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.