There are different ways to boost circulation. When it comes to increasing blood flow throughout your body, can foods boost circulation? Let’s find out.
Have you heard of “vasodilator foods”? They are foods that can help expand your blood vessels and increase circulation. Some of these circulation-friendly foods include beets and beet juice, garlic, onions, leafy greens, citrus fruits, and more.
The way these foods boost your blood flow is by promoting nitric oxide (NO) production in the body since NO is a natural vasodilator. Vasodilation is when the smooth muscles of your vessel walls relax and widen, leading to better circulation.
The process is important as maintaining healthy circulation is essential if you want your organs and muscles to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to function. Furthermore, proper blood flow helps remove carbon dioxide and other waste products from your system.
Circulation and Your Diet
Poor circulation can affect your body in a variety of ways. For example, you can experience cold hands and feet, cramping, and a tingling sensation. Maintaining good circulation is essential, but can these “vasodilator foods” actually make a difference? Maybe when it comes to your overall circulation but not necessarily your body temperature.
“While eating foods that help with vasodilation will help improve blood flow to your muscles, you won’t necessarily feel warmer just from eating them,” says Chicago-based dietitian Maggie Michalczyk, MS, RDN.
According to Michalczyk, other factors like type 2 diabetes and Raynaud’s disease may be affecting your blood flow and causing your cold hands and feet. While vasodilator foods may provide circulatory benefits, they may not be enough to mitigate these factors.
Another factor that may be affecting your cold extremities is a deficiency in certain vitamins like vitamin B12. “If you were a little bit deficient in the B vitamins, just eating some of these [vasodilator] foods really is not going to fix that,” Michalczyk explains. “If you are noticing that you’re constantly cold, it would be smart to get a blood test – especially if you haven’t seen your doctor in a while. That would be the best path to figuring out both what’s going on with your circulation and finding an actual physician-backed solution for it.”
Boosting Your Circulation
While eating these foods may not be a cure-all, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat them. “Even if you’re not necessarily feeling warmer from these foods, you’re getting that benefit of blood pressure control, which is hopefully helping to prevent future disease,” says Michalczyk.
In addition to eating healthy foods that will boost your blood flow, you can take supplements like Circulation Boost for extra support. Its ingredients promote healthy circulation, energy levels, nutrient and oxygen delivery, and more. Give your circulatory health the support it deserves by eating circulation-friendly foods and taking Circulation Boost.