The
blood in the human body should be given adequate attention as it goes a
long way in determining the well-being of an individual.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
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Most people don’t give blood circulation much thought. Even when
they have common symptoms of poor blood circulation like numbness in the
legs and hands, cold hands and feet, fatigue and swollen feet or
fingers.
Ignoring these symptoms can lead to more serious problems like
cardiovascular disease and stroke. Luckily, there are things you can
start doing today to improve circulation. But making these changes may
not help much if you don’t avoid habits that cause poor blood
circulation. These habits include: Heavy alcohol drinking, tobacco
smoking, poor diet, inactivity, high caffeine intake.
Get a good massage
Massage creates pressure which forces blood in congested areas to
flow. This pressure also allows easy flow of new blood to different body
parts. Get a good massage several times a week if you experience the
symptoms of poor blood circulation I mentioned above.
Add herbs into your diet
Some herbs are good for blood circulation. They strengthen the blood vessels and help unclog the arteries.
Research shows that gingko biloba and cayenne pepper improve
circulation. Cayenne pepper strengthens the blood vessels and stimulates
the heart while gingko biloba improves blood flow which consequently
improves memory.
Other helpful herbs include garlic, ginger, bilberry and parsley.
Keep your legs elevated
It’s hard for blood to flow from the feet to the heart since it has
to flow uphill. In fact, this is the main reason poor blood circulation
largely affects the legs. Elevating your legs will make it easier for
blood to flow. Lift the legs above heart level and keep them elevated
for 20 minutes.
Exercise every day
There’s a lot of research showing that exercise improves blood
circulation. Even simple exercises like walking, climbing stairs can
help. You may want to start with low intensity exercises if you’re out
of shape and then increase intensity as you get fitter.
Reduce salt intake
Research shows that high salt intake can cause poor blood
circulation. This is alarming because most people consume an average of
3.4 grammes of salt a day. That’s higher than the recommended 2.3
grammes per day.
Avoiding canned food and reading food labels can help reduce sodium in your diet.
Don’t wear tight clothes for long
Those skinny jeans can cut off blood circulation to the legs,
research shows. In fact, one woman had to be hospitalised for four days
because of squatting while wearing skinny jeans. On the other hand,
clothes like the compression socks are said to improve blood circulation
in the legs.
Drink more water
I don’t think you need any convincing that water is good for your health. Aim for two litres of water a day.
Here are tips that can help you drink more water.
Add nuts into your diet
Nuts contain vitamins and minerals that can improve blood
circulation. According to this study, raw almonds and walnuts boost
blood circulation. Nuts are also a great source of healthy fats. But eat
them in moderation if you want to lose weight.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
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