Working out, eating well and maintaining low stress levels can keep your heart running efficiently, but what about your veins? A fit heart pumps blood vigorously through strong arteries. When the blood needs to cycle back to your heart, it flows through a network of veins. The only way your blood is permitted upward flow (against gravity) is by clear and elastic veins that can move blood in one direction back to your heart.
Valves within your veins act as doors that open and close to assist upward blood flow. It’s essential that your veins are able to resist the pressure that’s needed to move your blood. Without pressure-resistant qualities, your circulation patterns change as vein walls and their valves weaken. Varicose and spider veins are the results of vein disease. Healthy veins can make your life a lot easier which is why at Vein Center of Florida, we’ve composed a list of items you can eat and drink for stronger, clearer veins.
Fill Your Plate With Color
Every nutritionist around the world will tell you to color up your plate with fruits and vegetables because they are loaded with vitamins to supplement protein synthesis and metabolic function. All the latest studies that focus on vascular health and nutrition mention a Mediterranean diet which includes most things that grow on the vine and are organic. A Mediterranean diet also means seafood, so if you love sushi there some types, you should consider ordering over others to fight potential vascular disease.
Foods that contain a cholesterol combative vitamin B3 (niacin) include tuna, salmon, sardines, peanuts, chili peppers, green peas, bok choy, turnip greens and cantaloupe. While niacin keeps the veins clear of build up, it also reinforces strong vein walls by rebuilding the layered tissue (collagen and elastin) and helps reduce inflammation.
Drink Plenty of Fluids
No one can argue the healing properties of water and that our bodies need it because, without it, we couldn’t survive. Water lubricates every tissue in the body, and it also creates balance. We drink water to detox our cells which can help with oxidative stress by offering additional molecules for excess oxygen to bind. Water also helps maintain functional muscles that support your veins when high pressure overcomes them.
You should ask your doctor if drinking a glass of red wine each night is healthy for you and the medications you’re currently taking. But drinking a small glass of red wine each night can have rejuvenating effects on your veins. If you veins swell and become inflamed, tannins found in red wine can help to tighten vein walls making them resistant to over stretching. Tighter veins mean your valves are less likely to leak which is where the main issue with varicose veins begins.
Eat Fiber
Less stress on your lower extremities is important. Fiber can help you release that stress that happens in the most private place—your bathroom. Eating regular fiber means that you’ll have an easier time in there without causing bouts of overexertion. Some of our favorite fiber-rich foods include:
- Brown rice
- Lentils
- Raspberries
- Pears
- Avocados
- Oatmeal
- Flaxseed (try these in your pancakes)
- Chia seeds (perfect for thickening overnight oats)
Vein conditions are linked to your genetic background, and you should think about having a FREE screening for varicose veins and potential blood clots if your parents had vein problems. Eating these foods and drinking more fluids will help you boost your immune strength against varicose and spider veins. Schedule your appointment with Dr. Jimenez today to find out if you have an existing vein condition and how to fix it by calling Vein Center of Florida at 800-910-VEIN.
You always keep your ear to the ground when it comes to healthy tips for problem-free veins and Dr. Jimenez has a few for you. Impeccable vein health starts with the rest of your body including how supported your feet are, how much activity you get on a daily basis and how well you maintain an appropriate weight. Everything is a factor since your veins respond to pressures created by excess weight, inactivity and improperly supported feet. Instead of simply thinking in terms of your cholesterol levels and whether or not you’re alternating positions enough at work, let’s go a little deeper. Here are your tips for supporting vein health: 
When you think of Florida, white sandy beaches with beautiful sherbet sunsets take shape in your mind, and this image holds true to the area. Florida, and Destin, in particular, is known as one of the best places to jump into spring and summer. The weather at this moment is warm, but not as hot as it normally is during our peak point in June, when temperatures hover over 100-degrees. Spring is the perfect time to enjoy calm weather and family activities that cannot be experienced anywhere else. Destin is also at the central hub of spring activity, which is why Vein Center of Florida is located at its center.
It’s getting warmer out, and that means you’ll want to show off your legs. But for those that struggle with varicose and spider veins, spring and summer clothes are a scary thought. I can’t wear those shorts; they show off my veiny legs. You’re not sure when you started getting varicose veins on the backs of your knees, but varicose veins have kept you from dressing the way that you want for some time.
When you think of spider and varicose veins, those visible lines on your legs are probably what come to mind. While the legs are the most common place to see these veins develop, they are not the only one. Check out these surprising areas where those visible veins might crop up.
You may not think much about your veins – until one of those bulging varicose veins suddenly appears on your lower leg. While it may seem like that vein came out of nowhere, there was an entire process that went on inside your veins to contribute to its development. To understand varicose veins, it is helpful to know how the veins function and what can go wrong inside of them to make those swollen vessels form. Check out these basics on vein health from the team at the Vein Center of Florida & South Baldwin.
Vein disease is a common condition that could affect as many as half of all adults by the time they turn 60. The key to effective treatment is to address the condition as early as possible. The Vein Center of Florida & South Baldwin have listed the major stages of vein disease to help you understand if your condition requires the evaluation of a vein specialist. 
You may not be giving your veins much thought this season, as cooler temperatures allow you to hide unsightly, visible veins under tights and pants. However, out of sight and out of mind won’t give you the sexy, vein-free legs you want when warm weather rolls around again. In addition, if those swollen vessels are causing physical symptoms like pain and swelling, you are destined to suffer all winter long if you don’t seek treatment for your condition sooner rather than later. Fortunately, there are plenty of good reasons to use the winter months to treat those unattractive, uncomfortable varicose veins.
No one welcomes the appearance of those visible networks of lines known as spider veins. Why do some people get them and others don’t? While there is no way to tell for sure if you will develop spider veins at some point, there are some factors that put you at higher risk they will make an appearance. Some of those risk factors are under your control, while others you won’t be able to do much about.
While much of the country goes into hibernation in the winter, the Emerald Coast comes alive. With smaller crowds and an abundance of activities indoors and out, this is the perfect vacation spot for visitors and residents alike. Rates for hotels and condos tend to get slashed, while retailers and restaurateurs beef up the deals, making the Emerald Coast a value in winter that is not seen during the hustle and bustle of the summer season. The Vein Center of Florida & South Baldwin has a wealth of ideas to help you make the most of your winter.