Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Changing Your Diet
• Method 2 of 3: Medical Assistance
• Method 3 of 3: Keeping Your Neutrophil Counts Low

Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infection. Low neutrophil counts (neutropenia) can develop if you have cancer or are undergoing treatment for it (such as chemotherapy). Neutropenia can develop from poor nutrition, blood disorders, or bone marrow infections.To increase the number of neutrophils in your body and cure this condition, change your diet and seek medical attention. You should also take steps to stay healthy and avoid germs and bacteria, as low neutrophil counts make a person vulnerable to infections and other illnesses.

Attention:the information in this article is for informational purposes only. Before using any methods, consult your doctor.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Changing Your Diet

1. 1 Eat fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C helps boost your immune system and makes sure your neutrophil levels don't drop too much. Eat fresh oranges, bananas, apples, and pears. As for vegetables, broccoli, carrots, peppers, kale and spinach will be useful here. Add them to your meals to keep your neutrophil count high.
2. 2 Add foods rich in vitamin E and zinc. Vitamin E is very important for stimulating the production of white blood cells, and zinc for increasing the number of neutrophils. Both of these elements can be obtained from food.
   • Foods high in vitamin E include almonds, avocados, wheatgrass, sunflower seeds, and palm and olive oils.
   • Oysters, chicken, beans, nuts, and whole grains are good sources of zinc.
3. 3 Eat foods rich in omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids. These include salmon, mackerel, and flaxseed oil. Fatty acids increase the level of phagocytes. These are white blood cells that absorb bad bacteria in the body. Incorporate these foods into your diet and cook with flaxseed oil. Instead, you can drink half a teaspoon (2.5 ml) of flaxseed oil daily.
4. 4 Eat foods rich in vitamin B12. With vitamin B12 deficiency, neutropenia may develop. Foods rich in this vitamin (fish, eggs, milk, and leafy greens) will help increase neutrophil levels.
   • Some soy products are fortified with vitamin B12. This is a good alternative if you're a vegetarian or just don't eat animal products.
   • If you want to make sure you are getting enough vitamin from your diet, start taking vitamin B12 supplements.
5. 5 Don't eat raw meat, fish, and eggs. Consuming these foods raw may increase the risk of bacteria or germs entering the body. Only eat these foods after they have been cooked to a safe core temperature.
6. 6 Take nutritional supplements after consulting your doctor. If you eat low-calorie foods or have a poor appetite, you may need to start taking a multivitamin or supplement to help your body produce white blood cells. But before you start taking any supplements, be sure to check with your healthcare professional.
   • Make sure your doctor takes into account all the medications you are taking when advising a supplement.
7. 7 Remember to wash your food and prepare it properly. Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables under warm water to reduce bacteria and germs. Cook food to a safe core temperature and place leftover food in the refrigerator or freezer no later than 2 hours after cooking. Avoid using wooden cutting boards or sponges as they collect a lot of germs.
   • Preparing and handling food reduces the number of germs and bacteria that cause disease associated with low neutrophil counts.

Method 2 of 3: Medical Assistance

1. 1 Ask your doctor for a prescription for neutrophil elevation drugs. Drugs such as Neuprogen can increase your neutrophil count, especially if you are undergoing cancer treatment. Your doctor may give you an injection of this medication or give you an IV with it.If you have very low neutrophil counts or are undergoing chemotherapy, you will receive this medication daily.
   • Side effects of taking this medication include nausea, fever, bone pain, and back pain.
2. 2 Ask your doctor if other conditions are affecting your neutrophil count. Neutropenia can occur due to a number of medical conditions, such as bacterial and viral infections. To treat these conditions, your doctor may admit you to the hospital and prescribe antibiotics to treat the ongoing infection. When the infection has cleared, your neutrophil count should be back to normal.
3. 3 Get a bone marrow transplant if your condition worsens. If your low neutrophil count is caused by a medical condition such as leukemia or aplastic anemia, your doctor may recommend a bone marrow transplant. Transplantation is performed by removing the diseased bone marrow and then replacing it with healthy bone marrow from the donor. You will be under general anesthesia during the procedure.
   • Before and after the transplant, you will need to take medication to make sure that there is no infection and that your neutrophil count is back to normal.

Method 3 of 3: Keeping Your Neutrophil Counts Low

1. 1 Regularly wash your hands warm water and antibacterial soap. Proper hand washing largely prevents infections and germs from entering the body, which is especially important if you have weak immunity and low neutrophil counts. Wash your hands with soap and water for 15-30 seconds. Then rinse them well under warm running water and pat dry with a paper towel.
   • Remember to wash your hands before eating, drinking or taking medication, and before and after going to the bathroom. Wash your hands before touching food or any part of your body, especially eyes, nose and mouth.
   • Always wash your hands after touching pets or other animals.
2. 2 Wear a respiratory (medical) face mask to prevent germs and bacteria from entering your body. Put on a respiratory mask to protect your mouth and nose when you want to go outside or go to a public place, especially with a large crowd. Wear this mask at home if you are not alone or if there is a lot of dust, mold, or dirt in the house.
   • A face mask can be purchased from your local pharmacy or ordered online.
3. 3 Stay away from people with colds or flu. Don't spend time with people who are sick, or you can get infected with disease-causing germs. Ask people with the flu or colds to keep their distance from you until your neutrophil count returns to normal.
   • You should also avoid going to crowded places, like department stores, where you might have flu or colds.
4. 4 Maintain good oral hygiene to prevent infection. Brush and floss your teeth 2-3 times a day and after every meal. Rinse your mouth with baking soda and water to get rid of germs and bacteria. Rinse your toothbrush regularly under warm running water to keep it clean.