl is my normal level. However during extreme hypoxic training I have reached up to 17g/dl with associated performance improvement. However upon stopping extreme hypoxic training my hemoglobin rapidly returns to normal within 1 week. Similarly, someone at altitude who gets high hemoglobin due to the hypoxia, can return to sea level and the hemoglobin returns to normal within a week.

Sebastien Murat reached 21g/dl of hemoglobin during his most intensive phase, which is the level that a seal has.

High hemoglobin has a massive effect on exhale & FRC performance. The difference is less noticeable on packing dives.
 
Eric could you explain just what these will do for me please, I guess they will help increase my O2 transfer is that correct? can all these be taken safely together every day and how many mg's of the Methylcobalamin should I take, thank you for your time. I am a spearo and would like to keep up my hemoglobin to good levels for blood transfer especially for diving all day.
 
Last edited:
The process of producing more red blood cells is called erythropoeisis. In order to manufacture red blood cells, your body requires:
- Protein
- Iron
- B12
- B6
- Vit C
- Folic Acid

The problem is that iron and B12 are hard to absorb. This is why you need special forms of them, preferably
Iron Protein Succinylate (IronSorb(TM))
OR
Iron Bisglycinate (Ferrochel (TM))

For B12, you need to take 5-10mg sublingual, preferably of the methylcobalamin form. Most B12 is cyanocobalamin.

No blood cell production happens without the EPO hormone. If you expose yourself to hypoxia, your EPO level rises and blood cell production starts. In addition, certain foods like green algaes (Spirulina) and undenatured whey protein (IMU-Plus) can directly stimulate blood cell production.
 
Hi Eric, did you mean 20 grams of spirulina or 20 mg? Thank you :).
To boost your hemoglobin, take 20g of Spirulina per day (contains ferredoxin and other blood production stimulants), and also take 36mg of Ironsorb or 27-54mg of Ferrochel. Add Vit C, B6, 2mg Folic acid, and then take a daily sublingual of methylcobalamin (highly active B12--try iHerb.com).

Add to that hypoxic training of any kind several days per week, and you should notice results in as little as 2-3 weeks.

If you want to check your results, tell your doctor that you need bloodwork and get a complete blood count (CBC). Or go on ebay and buy a Hemocue B-Hemoglobin analyzer for $300.
 
Eric,

Blood acidity levels affect the release of stored oxygen during breath hold - right? Will pH decrease naturally and uniformly as CO2 is produced, or can it be accentuated by eating particular foods? Do high acidity levels have any adverse effects? On muscle performance for example...

Thanks

Al
 
I mean 20g (20,000mg) of Spirulina.

Green algaes are also alkalizing. Generally when diving you can use two approaches:

1. Acidic body, aggressive breathe up
2. Alkaline (high buffer) body, non-aggressive breathe up

Both methods result in the same urge to breathe. But #2 allows higher CO2 levels, which benefits you in every way.
 
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Just wanted to put a note in here about the differences between men & women.

For pre-menopausal women, just keeping enough iron in their bodies to support normal RBC production can be a challenge. We've had a few anemia cases among our daughters, and we found the best way to get the iron back up fast is steak, spinach & Floradix. Found those 3 work way better than "iron pills".

My supposition would be that women should pay especial attention to dietary iron if they want to keep their performance up. We've noticed that the anemia episodes in our girls always followed periods of high physical exertion or stress.

Men have fewer problems keeping iron levels up (or eating steak :) ), but I've been reading that after about age 30 it's easy for men to tip over the iron accumulation balance, and get into iron overload territory, where the body's iron storage system is overwhelmed and free iron starts to rise in the bloodstream, which can cause degenerative diseases. There is an inherited trait very common among "celtic" people (i.e. melanically challenged people of Irish & Scottish origin, like yours truly) that causes low iron storage ability. Anyhow, watch that you don't just pig out on iron guys, without the training & activity to make sure it ends up in RBCs, or that at least you can store it.
 
"2. Alkaline (high buffer) body, non-aggressive breathe up

Both methods result in the same urge to breathe. But #2 allows higher CO2 levels, which benefits you in every way. "

Would you say that eating an alkaline food diet would be beneficial, does alkaline FOOD affect the store of O2 like hyperventilation (bohr effect) not letting go of the O2. In other words can we eat alkaline foods and take these suppliments and get the oxygen uptake and more Oxygen in the red blood cells YET have the release of O2 like acidic blood?
 
Would you say that eating an alkaline food diet would be beneficial, does alkaline FOOD affect the store of O2 like hyperventilation (bohr effect) not letting go of the O2. In other words can we eat alkaline foods and take these suppliments and get the oxygen uptake and more Oxygen in the red blood cells YET have the release of O2 like acidic blood?

The alkalinity of your diet indirectly affects O2 release. Eating an acidic or alkaline diet generally has little or no effect on your resting blood pH. However it does affect the amount of available buffers. With an alkaline diet, you will have much more buffers available to buffer out CO2 and other acids. This means you can start the apnea with more CO2. This allows the elevated CO2 to do its magic (initiating dive reflex, releasing O2, peripheral vasoconstriction with cerebral vasodilation, etc.)

Acidity can be created by CO2 or by other body acids. Each creates the same urge to breathe. But only CO2 has magical apnea extending effects.
 
Is alkaline diet/supplements better for a static or dynamic, sounds like it would be prefered for a static, but, on the side of caution for dynamic type/constant weight or not really a concern? I am sorry if I am repeating myself because I am not sure your post answered my other question, does an alkaline food diet help in all the ways such as blood transfer, more O2, etc, etc BUT is not inhibited by the Bohr effect so far as releasing this O2 like hyperventilation does? sorry was confused if you did answer that already above.
 
An alkaline diet will help in all events, in all ways. The bohr effect is amplified because you can start the apnea with more CO2. It is even further amplified you force pure carbohydrate burning (Respiratory quotient = 1.00). In that sense some people switch to pure carbs for half a day prior to the event. But in pure carb burning mode you will have no luck buffering all the CO2 unless you are also eating alkaline.

There is only one exception. For extremely deep dives, some divers may prefer a more acidic diet, which allows you to take less CO2 down with you, reducing CO2 narcosis on the bottom. But this is a very special case.
 
Thank you Eric for your time and information, very helpful indeed. I will try an Alkaline diet a few days before my next spearing session to see the difference. Would drinking a very alkaline fruit juice made fresh during the day be considered a good thing whilke spearing instead of just water...drinking water as well though?
 
I seem to remember Eric publishing a list of alkaline foods on the forum several years ago.
As I recall it was quite surprising. Unless I'm mistaken lemon juice and coke were on there...
 
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