Varicose veins can be an unsightly, uncomfortable condition, but the good news is there are steps you can take to minimize both their appearance and their symptoms. While you may not think your food choices would have a major impact on the veins in your legs, the truth is that certain types of foods contain just the nutrients your vessels need to stay strong and healthy. Juicing is a deliciously easy way to get those important nutrients, as long as you know which fruits and vegetables make the best choices for soothing swollen vessels.
The Condition behind Your Varicose Veins
To understand the impact of nutrition on varicose veins, you first need to understand the condition that causes these swollen vessels to appear in the first place. Veins are responsible for carrying blood back up to the heart, an especially challenging job for lower leg veins that must work against gravity and the body’s own weight. Increased pressure in the vessels can cause them to wear out, resulting in blood pooling in the veins and swelling of the vessel. Known as chronic venous insufficiency or CVI, this vascular condition can also cause uncomfortable symptoms with your varicose veins, such as pain, swelling, and even skin changes.
Best Fruits
Fruits are packed with many valuable nutrients, including a few that work directly on reducing varicose veins. Some of the best options for juicing include:
Berries – Dark berries like blueberries, blackberries and cherries contain high amounts of flavonoids, powerful antioxidants that play a role in strengthening vein walls.
Pineapple – The key substance in this fruit is bromelain, which breaks up fibrin, a substance found in concentrate amounts in varicose veins that leads to their hardening.
Citrus Fruits – Oranges, lemons, and limes all contain high amounts of vitamin C, which helps to strengthen veins and may reduce some of the uncomfortable symptoms of varicose veins.
Apples – High in fiber, apples keep your digestive system running clean to prevent additional pressure on lower leg veins.
Best Vegetables
Certain vegetables can also be beneficial in juices to treat varicose veins. The most potent options are carrots and spinach, which are filled with a variety of important nutrients that contribute to vascular health. Other choices might include:
• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Bell peppers
• Beets
• Kale
While a healthy combination of fruit and vegetable juices might reduce the appearance of varicose veins and their symptoms, they will not “cure” varicose veins. Fortunately, there are a number of minimally-invasive treatments today that effectively eradicate both the swollen vessels and the uncomfortable symptoms that often accompany them. To learn more, contact Center for Vein Restoration.