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Saturday 17 November 2018

Foods to Increase Blood Flow and Circulation




Jillian Kubala MS RD writes:
"Poor circulation is a common problem caused by a number of conditions. Peripheral artery disease (PAD), diabetes, obesity, smoking and Raynaud’s disease are some of the many causes of poor circulation. Reduced blood flow can cause unpleasant symptoms, such as pain, muscle cramps, numbness, digestive issues and coldness in the hands or feet. In addition to those with poor circulation, athletes and active individuals may want to increase blood flow in order to improve exercise performance and recovery. Although circulatory issues are often treated with medications, eating certain foods can also improve blood flow. 

Here are the 14 best foods to optimize blood flow.
1. Cayenne Pepper
2. Pomegranate 
3. Onions
4. Cinnamon
5. Garlic
6. Fatty Fish
7. Beets
8. Turmeric
9. Leafy Greens
10. Citrus Fruits
11. Walnuts
12. Tomatoes
13. Berries

14. Ginger



Other Methods
While incorporating any of these foods into your diet may improve circulation, other lifestyle changes may have a larger impact. Here are some other lifestyle modifications that can optimize blood flow:
Quit smoking: Smoking is a risk factor for many chronic diseases — such as cancer — and can negatively impact circulation.
Increase physical activity: Exercise stimulates blood flow and helps improve vasodilation. Plus, regular exercise decreases your risk of heart disease.
Lose weight: Being overweight or obese negatively impacts blood flow and can lead to dangerous complications, such as plaque build up in your arteries.
Follow a healthy diet: Instead of simply stocking up on particular foods, try switching to a diet rich in healthy, whole foods — such as vegetables, healthy fats and fibre-rich foods — which can improve circulatory health.
Stay hydrated: Proper hydration is critical to all aspects of health, including circulation. Dehydration can damage endothelial cells and promote inflammation in your body, restricting blood flow.
Reduce stress: Research proves that stress levels can significantly impact blood pressure. Manage your stress through yoga, meditation, gardening or spending time in nature.
Summary: Following a healthy diet, exercising, losing weight, quitting smoking, staying hydrated and reducing stress are natural ways to improve circulation.

stay hydrated 


The Bottom Line 
There are many natural ways to improve circulation, including choosing foods that stimulate blood flow. The antioxidants, nitrates, vitamins and other substances contained in the foods above can have a positive impact on your circulation. What’s more, leading a healthy lifestyle, can boost blood flow and overall health.

The above is only a snippet of Jillian's article.
You can read it in full with all related links here

We bring a variety of articles, studies etc. plus recent news/views and recipe ideas to this blog, we hope something for everyone to read and enjoy. Please note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan

38 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

Lots of good foods here! Valerie

Catarina said...

Great article. It is always good to be reminded of lifestyle changes for good health.
Thank you.
:)

Cheryl said...

Thanks for the list of foods to improve circulation.
Always good to know.

Tom said...

...yep, keep things flowing!

riitta k said...

Good list & info!

Christine said...

Thanks for this great list!

mxtodis123 said...

All my favorite foods.

CJ Kennedy said...

Interesting. I have Reynaud's. Didn't know much could be done about it other than wearing warm gloves and socks. Himself and I started a Keto diet which includes leafy greens and we are allowed berries. I'll have to see if the addition of things like cinnamon and turmeric help make a difference, too.

DIMI said...

Hello Jan!
Great post and very useful informations!
Have a lovely day and a happy weekend!
Dimi...

Teresa said...

Muy interesante. Besos.

Dewena said...

Hi Jan, I'm pulling this off to my desktop to read again, and take notes. Because I have neuropathy I try to follow a lot of this, but some things were new to me and could be incorporated. Thanks for the link too!

Lady Caer Morganna said...

This is GREAT INFORMATION, Jan - Thank you! I have blood circulation issues and I do eat much of what you have listed here. :)

JFM said...

Always enjoy these "healthy eating" postings!!!

Hugs~

DUTA said...

I'm a great lover of lettuce, but I try to eat it moderately as it is, like other leafy greens, relatively high in vitamin k which is known to help in blood cloting. Clots are not a good thing for free circulation.

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

Very interesting list of foods and recommendations. Thanks!

This N That said...

Good information. Made me realize how Little I do any of that have a great weekend.

carol l mckenna said...

Wonderful post with great info! ^_^

Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Out on the prairie said...

Glad I have many of these in my diet

Debbie said...

awesome information. i don't eat all of these, but the ones i do eat, i eat all the time!!!

Elephant's Child said...

Great advice.

William Kendall said...

Some good choices!

Anonymous said...

wonderful article!!

DeniseinVA said...

More and more I am reading articles on nutrition and health. This one was excellent, thanks Jan!

Rue said...

As it turns out, I actually eat a lot of those foods, because I like them. How great to know they're making me healthy as well!

I hope you're having a lovely weekend :)

xo,
rue

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

Always good info here. Thank you for reminding us! Enjoy a nice weekend. ♥

Louca por porcelana said...

Thanks for sharing,Jan!Hugs!

Conniecrafter said...

I think I may have a bit of problem with circulation, this was a good article, thanks for sharing!

Sara - Villa Emilia said...

Very interesting and very useful! This is one of those posts I should print out. Well, I'm writing some things down. :) Thank you very much, dear Jan, for sharing.
Have a happy Sunday and a great week ahead! xx

Bob Bushell said...

Thanks for the info Jan.

Snowbird said...

Great advice!xxx

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Excellent advice Jan ✨

baili said...

most of them we take regularly except first and number 11 ( or may be just names are new to me)

thank you for such powerful reminder

i really appreciate your blog and sharing which always help to keep important issues in mind
God bless you my friend!!!

Carol Blackburn said...

All good stuff, thank you for posting.

Magic Love Crow said...

Excellent post! Thank you Jan!

Azur Olen said...

Thank you for this amazing recipes!! I guess we should start heading to supermarkets to buy the ingredients. I am also came from a clan of diabetics. I recently read an article about how people like us Asians are genetically susceptible to diabetes. And in found this thing called okra its such a cheap and great tasting veggie that is good for people with diabetes. I read the article here https://enddiabetesnow143270540.wordpress.com/ glad sharing it without you hoping that it might help you because it help me alot!

Pam said...

Bet that makes for a great meal...I however like something with less items to go in there, not a lot of prep. Something you can throw together fast. I did make a veggie soup the other day, but I cheated this time...frozen corn and peas. Can carrots and canned taters (Cheated) ... ground beef, spices, onions. It was great...I love spices. Cornbread! Ate on it for days, and even fed my brother with two meals.

Lowcarb team member said...

Many thanks to you all for taking time to leave your thoughts and comments.

I see that Okra was mentioned in Azur's comment, readers may wish to read more about Okra here
https://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/2015/05/all-about-okra.html

I think Pam's comment was meant for this post Goulash with butter-fried cabbage : Lower carb dish … find it with link below
https://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/2018/11/goulash-with-butter-fried-cabbage-lower.html

All the best Jan

Mindvalley said...

The stuff is very nice and helpful! Thanks to providing this info.
https://blog.mindvalley.com/foods-that-increase-blood-flow/