How to up your white blood cell count

Overview

White blood cell count or simply WBC count measures the number of white blood cells in the blood. White blood cells or leukocytes help fight infections. These cells attack and destroy the virus, bacteria or other organisms causing an infection.

White blood cells are fewer in number, but they are relatively bigger than red blood cells. You may have a high white blood cell count if you have a bacterial infection. It's, therefore, quite common for physicians to ask for a white blood cell count to see how the body is fighting an infection.

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Why is high white blood cell count a concern?

It's natural to see an increase in the white blood cells when the body's fighting with an infection, but too much of white blood cells may require further investigation. A very high white blood cell count indicates an underlying health condition.

If no disease is present, your white blood cell count will be 1% of the total blood in your body. There are five types of white blood cells, including lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes and the basophils. Normally, white blood cell count (per micro litre of blood) should be between the following ranges:

• Neutrophils: 3150 to 6200
• Lymphocytes: 1500 to 3000
• Monocytes: 300 to 500
• Eosinophils: 50 to 250
• Basophils: 15 to 50

The change in the count of different types of white blood cells indicates different types of diseases. For instance, a high neutrophil count might mean a common infection, a physical stress or cancer, whereas very high lymphocyte count would indicate AIDS. A bacterial infection is usually present when your eosinophil and monocyte count is higher than usual. High white blood cell may also indicate inflammation, tissue damage, trauma, allergy, chronic leukaemia, chronic bone marrow disease, intense exercise, diverticular disease, and severe emotional/physical stress.

How to decrease high white blood cell count at home?

What you eat will always affect the overall white blood cell count. To lower your high white blood cell count, you should include the following in your diet:

• Vitamin C. Eating Vitamin C will help regulate the levels of white blood cells in your body. Fruits like lemons, oranges, and lime are rich in vitamin C, and so are papayas, berries, guavas, and pineapples. You can also get vitamin C from vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, and bell peppers.
• Antioxidants. Antioxidants are chemicals that neutralize harmful molecules called free radicals. These free radicals can damage protein, cells, and DNA, but antioxidants can eliminate them, which is why they are also called ‘free radical scavengers’. You may consider adding leeks, onions, garlic, tea, grapes, and other fruits and veggies to your diet to provide your body with antioxidants that support a healthy immune system.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Your body cannot make these essential fatty acids, so you have to get them through food. It improves cardiovascular health and elevates the activity of phagocytes, a specific type of white blood cells that fight off foreign bacteria. This polyunsaturated fat is available in fatty fish like herring, trout, and salmon, as well as in flaxseed and walnuts.
• Avoid foods rich in sugar, fat and salt. You can replace them with any food that lowers inflammation to reduce white blood cell count, like grapes, garlic, spices, nuts, soy protein, vinegar, and black and green teas.

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White blood cells, also called leukocytes, are cellular components found in the blood. They are created in the spongy tissue present inside bigger bones called bone marrow. Unlike red blood cell, they lack hemoglobin. However, they do have a nucleus. They are bigger than red blood cells, but fewer in number.                                                                                             

As an important part of the immune system, the primary function of white blood cells is to protect the body from infections and disease by fighting and destroying the various organisms that attack it.  They also contribute to the production of antibodies.

There are different types of white blood cells in the bloodstream. Some of these are monocytes, lymphocytes, basophils, and neutrophils. Each type is present in a certain quantity. However, sometimes the white blood cell count can decrease below the normal range. The medical term used to describe this condition is called leukopenia.

Quite a few reasons can result in leukopenia. Here are a few of them:

• Alcohol abuse
• Lupus
• Autoimmune disorders
• Congenital disorders
• Poor nutrition
• Viral infections
• Lymphoma

Why should you be concerned if your white blood cell count is low? Because white blood cells fight foreign entities that enter your blood, a drop in your white blood cell levels lowers your body’s immunity and makes it vulnerable to infections. Listed below are some of the symptoms of a low white blood cell count:

• Sweating
• High fever
• Chills
• Body aches
• Headaches

The following are some of the foods you can take to increase your white blood cell count back to a healthy level.

Vitamin-Rich Foods

Vitamin C, A, and B9 are all very important for increasing white blood cell count. Vitamin C helps towards improving your overall immunity. Vitamin A boosts the production of lymphocytes. Vitamin B9, on the other hand, boosts the production of neutrophils.

Foods such as fish, sweet potato, spinach, carrots, meat, and eggs are rich in these vitamins. After consulting a doctor, you can also take vitamin supplements.

Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds are abundant in vitamin B6, vitamin E, and magnesium. All these nutrients are ones that boost white blood cells in attacking foreign organisms in the bloodstream. You can toss sunflower seeds on your salad to consume them. You could also grab some and munch on them.

Yogurt

Yogurt contains probiotics in a high amount. Probiotics contribute towards boosting immunity and also towards increasing white blood cell count. Take a bowl of yogurt daily. You could top it up with granola, chia seeds, and frozen berries.

Papaya Leaves

Acetogenins are a compound that also increases white blood cell count and can be found in papaya leaves. Once or twice daily, wash a bunch of papaya leaves and blend them in a little water. Next, strain the mixture and drink a tablespoon of the juice. Add some honey to the mixture to make it less bitter.

Noni Fruit

Noni fruit contains vitamin C. Consuming 30 to 60 ml of noni fruit juice will increase the count of lymphocytes in your blood. You could either use organic juice bought from the store or extract it yourself from the fruit.

Apart from using the remedies mentioned in this article, make sure to visit a cura4u healthcare provider if your white blood cell count is low.

Recommended Tests

CBC (includes Differential and Platelets)

A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test used to evaluate your overall health. It may be used as a screening test or monitor for a wide range of disorders, including anemia, infections and platelet disorders.

White Blood Cell Count WBC Count

A white blood cell (WBC) count is a test that measures the number of white blood cells in your body

EOSINOPHIL COUNT URINE

Eosinophils are a type of white blood cells involved in certain allergic and immune reactions. This test detects presence of eosinophils in urine and helps in diagnosing various causes of kidney diseases such as acute interstitial nephritis.

CBC Differential and Platelets with Smear Review

CBC (includes Differential and Platelets) with Smear Review - A complete blood count is used as a screening test for various disease states including anemia, leukemia and inflammatory processes.

CBC includes Differential and Platelets with Pathologist Review

CBC (includes Differential and Platelets) with Pathologist Review - To assist in diagnosis of hematologic disorders.

Differential Count Blood

The differential blood count gives relative percentage of each type of white blood cell present in blood. 

White Blood Cell Count WBC and Differential

White Blood Cell Count (WBC) and Differential - A screening test for various disease states to include leukemia and inflammatory processes.

Lymphocytes Total (differential count)

Eosinophil Count Blood

Automated instrumentation performs white blood cell count and calculates the absolute eosinophil count.

Absolute Neutrophil Count

Used to assess the staus of the immune system and evaluate the risk of infection.

Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Manual Differential

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• Diabetes
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• Diabetes
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• Diabetes
• metabolic
• thyroid disorders
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Farah Jassawalla

Farah Jassawalla is a graduate of the Lahore School of Economics. She is also a writer, and a healthcare enthusiast, having closely observed case studies while working with Lahore's thriving general physicians at their clinics.

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