Q: My boyfriend feels cold even when it is hot. His mother says that it is because he does not have enough blood. Could you please tell me if this is true and what kind of foods should he eat to increase the blood level in his body?

A:Humans are warm-blooded (homeothermic endotherms) i.e. we maintain a uniform body temperature by internal generation of heat. A stable body temperature results from a balance between internal heat production and heat loss to the environment. Heat is lost or gained through several physical mechanisms, including radiation, conduction, convection, evaporation and respiration. A low body temperature (hypothermia) may be due to many causes. These include: Skin disease, Medicines (alcohol, phenothiazines, sedative-hypnotics), Metabolic disorders (diseases of pituitary, adrenal or thyroid glands), Neurologic, Infections etc. Anaemia does not lead to hypothermia and it needs to be documented by doing a complete blood count. Adults should get 45 percent to 65 percent of their calories from carbohydrates, 20 percent to 35 percent from fat, and 10 percent to 35 percent from protein. A good dietary plan should include plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains; reduced intake of saturated fat, trans-fat and cholesterol; limited amount of sweets and salt; moderate alcoholic consumption, if at all and daily physical activity.