Watch What You Eat
What we put into our bodies affects us in more ways than we realize, and many times, in ways that we can't physically see! One concern that you're likely not thinking about regularly is your blood flow. Improving circulation is key for spreading oxygen and nutrients throughout your body, which is crucial for overall health. So if you want to learn more about how you can improve your blood flow, here are 10 foods to eat and 10 to be careful of.
1. Spinach
As a leafy green vegetable high in nitrates and potassium, spinach is said to be very helpful in improving blood flow and circulation when eaten on a regular basis. These compounds work together to not only reduce blood pressure, but to also relax your vessels so that everything can move much more smoothly.
2. Pomegranates
If the idea of dealing with pomegranate seeds gives you a headache, don't worry, drinking pomegranate juice is more than enough. This fruit contains plenty of antioxidants and nitrates which help your blood flow throughout your body much more easily. By keeping your arteries clear and widening your blood vessels, nutrients can now get around much better.
3. Walnuts
Looking for a quick snack? We suggest keeping some walnuts on hand, especially if you're trying to look after your health. These crunchy nuts aren't just satisfying to chew, they've also been studied to reduce inflammation , keeping your blood vessels flexible and elastic. Who knew such a simple addition to your diet could make such a positive change?
4. Sweet Potatoes
Not just tasty but healthy too! Sweet potatoes are a versatile root vegetable with plenty of benefits, including improving blood flow. Alongside being rich in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin C, sweet potatoes also contain a high amount of potassium which is known for helping relax blood vessels.
5. Turmeric
Turmeric is known for carrying numerous amazing health benefits such as anti-inflammatory properties, but today we're just going to look at one in particular: increased blood flow. Containing an ingredient called curcumin, this is believed to both increase the production of nitric oxide which widens blood vessels, but also potentially help prevent potential plaque build-up in arteries which can be problematic for blood circulation.
6. Garlic
Doesn't it just feel like garlic can really do it all? Outside of tasting delicious and being a great flavor enhancer, garlic contains special compounds like allicin which does a whole lot for our bodies. By dilating our blood vessels, allicin promotes smoother blood flow and circulation which allows oxygen to move more quickly and freely throughout.
7. Beets
While they might not be everyone's favorite vegetable, beets have been proven to help with blood circulation due to their incredibly high nitrate content. Just like spinach, this compound relaxes and widens blood vessels, all while offering other great benefits like fiber, potassium, and iron.
8. Blueberries
This fresh and sweet summer fruit doubles as an excellent food to consume if you're looking to improve your blood circulation, blood pressure, and better the health of your blood vessels. And it's all thanks to the flavonoids found in this berry that increase nitric oxide production in your body.
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9. Ginger
That spicy kick you get when you eat a bite of ginger? It's doing a lot more than awakening your taste buds. Ginger is a special food that improves blood flow in numerous ways: one, it lowers blood pressure, two, it can help widen blood vessels, and three, it's said to thin blood which makes it easier to circulate.
10. Cinnamon
This heartwarming spice that's perfect on a cold winter's day can do more than just warm up your soul - it has health benefits too! You might be surprised to learn that cinnamon can help with your blood flow, but it has vasodilating properties that widen your blood vessels and help with heart health too.
1. White Bread
It's time to consider whole wheat or whole grain alternatives because white bread is a lot more unhealthy than you might realize. As a highly-processed food, it lacks key nutritional components like fiber which can also lead to an increase in blood pressure. As a result, eating white bread too often can really start to impact circulation.
2. Bacon
Bacon may be a favorite breakfast item for many, but it's unhealthy enough that it really shouldn't be. Being so high in saturated fats, sodium, and other dangerous compounds, you're at risk for a plethora of diseases if you consume this meat on a regular basis. One such risk is clogging up your arteries and restricting blood flow, which in turn, can cause heart concerns.
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3. Red Meat
A delicious steak dinner might be a nice reward after a long week at work, but just be careful you don't enjoy it too often. Moderation is key when it comes to eating red meat, with over consumption leading to potential problems due to its high levels of saturated fats. Because sadly, too much of these bad fats affects the health of your blood vessels, leading to plaque build-up or restriction.
4. Canned Soup
Canned soup might just be one of the most convenient meals to whip together when you have no time, but they're awfully high in sodium and simply aren't that good for you. Having too much sodium negatively affects your blood pressure, which in turn, damages your vessels.
5. Butter
Americans love butter so much they even deep-fry it plain as is at fairs and carnivals, but a word of caution: it's not good for your body! Adding too much butter to your cooking process or simply spreading a large dab onto your toast can slowly create plaque that restricts blood movement in your vessels.
6. Pizza
Topped with plenty of cheese and processed meats, pizza isn't just high in sodium, it's also loaded with saturated fats that increase your cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and negatively affects your blood circulation. It's a tasty and cheap treat, but not one you should be ordering often.
7. Chips
Due to their addictive nature, it's easy to consume far too many chips in one sitting, which is something you definitely want to avoid. Not only are they high in sodium and potentially saturated and trans fat, these munchable snacks essentially have little to no nutritional value. Which means your blood flow is being restricted for no good reason at all.
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8. Hot Dogs
Another processed meat, hot dogs are another food you should try to stay away from. They might be ball park and Fourth of July classics, but it's not worth the risk of damaging your vessels and ruining your blood circulation. Its high sodium and saturated fats can also lead to a lot more problems than just vessel health.
9. Onion Rings
Fried foods are always a big no-no when it comes to your health. While onions themselves might be healthy, dipping them in batter and frying them in oils turns this into an awfully dangerous snack. All those bad fats will only lead to plaque in your arteries, cause inflammation, and make your vessels less relaxed.
10. Donuts
Sweet and fried? Now that's an unhealthy combination you know can do damage on your body if you're not careful. Donuts are a popular treat paired with morning coffee, but make sure you moderate how much and how often you consume them. These kinds of sugary foods are bound to negatively impact circulation, alongside several other health complications.
