What is blood?

Blood is the red coloured fluid that flows continuously in a human being's circulatory system. Blood comprises more than 8% of the body weight of a healthy individual. On an average, every adult person has about 5 - 6 litres of blood.

The major component of blood is a fluid called plasma in which are suspended cellular elements. These are Red Blood Cells or RBC's, White Blood Cells or WBC's and tiny platelets.

Blood components, and what they do

Plasma acts as a vehicle to carry many substances like glucose, fats, and proteins, enzymes, and hormones etc., in addition to the blood cells. 

Plasma has protein components called albumin, globulin and fibrinogen. Broadly speaking, albumin maintains the structural balance of blood, globulin builds resistance to bacterial infections, fibrinogen helps blood coagulate. 

Red Cells carry oxygen from the lungs to various body tissues and take back carbon dioxide from the cells and tissues which the body gets rid of as exhaled air.

The basic substance of red cells is iron and protein, known as haemoglobin. The haemoglobin count is an indicator of the health of blood. On an average, a healthy male should have 14 - 16 gm per 100 millilitre and in a female around 12 - 14 gm per 100 millilitre. 

White cells act mainly as body scavengers and guards. They help in the immune system of the body and act as defense forces of the body, killing bacteria or any other organisms entering the body.

Platelets help in the clotting and coagulation of blood. They also repair the tiny blood vessels in the body which crack under pressure, thereby preventing haemorrhages under the skin. 

Eat the right foods for healthy blood

Blood keeps itself healthy by removing disease carrying organisms and regenerating itself, but the right nutrition plays a big role in vitality.

Blood needs an intake of 1 mg to 1.5 mg iron per day, which is met by most balanced diets. Other essential factors for red cells are present in all types of green vegetables, fruits like guava, apple, fig, and in fish, meat and eggs 

There is no SUBSTITUTE FOR BLOOD! Despite all medical advances, we have found no way of duplicating it except in our own bodies.