Proper blood circulation throughout your body is essential for good overall health. Your body's circulatory system transports oxygen, blood, and nutrients to all parts of your body, but plaque on the artery wall and clogged arteries can interfere with this blood flow. This limits the amount of blood reaching your organs, which in turn will lead to numbness, tingling, and muscle cramps. Thankfully, you can find several foods beneficial for circulation and include them in your diet to get good results.
Best Foods for Circulation
Not eating the right stuff may be the underlying cause of developing plaque in the arteries, which in turn restricts flow of blood. You can get positive results by opting for the following foods.
1. Celery
Packed with vitamin-K, celery can help improve blood circulation in a short time. Vitamin-K is essential for healthy blood clotting. Not only does celery provide you with vitamin-K, it offers many other nutrients to help flush out wastes from your body. You can use it in soups, smoothies, and wraps. Eating it raw will also offer amazing benefits.
2. Oats
You should have oats in your diet because they have anti-inflammatory properties and helps lower blood cholesterol levels. You can also find gluten-free oats if you cannot tolerate gluten. They act as antioxidants and prevent free radical damage. They also provide you with energy to handle your workouts better. This in turn will affect your blood circulation in a positive way.
3. Cucumbers
They are quite like celery and help eliminate toxins and wastes from your system. At the same time, cucumbers provide you with potassium, water, fiber, and vitamin C. These nutrients prevent oxidative damage and lower inflammation too. Be sure to opt for organically produced cucumbers for maximum benefits.
4. Dark Chocolate
It is effective because it contains flavonoids that help improve blood circulation. Be sure to eat in moderation and always opt for dark chocolate because white chocolate does not provide you with beneficial flavonoids.
5. Ginger
Ginger is one of the best foods for circulation mainly because of its potent anti-inflammatory properties. It also serves as a natural analgesic and reduces swelling and pain. It provides you with nutrients that improve oxygen absorption.
6. Watermelons
You can include watermelons in your diet if you want to improve blood circulation. They are beneficial because of their rich lycopene content, which works great to prevent a buildup of plaque in the arteries.
7. Red Bell Peppers
Packed with vitamin-C, red bell peppers should certainly be there in your diet. They provide you with loads of fiber as well as antioxidants. It is easy to include them in your diet – you can simply use peppers with veggies and grains.
8. Pumpkin Seeds
Many people do not realize that pumpkin seeds are a powerhouse of nutrients. They are laden with essential minerals and vitamins. Thanks to their high vitamin-E content, they work great to provide elasticity to your joins and veins. Regular intake of pumpkin seeds also protects tissues in your body. You should include these seeds in your diet, especially if you are worried about poor blood circulation in your legs.
9. Beet Juice
Since they are rich in nitrates, beets work great to improve blood circulation. You can include beet juice in your diet to increase blood flow. It also helps transfer oxygen to your muscles quickly. Some studies have confirmed that consuming a couple of cups of beet juice a day can lead to a significant reduction in your blood pressure. It is also quite beneficial for people with peripheral artery disease.
10. Radishes
When looking for foods for circulation, you should never ignore radishes. It is easy to miss them when shopping for veggies, mainly because they are bitter and are not that easy to include in your diet. However, you should include them in your diet to improve blood circulation. They work by providing you with essential minerals, including potassium that lowers blood pressure and improves blood circulation. You get about 135mg of potassium from a half-cup serving of radishes, so be sure to have them in your diet.
11. Raw Almonds and Walnuts
To load up on antioxidants, you need to include walnuts and raw almonds in your diet. They provide you with so many nutrients and directly help improve blood circulation. You get vitamin-E that has anti-inflammatory effects. You also get omega-3 fatty acids that lower cholesterol and offer other cardiovascular benefits. Be sure to consume them raw because they become acidic when cooked.
12. Certain Superfood
There are a number of other super foods for circulation and you can include them in your diet to support your circulatory system.
- Spirulina is one great choice because it is rich in nutrients and provides you with loads of antioxidants and protein. In fact, it contains more protein as compared to beef – you get 4g of protein per teaspoon. It also provides you with chlorophyll; in fact, it offers more than what you can get from any green vegetable.
- Acai berries are also quite effective mainly because they have more antioxidants than regular blueberries. They are also laden with omega-3 fatty acids.
- Similarly, goji is another super food that you can include in your diet to improve blood circulation, lower blood pressure, and improve neurotransmitter function in your brain.