The Real Reason Why the Elderly Are Prone to Anemia, and a Medicinal Soup You Can Make Starting Today

Introduction

I received this question during a TikTok Live.

"I heard that the elderly are prone to anemia. Is it because their nutrient absorption is poor?"

It is true that as people age, anemia is pointed out more frequently during health checkups. However, should we dismiss the cause as just "nutritional deficiency"? From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the cause of anemia lies a bit deeper.

Conclusion

There are two main reasons to consider for anemia in the elderly.

• ① The body does not need as many red blood cells, so it is reducing the amount it produces

• ② The influence of medication is putting a burden on organs, making it impossible to produce red blood cells

It is important to have the perspective that it is not "because of a lack of nutrients," but rather that "the body is not producing them in the first place" or "has become unable to produce them."

Reason

① The body does not need red blood cells

A lot of energy is required to produce red blood cells.

Growing children and adolescents need a large amount of red blood cells to keep growing their bodies. However, when people reach old age, the body no longer grows. If the required amount decreases, the body naturally reduces the amount of red blood cells it produces to save energy.

This is not an abnormality of the body; in a sense, it can be said to be the result of the body making a wise decision.

If there are no symptoms, there is no need to panic just because the numbers are a little low.

② The influence of medication is putting a burden on organs

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is believed that red blood cells are not produced in one place, but that the liver, heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys are each responsible for parts and work together to create them.

It is easy to understand if you compare it to a computer. Computer parts are made in various Asian countries and finally assembled into a finished product. If a factory in one place stops, the computer cannot be completed. Red blood cells are the same; if any organ is weak, they cannot be produced even if the materials are available.

In Western medicine, iron supplements are sometimes prescribed for anemia. This is "replenishing materials." If a lack of materials is the cause, it is effective. However, if the organs' functions have declined and they cannot assemble them, adding materials will not solve the problem.

The elderly often take multiple medications, and the burden of metabolizing and excreting those drugs continues to weigh on their organs, which can cause their ability to produce red blood cells to decline.

Medicinal Recipe

May Medicinal Soup: Turnip, Pork, and Glutinous Rice Soup

In May, even if it is sunny, there are days when it feels chilly when it rains. This is a soup that warms you gently from the inside out.

Ingredients (for 2 servings)

• 2 turnips (use the leaves if available)

• 100g pork (thinly sliced or chopped)

• 1/2 carrot

• 2 tablespoons glutinous rice

• 1/2 teaspoon dried ginger (kankyo)

• 3-4 shiso leaves

• 600ml water

• A pinch of salt and soy sauce

Instructions

1. Peel the turnips and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Finely chop the leaves. Slice the carrot into thin half-moons.

2. Place the water, dried ginger, and glutinous rice in a pot and heat over medium heat.

3. Once it boils, add the pork, carrot, and turnips, and simmer over low heat for 15-20 minutes.

4. Season with salt and soy sauce, then add the turnip leaves and bring to a boil once more.

5. Serve in bowls and top with chopped shiso leaves.

Medicinal Points

• Turnip: An ingredient that aids digestion and warms the stomach and intestines. It supports the function of the spleen.

• Glutinous rice: Has the power to nourish the gastrointestinal tract and replenish Qi. It is also suitable for those with weak digestion.

• Dried ginger (Kankyo): Its power to warm the body from the core is stronger than that of fresh ginger, and it acts directly on cold gastrointestinal tracts.

• Shiso leaves (Ooba): Regulates the flow of Qi and stimulates the appetite.

Summary

• Anemia in the elderly is not caused solely by "nutritional deficiency." It is possible that the body does not need it, or that organ function has declined.

• Iron supplements are just replenishing materials. If organ function has declined, red blood cells cannot be produced even if you add more materials.

• If there are no symptoms, do not be swayed by the numbers; the priority is to regulate your diet, exercise, sleep, and bathing.

It is not the illness that is scary, but the lack of knowledge. By acquiring the correct knowledge, you will be able to correctly read the signs of your own body.

Course Information

The Traditional Chinese Medicine Medicinal Cooking Introductory Course 6-month program will start on the second Monday of September 2026.

This is an introductory course that even beginners can learn with peace of mind. You will spend 6 months learning the basics of medicinal cooking that can be easily incorporated into your daily meals.

• Format: Zoom and archive viewing

• Time: 20:00–21:00

• Tuition: 54,000 yen

Click here for details and registration
https://kawamoto.my.canva.site/yakuzen-kawamoto

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