Hematogen is a “bloody” delicacy from a pharmacy: how is it useful and to whom it can harm?

Dark brown tile from the pharmacy is a tasty and cheap delicacy that many children love. But what more does the hematogen bring to the body, benefit or harm? The article will detail the composition of this product. In the end, you decide whether to buy hematogen for health.

Hematogen Composition

Back in the late 19th century, a bovine blood-based anemia medicine was invented in Switzerland. Then the taste of the product was not particularly cared for. But sweet hard tiles, reminiscent of iris in taste, were invented in the Soviet Union after the end of World War II. Since then, the recipe has not changed much.

Hematogen composition according to Russian GOST:

• black albumin food;
• condensed milk;
• starch syrup;
• sugar;
• vanillin.

We will analyze each component in detail and see what its useful and harmful properties are.

Albumin black food

It is a dry powder - a product of the processing of whole bovine blood. This is the only drug component in the hematogen. It contains albumin, which is easily absorbed by the body.

What is the value of albumin? It is enriched with iron, an important element involved in the transport of oxygen to various tissues and organs.

More than 60% of people at least once in their life have experienced iron deficiency. With a shortage of such a human microelement in the body, the following problems worry:

• chronic fatigue;
• drowsiness;
• addiction to fatty and sweet foods;
• weak immunity;
• hormonal disorders;
• headaches;
• impaired memory and attention.

Therefore, the hematogen is a dietary supplement that is used to prevent iron deficiency and related symptoms. But with serious diseases (for example, anemia), black tiles will no longer help.

The content of black food albumin in this hematogen is 4-5%. Such a product is sold in a pharmacy, and its use really affects the composition of the blood. Many Russian manufacturers of confectionery products began to produce a treat with the same name, but with an albumin content of only 2-3% (or even without it). Therefore, the health benefits of tiles sold in supermarkets, you will not get.

Despite the high content of easily digestible iron, albumin black food is not such an unambiguous component. The problem lies in its production.

1. When a bull is killed, a large amount of stress hormones is released into the blood: cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine. These substances pass into the composition of dry albumin powder. Animal hormones adversely affect human health, in particular, contribute to metabolic disorders and weight gain. The hormone cortisol impairs mental ability.
2. The blood of the bull must be purified from microorganisms, steroids, stimulants, antibiotics. Many manufacturers sin at this stage, because it is economically costly, and the finished product is cheap. When using hematogen, side effects are possible - rashes and redness on the skin, swelling of the mucous membrane.
3. At the stage of blood stabilization, polyphosphates are used. These substances are harmful in that they bind and remove calcium from the body.

Thus, black albumin food is both beneficial and harmful. Is it worth buying a black bar, it's up to you.

Condensed milk, starch syrup, sugar

This group of food components is used to remove the taste of blood in the hematogen. It is interesting that the content of condensed milk, molasses and sugar in the bar is 95–97%. There is nothing useful in them, but the harmful properties are in abundance.

Excessive consumption of sugar and sugary foods leads to the following health problems:

• metabolic disorders;
• diabetes mellitus;
• Obesity
• caries;
• premature aging;
• skin rashes.

Although there is a lot of iron in the hematogen, it is not worth overeating black barrels. No one canceled the harm of sugar.

Vanillin

Due to the similar sounding of the words “vanilla” and “vanillin”, pictures with yellow flowers on the packaging, people often confuse spice with a synthetic flavor. Vanilla is really useful, but it is an expensive exotic plant. But vanillin is obtained in a chemical laboratory from the following components:

• petrochemical raw materials;
• wood pulp waste;
• coal tar;
• Diperix tree beans.

The last component is especially dangerous, because it contains coumarin - a toxic substance that affects the liver.

As you may have guessed, vanillin is a harmful flavor. However, only 0.01% is a part of a hematogen - concentration, safe for an organism, if not to eat black bars as candies.

Other additives

In recent years, on the shelves of pharmacies and stores you can find hematogen with the addition of dried fruits, candied fruits, coconut, nuts, chocolate. They improve the taste of the bar.

We do not recommend buying such a product. Any additives interfere with the absorption of iron and make the hematogen more high-calorie.

Hematogen benefits

Due to the presence of black food albumin, the sweet bar is a good source of iron and amino acids. In addition to participating in the process of blood formation and oxygen transfer, iron has the following useful properties:

• protects the body from bacteria and viruses (strengthens the immune system);
• participates in the synthesis of thyroid hormones;
• helps to absorb B vitamins;
• destroys oxidation products, slowing down the aging process;
• improves the functioning of the nervous system.

The hematogen also contains vitamin A, which is useful for vision, is necessary for normal muscle growth and stimulates the immune system.

For women

Women experience iron deficiency more often than men. This is due to blood loss during menstruation, childbirth, hormonal disruptions in the body.

The benefit of hematogen for women is that a black bar is the prevention of iron deficiency. Vitamin A in the composition of the product has antioxidant properties, that is, it slows down the aging process, strengthens hair and nails.

For men

The benefit of hematogen for men is that a high-calorie and amino-acid-rich bar increases stamina, energy, and physical strength. Often faced with iron deficiency are students, bachelors and businessmen who do not have time to prepare nutritious food. They can include hematogen in their diet to feel better.

For kids

Iron and vitamin A are especially needed by a growing body. Some doctors claim that in moderation, the hematogen strengthens the child’s immunity, improves his mental abilities, which helps to cope with stress in school and improve academic performance.

Hematogen Harm

Not all experts share the common position that hematogen is a useful product. They believe that the harm in the bars is much greater. To make up for the lack of iron and vitamins in the body, experts recommend not to lean on the hematogen, but to balance the diet. Include the following foods: beef liver, chicken yolks, white beans, seafood, lentils, spinach.

What is the hematogen harmful?

• Contains a huge amount of calories and fast carbohydrates. From one tile per day you get the same harm to the figure as from a Snickers bar or a small chocolate bar weighing 25-30 grams.For children who move a lot, this is not critical, but adults should think about it.
• Side effects. If the blood from which albumin was made did not undergo a high-quality purification, then the opposite effect can be obtained: weakened immunity, skin irritation, edema, deterioration of the brain, gastrointestinal disorders.

At the same time, it is impossible to verify the safety of the components and to find out where the blood came from for the production of albumin (possibly from radioactive contamination zones). You buy a bar at your own risk.

An overdose is also dangerous. If you abuse the product, the blood thickens, which can lead to blood clots.

List of contraindications

Hematogen is primarily dietary supplement, not candy. Contraindications to the use of black bars are as follows:

• age up to 6 years;
• diabetes;
• obesity;
• lack of calcium in the body;
• increased blood coagulability, thrombophlebitis;
• taking antibiotics, drugs for the heart and normalizing pressure, diuretics.

Taking a bar during pregnancy and lactation remains in question. Some doctors believe that during such periods, the woman’s body loses a lot of iron and needs additional intake of dietary supplements. Others forbid their patients to eat black bars because it is not known how third-party substances in albumin will affect the fetus.

If you doubt the composition of the hematogen, you should not risk it. There are other, safer sources of iron.

How to choose and take a hematogen?

Buy the product only at the pharmacy. Hematogyeshes on store shelves are products of the food industry, they have almost no iron and amino acids. Pay attention to the composition. The fewer the additives, the better. The only exception is the vitamins that some pharmaceutical companies enrich the product. The shelf life of the tiles should not come to an end.

The best hematogen is the one that contains vitamin C (ascorbic acid). This component helps the body absorb iron.

If possible, buy the most expensive bars. A cheap product, most likely, contains albumin of poor quality (poor degree of purification) or in low concentration - up to 3%.

How to take hematogen? The specific dosage depends on age, weight, health status, so it is better to consult a doctor. As a rule, children 6-12 years old are allowed to eat 35 grams, and adolescents and adults - 50 grams of hematogen per day. It is necessary to divide the product into 3 doses: morning, afternoon and evening.

Conclusion

Thus, the hematogen is not as harmless a sweet as many people think. Its main value is to saturate the body with iron, amino acids and vitamin A. But because of the dubious process of production of albumin and high sugar content, it is still unknown what the hematogen more: good or bad. The final decision, as always, is yours.