Foods that Improve Circulation
By Sara Butler
The circulatory system in your body is kind of like its own version of Uber. It carries nutrients, oxygen, and blood all over your body. If any of your vessels are clogged, traffic jams slow things down, not allowing the blood to get to its final destination. This can cause feelings of numbness, tingling, and even muscle cramps. Luckily, these foods may just be able to speed up your body's Uber and help things to get where they need to go.
Dark Chocolate
Improving your circulation can be as easy as picking up some dark chocolate -- and not feeling guilty about it. As long as you enjoy it in moderation, dark chocolate is a great addition to your diet. It helps your body's production of nitric oxide, which helps protect your vessels and your heart. Cocoa is full of antioxidants that can help to reduce cholesterol and manage blood pressure, which ultimately helps improve the flow of blood through your body. Just make sure the dark chocolate you enjoy is at least 72 percent cocoa.
Salmon
Fatty fish such as salmon, herring, tuna, mackerel, herring, and sardines are full of omega-3 fatty acids. These are vital to your overall health and wellness as well as your circulation. That's because the omega-3 fatty acids in these types of fish have natural blood-thinning properties that help your blood to flow more freely. That's why the American Heart Association recommends you eat two servings of fatty fish per week.
Cayenne Pepper
They say that spicy food helps to get your blood pumping -- and that's exactly right! Studies have shown that spicy foods benefit circulation by helping to strengthen blood vessels and arteries. This allows the blood to circulate efficiently throughout the body. That means you should find more inventive ways to add a pinch of cayenne to the foods you eat!
Radishes
Radishes don't get a ton of love in the vegetable world -- they're usually only thought of as a garnish. But it's time to give radishes another look because they can help improve your circulation. They're rich in minerals such as potassium that help to improve circulation and reduce blood pressure.
Kale
Kale has a reputation as being a powerhouse in the vegetable world and that's not all hype. Kale helps your body to replenish red blood cells so that it can more effectively transport oxygen to your body's tissues. The folate in kale can also help you to keep your blood pressure under control.
Help your body to work as it should by providing it with the proper nutrition!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Katy, Tex.