Renna living with sickle cell disease sitting at a table smiling

DIET, FOOD AND NUTRITION

ON THIS PAGE:
The role of nutrition in sickle cell disease
Getting enough energy from food
Choosing a healthy diet
Tips for good nutrition
Getting support and advice

Diet, food and nutrition.

Living with a lifelong condition like sickle cell disease can be challenging. But it shouldn’t distract you from taking care of yourself. Your body may need more energy than others to deal with the challenges of your disease, and a simple way to help boost your energy is to eat properly.1

Here, we explore some of the dietary recommendations for people living with sickle cell disease.

Clementine, Renna and John smiling together
energy meter reading high

Your body may need a greater amount of energy

Your body works differently to others – in sickle cell disease your body is working hard to deal with the crescent shaped red blood cells.1-3 This means you may need more energy and more protein than people without the disease.1-3 So be mindful of how much you’re eating and keep talking to your healthcare team if you think you may not be getting enough energy from your diet.

So what foods are good for people with sickle cell disease? You should make sure you’re eating good quality protein and foods with lots of energy.1,4

Animal-based foods such as poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy foods are good sources of protein.5 If you follow a vegan diet or prefer to eat plant-based foods, try to eat a variety and include proteins like nuts, beans and lentils.5 Healthy sources of carbohydrates —which give you energy – include whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.6

Choose a healthy diet

Eating well doesn’t have to mean eating things you don’t like or eating salads for a week! Try to find foods you enjoy while adding fruits, vegetables, and whole grain fibre into your diet. Limiting meat with high iron content, fast foods and refined foods is also important in sickle cell disease.7

Giuseppe and John sitting together at a table

Tips for good nutrition with sickle cell disease

    Drink lots of water

    For people with sickle cell disease, dehydration is a common trigger for pain crises, so make sure you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated throughout the day.8

      Make fibre your friend

      Eating plenty of fibre can help prevent constipation.9 High-fibre foods include wholegrain foods like brown rice, fruit and vegetables, beans and potatoes with their skin on.9

        Talk to your healthcare team about vitamins you may need

        People with sickle cell disease may have low blood levels of several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D, folic acid and zinc.1 So your healthcare team may suggest you take a supplement containing these to boost your levels.

        Many people have found herbal supplements useful.7 If you want to find out more information on what supplements may be suitable for you, talk to your healthcare team.

          Look after your gut

          There is evidence that the food you eat can help keep your gut happy and boost your health.10 Probiotics are good bacteria or yeasts found in foods such as yoghurt, which help your digestive system to function healthily, especially if you’re taking antibiotics.10,11 Talk to your healthcare team about whether probiotics might be beneficial for you and be sure to check with them before taking any kind of supplements, in case they interfere with your medication.

          Ask your healthcare team

          What you eat can make a big difference to how well you feel, living with your sickle cell disease. Take the time to make some healthy changes to your diet.

          Keep talking to your healthcare team to see if they can advise you on a diet plan and any nutrition advice. What works for one person may not work for another – they can help you find a diet that works for you.

          speech bubbles with person icon

          Hear Dr Drasar’s top tips on eating well and keeping active
          mobile phone with web tabs open
          Resources:
          • Top tips for self-management
          • Your wellness journal
          • Setting goals that work for you
          • Getting the most out of your healthcare appointments
          VIEW ALL RESOURCES
            References
            1. Sickle Cell Society. Standards for the clinical care of adults with sickle cell disease in the UK. 2018. www.sicklecellsociety.org/sicklecellstandards/ Accessed May 05, 2023.
            2. Reid M. Nutrition and sickle cell disease. C.R. Biologies. 2013;336:159–163.
            3. Hyacinth HI, Adekeye OA, Yilgwan CS. Malnutrition in sickle cell anemia: implications for infection, growth, and maturation. J Soc Behav Health Sci. 2013;7(1):10.5590.
            4. Hyacinth H, Gee BE, Hibbert JM. The role of nutrition in sickle cell disease. Nutr Metab Insights. 2010;3:57–67.
            5. British Nutrition Foundation. Protein. 2021. www.nutrition.org.uk/healthy-sustainable-diets/protein/ Accessed May 05, 2023.
            6. NHS. Starchy foods and carbohydrates. 2020. www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-types/starchy-foods-and-carbohydrates/ Accessed May 05, 2023.
            7. Tanabe P, Porter J, Creary M, et al. A qualitative analysis of best self-management practices: sickle cell disease. J Natl Med Assoc. 2010;102(11):1033–1041
            8. NHS. Living with sickle cell disease. www.nhs.uk/conditions/sickle-cell-disease/living-with/. 2019. Accessed May 05, 2023.
            9. NHS. How to get more fibre into your diet. www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/digestive-health/how-to-get-more-fibre-into-your-diet/ Accessed May 05, 2023
            10. Umeakunne K, Hibbert JM. Nutrition in sickle cell disease: recent insights. Nutr Diet Suppl. 2019;11:9–17.
            11. NHS. Probiotics. www.nhs.uk/conditions/probiotics/ Accessed May 05, 2023.
            Let's Keep Talking Sickle Cell