Do Tomatoes Heal Varicose Veins?

There are many ways to treat varicose veins. Tomatoes aren’t one of them.

Numerous myths float around the Internet about how to cure varicose veins. One popular myth is a “treatment” that calls for applying tomatoes to the bulging veins to make them disappear. Like many so-called miracle cures for varicose veins, this one is easily debunked.

Although tomatoes are an important part of a balanced, healthy diet, the fruit is not an effective therapy for varicose veins. So while picking up tomatoes at a local Phoenix farmer’s market will add flavor and nutrients to your dishes, they won’t prevent or eliminate varicose veins.

Why Tomatoes Aren’t a Cure for Varicose Veins

Tomatoes possess many nutritional qualities that make them beneficial for vein health. The bright red orbs are packed with flavonoids, an organic compound that strengthens blood vessel walls. In addition, the acidic properties of tomatoes can boost blood flow by thinning the blood and reducing pressure on the veins. The myth of wrapping your legs in tomato slices to cure varicose veins probably grew out of these real health benefits.

However, topical application of tomatoes fails to address the underlying cause of varicose veins, which lies deeper within the vein. Tiny valves responsible for pumping blood back to the heart malfunction and let blood backflow into the vein. When the vein wall can no longer contain this surge of blood, a varicose vein pushes out from under the skin.

Several factors accelerate this action. The most notable are age, gender (women are more predisposed to varicose veins because of hormonal fluctuation in pregnancy and menopause), lack of exercise, sitting or standing for long periods, and obesity. Simply spreading tomatoes on the skin does not allow the flavonoids and acids to penetrate the veins and shrink bulging, painful veins. Rather than applying tomatoes to your varicose veins, add them to your daily meal plan. By ingesting the fruit, you’ll far more effectively absorb their health-boosting nutrients.

Although delicious, tomatoes cannot cure varicose veins. For that, you’ll need one of several minimally invasive procedures to eliminate varicose veins. Some of the most common options now available include:

• Sclerotherapy. Uses a medication that is injected into the vein to close it down.

• Radiofrequency and laser ablation. These methods employ heat to close the damaged vein.

• Phlebectomy. Used for larger varicose veins.

All of these procedures are performed in the office, require minimal anesthesia, and have no downtime.

Treat Your Varicose Veins with Proven Methods

The vein specialists at Center for Vein Restoration provide the latest in vein care, whether it's from non-surgical methods or surgical procedures. We tailor our care to the individual needs of each patient. Our three Phoenix-area offices are led by Dr. Nick Morrison, MD, FACS, FACPh, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and an expert in treating vein diseases, and Dr. Jeffrey Alpern, DO, a board-certified cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon specializing in veins. Both physicians have helped thousands of patients overcome the pain of varicose veins. Contact them today for a consultation.

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