Blood flows thru your arteries, moved
by the heart's beating and providing both nutrients and oxygen to all of
the human body tissues. Blood returns back to the heart by the veins.
Like the arteries, the veins are tube shaped vessels in different
sizes, but unlike the arteries, the veins have little valves on their
inner walls to prevent blood from flowing backward, into the
arteries. If these vein valves do not work properly, circulation is
affected and blood accumulates in the veins causing them to stretch.
This results in what is known as "varicose veins", which are
abnormally enlarged, bulging, often bluish and lumpy looking veins.
These very noticeable veins also include the following symptoms: dull,
nagging aches and pains. Swelling, leg sores, itching, leg cramps, and a
feeling of heaviness in the legs are characteristic of varicose
veins. The poor circulation contributes to the formation of varicose
veins and thus the problem is more common in people that sit or stand in
one position for prolonged periods of time, people who habitually sit
with their legs crossed, and those who are not getting regular exercise.
Excess weight, heavy lifting, and pregnancy will increase pressure on
the legs, increasing the risk of developing varicose veins. Also keeping
the colon clean is important to reduce risk.
Abdominal tumors, constipation, heart failure,
liver
disease, and phlebitis can also play a role in the formation of varicose veins. A deficiency of vitamin C and
bioflavonoids can weaken the collagen structure of the vein walls, which can lead to varicose veins. A
tendency toward varicose veins may also run in families. Most cases of varicose veins do not pose a
serious health problem and can be managed with simple home
measures and treatment. However, in some cases if the varicose
veins are not treated correctly, other complications such as bleeding under the skin, deep vein blood
clots, an eczema like condition near the affected veins, or ulcerated places around the ankles can be
a serious problem. Proper nutritional supplementation, dietary
changes, and lifestyle changes listed on this webpage can help prevent
or heal varicose veins and related health issues.
|
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
| Essential
fatty acids |
10 |
helps minimize blood clot formation
as well as keeping both the veins and arteries soft and pliable. Essential fatty acids are found
in omega fatty acids from
fish oil, flax seed oil, and borage seed oil. |
| Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
10 |
contains vitamin E, vitamin C,
magnesium,
calcium, and zinc which all aid in
both the treatment and the prevention of varicose veins. These
nutrients contained in a daily supplement are required for general
good health and well being. |
| Garlic |
9 |
garlic helps to improve circulation
and thin the blood. This herb has been
shown to inhibit the formation of free radicals thus benefiting people with varicose veins. Garlic also helps boost the immune
system. |
| vitamin C |
9 |
helps improve blood
circulation and reduction of blood clotting problems. |
| vitamin
E |
8 |
helps to prevent the
heavy feeling in the legs that people with varicose veins and
related disorders suffer from. It also helps with blood circulation and boosts the body's immune system. |
| Shepherd's
Purse |
8 |
this herb is good for
blood flow issues as well as various forms of infection. |
| Bioflavonoids |
8 |
bioflavonoids can reduce clotting tendencies, aid in
circulation, and strengthen the blood vessels.They are also powerful anti-viral agents
that increase energy levels. Found in fruit and vegetable
based supplements. Many people are deficient as a result of poor
diet where they eat very little good quality fruits and vegetables. |
| Pomegranate
seed extract |
8 |
strong anti-oxidant |
| Grape Seed extract |
7 |
is a powerful anti-oxidant that helps restore flexibility to
the arterial
walls and reduces risk of both blood vessel disease and varicose veins. |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|
