What you eat can harm or help your veins. Try to incorporate these foods in your diet to strengthen your veins.
Several factors contribute to the development of varicose veins. Heredity, hormonal changes due to pregnancy and menopause, and age can all contribute to enlarged, painful veins on the legs and feet. Unfortunately, those factors are out of your control. Yet one major cause of varicose veins — obesity — is something you can control with diet and exercise.
The foods you eat can lower your odds of developing varicose veins — or, if you have them already, reduce the pain and swelling they cause. If you want to alleviate the discomfort of varicose veins, start by planning your meals around these circulation-boosting foods.
Certain foods have a direct impact on our circulatory system, for better or worse. Prepared foods high in salt and low in fiber cause water retention. When you retain water, your veins work harder to circulate blood, leading to a pooling of blood in the veins and eventually varicose veins.
Similarly, a diet lacking in fiber can cause constipation, which leads to straining that puts extra pressure on the veins in the abdomen and lower legs. In general, therefore, high-fiber, low-sodium foods have a beneficial effect on your veins. But here are five other foods you should add to your diet to prevent varicose veins and promote healthy circulation:
Chiles. New Mexico’s state vegetable is not only a source of pride for its citizens, it’s good for your veins, too. Chiles contain the powerful antioxidant vitamin C, as well as copper, which is said to promote circulation. A lack of copper in your diet could weaken your veins, making them less elastic and more prone to swelling. So enjoy the state’s bounty of chiles whenever you can — your veins will be better for it.
Avocados. Like chiles, avocados are loaded with the anti-inflammatory agent, vitamin C. The fruit is also packed with vitamin E and glutathione, substances that keep your veins and arteries healthy.
Ginger. Another powerful anti-inflammatory food, ginger supports circulation by dissolving fibrin in blood vessels. Why is fibrin important? If you have varicose veins, you may not properly absorb fibrin, and that could cause your veins to become hard and lumpy. Fresh ginger is best because of its strong flavor and concentration of nutrients.
Rutin-Packed Foods. An antioxidant and anti-inflammatory flavonoid, rutin strengthens your veins and arteries by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. It’s also said to protect against blood clots. Fruits high in rutin include blackberries, blueberries, apples, cherries, grapes, and asparagus.
Beets. Known for their bright red color, beets also contain an important chemical — betacyanin — that supports vein health. This substance lowers levels of homocysteine, a naturally-occuring amino acid sometimes damaging to blood vessels. If you want to consume beets in liquid form, beetroot juice has a high amount of nitrates that improve blood flow by opening up blood vessels and allowing more oxygen to flow through veins.
Taking care of your veins means careful attention to what you eat. What you put on your plate has a significant effect on your veins. And always remember to drink plenty of water to boost circulation — and cool down after chewing one of the state’s famous chiles.
Center for Vein Restoration operates six locations in New Mexico. The offices are served by two experienced physicians, Dr. Chandran Vedamanikam, who is board certified in Venous and Lymphatic Medicine and Family Medicine, and Dr. Armin Foghi, PhD. Dr. Foghi partnered with Center for Vein Restoration after founding the Lyo Cardiovascular Center in Roswell. Both doctors are experts in treating a variety of vein disorders with the latest techniques. Contact one of our offices today for a consultation.
717 Encino Pl. NE
Suite 6
Albuquerque, NM 87102
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1607 Camino Del Llano
Belen, NM 87002
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500 E Walnut St.
Deming, NM 88030
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2801 E. Missouri Ave.
Suite 27
Las Cruces, NM 88011
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909 N Date St.
Suite B
Truth Or Consequences, NM 87901
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2220 Grande Blvd. SE
Suite B
Rio Rancho, New Mexico 87124
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313 W Country Club Rd
Suite 15
Roswell, New Mexico 88201
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