What not to eat if hemoglobin is high?

October 14, 2025 •

4 min read

High hemoglobin levels can increase the risk of serious health issues, such as blood clots. For individuals with this condition, including those with polycythemia vera or hemochromatosis, understanding what not to eat if hemoglobin is high is a critical step in a broader treatment and management plan. Modifying your diet can help manage iron levels and reduce associated health complications.

Quick Summary

Dietary adjustments can help manage health risks for individuals with elevated hemoglobin. Limiting iron-rich foods, alcohol, and certain processed items is key, while staying hydrated is also beneficial.

Key Points

Restrict Heme Iron: Reduce consumption of red meat, organ meats, and specific seafood, which contain highly absorbable heme iron.
Avoid Iron Fortification: Steer clear of iron-fortified cereals, breads, and iron supplements, as they can contribute to iron overload.
Limit Alcohol and Sugar: Excessive alcohol can enhance iron absorption, while high sugar intake promotes inflammation.
Beware of Certain Fats: Cut back on saturated and trans fats found in processed and fried foods to reduce inflammation and blood clot risk.
Manage Purines and Oxalates: For conditions like polycythemia vera, limiting foods high in purines and oxalates helps prevent gout and kidney stones.
Prioritize Hydration: Drink plenty of water to prevent blood thickening, which is a symptom of high hemoglobin.
Embrace a Balanced Diet: Focus on fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains as part of a healthy eating plan.

Understanding a High Hemoglobin Count

High hemoglobin, or polycythemia, is a condition where the body produces an excessive amount of red blood cells. This can cause the blood to thicken, increasing the risk of blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes. While a high hemoglobin count can be caused by various medical conditions, a proper diet is a vital part of the management strategy, often working alongside medical treatments like phlebotomy. The goal of dietary changes is not to eliminate all iron, but to limit foods that significantly contribute to iron overload and to avoid substances that promote complications.

Foods High in Heme Iron

Heme iron, the type of iron found in animal tissue, is more readily absorbed by the body than non-heme iron found in plants. Therefore, limiting or avoiding foods rich in heme iron is a primary dietary strategy for those with high hemoglobin.

Red Meat: Beef, lamb, and venison are particularly rich in heme iron and should be consumed sparingly or avoided. Lean cuts of red meat still contain significant heme iron, so a reduction in overall consumption is recommended.
Organ Meats: Liver and kidney are extremely high in iron and should be avoided.
Certain Seafood: While fish like salmon are generally healthy, some seafood contains high levels of iron. Raw shellfish, such as oysters and clams, also carry a risk of bacteria that can cause serious infections in people with high iron levels.

Iron-Fortified and Enhanced Foods

Many processed foods are fortified with iron and other vitamins. For individuals with high hemoglobin, these can contribute to iron overload and should be avoided.

Iron-Fortified Cereals: Many breakfast cereals are enriched with iron. Check nutrition labels and opt for brands that are not fortified.
Enriched Breads and Grains: Some bread and pasta products have added iron. Choose whole grains that are not explicitly enriched.
Iron Supplements: Unless specifically directed by a doctor, iron supplements and multivitamins containing iron should be avoided.

Beverages to Avoid

What you drink can also impact your iron levels and overall health, especially with high hemoglobin.

Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption can increase iron absorption and is damaging to the liver, which is particularly sensitive to iron overload. Individuals should limit or avoid alcohol completely.
Sugary Drinks: Soda and fruit juices with added sugar can increase inflammation and are linked to higher risks of polycythemia vera complications.

Limiting Processed and High-Fat Foods

Diets high in saturated and trans fats can contribute to inflammation and increase the risk of blood clots, a major concern with elevated hemoglobin levels.

Processed Meats: Cured meats like sausage and salami, as well as bacon, are often high in saturated fat and should be limited.
Fried Foods: Deep-fried foods and commercially baked goods with trans fats should be avoided to promote healthier blood flow and reduce inflammation.
Excess Sugar: Overconsumption of sugar can contribute to inflammation and other conditions that increase cardiovascular risk.

Foods High in Purines and Oxalates

For individuals with conditions like polycythemia vera, limiting purine-rich and oxalate-rich foods can help prevent painful complications like gout and kidney stones.

High-Purine Foods: Red meat, organ meats, and certain types of seafood are also high in purines, which can elevate uric acid levels.
High-Oxalate Foods: Foods such as beans, berries, spinach, and leafy greens are high in oxalates. While healthy for most, high intake can lead to kidney stones in predisposed individuals.

Dietary Comparison for High Hemoglobin


Category	Foods to Limit or Avoid	Healthier Alternatives
Heme Iron	Red meat (beef, lamb), organ meats (liver), raw shellfish	Lean poultry (chicken, turkey), eggs, plant-based proteins
Iron-Fortified	Iron-fortified cereals, enriched breads, supplements	Plain whole grains, non-fortified bread and pasta
Beverages	Alcohol, sugary soft drinks, excess caffeine	Water, herbal teas, low-fat milk
Fats	Saturated and trans fats from processed and fried foods	Healthy fats from avocados, olive oil, nuts, and seeds
Purines/Oxalates	Organ meats, red meat, some seafood, specific leafy greens	Most fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy

The Role of Hydration and Balance

Alongside limiting certain foods, focusing on what to include in your diet is crucial. Maintaining a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins is beneficial. Staying well-hydrated is also essential, as it helps prevent the blood from becoming too thick. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day can assist in overall symptom management. While dietary adjustments are important, they are not a substitute for medical treatment and should be discussed with a healthcare professional. For more in-depth information, you can read about high hemoglobin on the website for Blood Cancer UK.

Conclusion

Making thoughtful dietary changes is a key component of managing high hemoglobin levels. By reducing the intake of heme iron from red meat and organ meats, avoiding iron-fortified products and supplements, and limiting alcohol and unhealthy fats, individuals can support their medical treatment and reduce the risk of serious complications. Focus on a balanced, anti-inflammatory diet, prioritize hydration, and always consult with a healthcare provider or a registered dietitian to create a personalized plan. Diet alone will not cure high hemoglobin, but it plays a significant role in promoting overall health and managing the condition effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

The first foods to consider eliminating or significantly reducing are red meat, organ meats like liver, and iron-fortified cereals, as these are very high in readily absorbed iron.

No, you do not need to eliminate all iron from your diet. The focus should be on limiting high-heme-iron sources and avoiding iron supplements and fortified foods, while still maintaining a balanced diet with plant-based foods that contain less-absorbable non-heme iron.

Yes, drinking coffee and tea can help. These beverages contain tannins and polyphenols that can interfere with the body's absorption of non-heme iron, making them a helpful addition to a controlled diet.

Excessive alcohol intake can promote iron absorption and is harmful to the liver, which is particularly vulnerable to damage from iron overload. It is best to avoid or strictly limit alcohol consumption.

Fruits and vegetables should be an important part of your diet. However, if you have conditions like polycythemia vera, it may be advisable to limit large amounts of foods high in oxalates, such as spinach, to prevent kidney stones.

For those with high hemoglobin, it is advisable to limit exposure to other sources of iron, such as cooking in iron cookware, as this can transfer iron into your food.

Yes, staying well-hydrated is very important. Drinking plenty of water helps dilute the blood, preventing it from becoming too thick, which is a risk factor with high hemoglobin.

Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron. Therefore, individuals with high hemoglobin are generally advised to avoid vitamin C supplements. However, the amount of vitamin C in fruits is usually not a concern.