Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Marsha Durkin, RN. Marsha Durkin is a Registered Nurse based in Waukegan, Illinois. With over 15 years of professional experience, she works both as a nurse and a Laboratory Information Specialist for Insight Hospital and Medical Center. Marsha received her Associate's Degree in Nursing from Olney Central College in 1987.
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Platelets are so tiny that they only make up a tiny fraction of total blood volume. The function of platelets is mainly to prevent bleeding by clotting the blood. However, in rare cases, some people develop a condition in which the bone marrow produces too many platelets, known as thrombocytosis.[1] This can lead to the formation of large blood clots which may cause health issues like strokes or heart problems. Start with Step 1 below for more information on how you can decrease the number of platelets in your blood through diet, lifestyle and medical means.
Ways to Lower Platelet Count
- Talk to your doctor about blood-thinning medications like aspirin, anagrelide, or hydroxyurea.
- Eat raw garlic, which contains allicin, a compound that helps lower your platelet count.
- Try ginko biloba, which helps thin your blood.
- Take ginseng supplements, which help prevent clots.
Steps
Eat raw garlic to decrease the number of platelets in your blood. Raw or crushed garlic contains a compound called "allicin" which affects the body's ability to make platelets, therefore decreasing the number of platelets in the blood.[2]- Your body responds to the lower platelet level by improving its immunity, which helps to protect the body from any foreign objects (such as viruses and bacteria) that enter the system.
- The allicin content of garlic decreases rapidly with cooking, so try to eat it raw. Eating raw garlic causes stomach upset in some people, so be sure to eat the raw garlic with food.
Take gingko biloba to reduce blood viscosity. Gingko biloba contains substances called “terpenoids” which reduce blood viscosity (making it thinner) and prevent the formation of clots.[3]- Gingko biloba also help to improve blood circulation and increases your body's production of warfarin, which helps to dissolve clots.
- Gingko biloba is available as a supplement in liquid or capsule form. You can buy these supplements at the drug or health food store.
- If you can get your hands on gingko biloba leave, you can boil the leaves in water for 5 to 7 minutes, then drink the water as a tea.
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Use ginseng to prevent clot formation. Ginseng contains “ginsenosides” that help to decrease platelet aggregation, and therefore prevent the formation of clots.[4]- Ginseng is available in capsule form at drug and health food stores. It is often added to energy foods and drinks.
- Ginseng causes insomnia and nausea in some people, so you will need to test it out for a trial period to see how it reacts with your body.
Eat pomegranates for their anti-platelet effect. Pomegranates contain substances called polyphenols which have an anti-platelet effect — this means that they reduce your body's production of platelets and prevent existing platelets from clotting.[5]- You can eat whole, fresh pomegranate fruits, drink pomegranate juice, or add pomegranate extract to your cooking.
Eat seafood rich in omega-3 to inhibit platelet production. Omega-3 fatty acids affect platelet activity, thinning the blood and reducing the chance of clotting.[6] Omega-3's are abundant in seafood such as tuna, salmon, scallops, sardine, shellfish and herring.[7]- Try to include 2 to 3 servings of these fish per week, to meet your recommended weekly allowance of omega-3s
- If you're not fond of fish, you can boost your omega-3 intake by taking 3000 to 4000mg of fish oil supplements per day.
Drink red wine to reduce the chances of clot formation. Red wine contains flavonoids, which comes from the skin of red grapes during production. These flavonoids prevent the overproduction of cells in the lining of artery walls (a process caused by too many platelets in the blood). This reduces reduces the chances of clot formation.[8]- There is one unit of alcohol in half a standard glass of wine (about 175 ml). Men should not drink more than 21 units of alcohol per week, and no more than four per day.
- Women should not drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week, and no more than three per day. Both men and women should have at least two alcohol free days per week.[9]
Eat fruit and veg containing "salicylates" which help to thin the blood. Fruit and vegetables that contain “salicylates” help to thin the blood and prevent clotting. They also boost the body’s immunity and help to maintain normal platelet count.- Vegetables that contain salicylates include cucumber, mushrooms, zucchini, radish, and alfalfa.
- Fruits that contain salicylates include all kinds of berries, cherries, raisins and oranges.
- Eating shiitake mushrooms is a good natural option for decreasing platelets.
Add cinnamon to cooking to reduce platelet aggregation. Cinnamon contains a compound called “cinnamaldehyde” which is known to reduce platelet aggregation and therefore blood clotting.[10]- Add ground cinnamon to baked goods or stewed vegetables. You could also try boiling a cinnamon stick in tea or wine.
Quit smoking to prevent blood clots. Smoking puts you at increased risk of developing blood clots, due to several harmful compounds found in cigarettes (such as nicotine). Smoking causes the blood to become thicker and the platelets to clump together.- Serious health issues such as heart problems and strokes often occur as a result of clots forming in the blood. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do to avoid these blood clots from forming in the first place.
- Quitting is difficult, and is not something that can be done overnight. See this article for some helpful advice on how to quit smoking.
Drink coffee for its anti-platelet effect. Coffee contains an anti-platelet effect, which means that it reduces the number of platelets in the blood and prevents platelet aggregation.[11]- The anti-platelet effect of coffee is not due to caffeine, but to phenolic acids. Therefore, you can still benefit from the anti-platelet effect by drinking decaffeinated coffee.[12]
Take blood thinning medication, as prescribed by your doctor. Under certain circumstances, your doctor will prescribe blood thinning medications. These medications will prevent blood viscosity, platelet aggregation, and the formation of blood clots. Some of the most commonly prescribed medications include:[13]- Aspirin
- Hydroxyurea
- Anagrelide
- Interferon alfa
- Busulfan
- Pipobroman
- Phosphorus – 32
Undergo a procedure known as plateletpheresis. In emergency circumstances, your doctor may advise a treatment known as plateletpheresis, which rapidly decreases the number of platelets in the blood.- During plateletpheresis, an intravenous line is inserted into one of your blood vessels to remove blood from your body. This blood is then passed through a machine that removes platelets from the blood.
- The platelet-free blood is then passed back into the body through a second intravenous line.
Expert Q&A
Tips
- To measure your platelet count, a sample of your blood will be collected and sent to the laboratory for testing. A normal platelet count is 150,000 to 350 000 per micro liter of blood.[14]Thanks
- Dark chocolate is also believed to inhibit platelet production, so try nibbling on a square or two after dinner every night.[15]Thanks
References
- ↑ http://www.ouhsc.edu/platelets/platelets/platelets%20intro.html
- ↑ https://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/0701/p103.html
- ↑ https://www.poison.org/articles/ginkgo-biloba-risks-benefits-181
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25839871
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19459734
- ↑ https://openheart.bmj.com/content/6/1/e001011
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-diet-fatty-fish-omega-3s
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/red-wine/art-20048281
- ↑ http://www.patient.info/health/Recommended-Safe-Limits-of-Alcohol.htm
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4003790/
- ↑ https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/effect-of-coffee-drinking-on-platelets-inhibition-of-aggregation-and-phenols-incorporation/E58D15A1106A085232072CF19C428617
- ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18439332
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/dvt/dvt-treatment-tips-for-taking-heparin-and-warfarin-safely
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/complete-blood-count/about/pac-20384919
- ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22066819
About This Article
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
If a medical professional has told you to decrease your platelets, drink coffee, which reduces the platelets in your blood and their ability to clump together. Additionally, eat seafood rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like tuna and salmon, which decreases platelets. You can also incorporate raw or crushed garlic into your diet, since it contains a compound that inhibits your body’s ability to make platelets. It may be worth considering supplements like gingko bilboa or ginseng, as well, because they contain substances that thin your blood and prevent clots. For information from our Nurse reviewer on how eating pomegranates can help decrease your platelets, scroll down!
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"This article helped me understand more about platelets. Mine came back slightly elevated. My doctor advised it was very slight and nothing to worry about. In reviewing previous blood work from physicals, it had always fluctuated. I will continue to monitor them. "..." more
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