How to Improve Blood Circulation Naturally

Welcome to Wellness Wednesday!  I’m Doreen Correia and today I will talk about “How to Improve Blood Circulation Naturally.”

Do you suffer from cold feet and toes not just in wintertime?  Or do you sometimes feel numbness in certain parts of the body especially the feet and toes? You may also have swelling and water retention especially in the feet, or feeling of cramps and pins and needles in the legs or arms. These are just some of the most common symptoms that can result from poor blood circulation.

Other symptoms can be decreased memory when there is poor blood flow to the brain, or some hair loss, dizziness, fatigue or headaches, among other things.

What is blood circulation and why it’s so important

The blood circulation in our body is driven by the heart that provides a constant supply of blood to the body through the blood vessels. This process ensures the transportation of oxygen and nutrients to every cell in your body, and there is also removal of metabolic waste from the body. Blood circulation is essential for a healthy body in order to maintain cell-level metabolism, maintaining body pH levels, osmotic pressure, stabilize body temperature and protecting from microbial and mechanical harms.
The problems start when blood flow becomes restricted to certain parts of the body. Although it can affect any part of your body, usually people notice it at the toes or fingers.

What affects blood circulation?

There are several factors that affect blood circulation. One of them is aging. As the body ages, the arteries lose some of their elasticity and become smaller. Then the heart needs to work harder to push the blood through the arteries to the body, and the result is a decrease of blood flow in the body and an increase in blood pressure.

Other common causes are excess weight that contributes to swelling in your lower legs and feet, smoking and the build up of plaque on the insides of the blood vessels and capillaries, which can lead to high blood pressure, heart problems and more. Also years of no exercise can lead to bad circulation, eating too much junk food which usually leads to being overweight and sitting too long at a computer for years, especially if you don’t take regular breaks or exercise a few times a week.

How to improve blood flow in your body?

Here are some tips and suggestions that can make a big improvement to your blood flow and improve blood circulation.

1. Exercise

Exercise whenever you can to boost your circulation. Get into the habit of finding activities you enjoy doing, as any type of physical activity that gets your blood pumping is good. You can walk, bike, run, swim or anything else that you like. If your circulation is already poor, start by doing some gentle exercise and move on gradually to something a bit more challenging.

2. Stretch

Make sure that every hour you get up to stretch your body or do small exercise for 3-5 minutes. This is especially important for people who sit at the desk all day and don’t have the habit of walking around. You can try doing little arm circles, touching your toes with your hands or have a short walk. It’s important not to stay too long in one position and take regular breaks.

3. Massage

Massage, like exercise, increases circulation by stimulating blood flow in the area being massaged. Many times you feel certain part of your body to be tight and tense and you may even have inflammation. By massaging these muscles, you will release natural occurring toxins within the body and achieve better blood circulation. You can add to the massage oil, a carrier oil, such as rosemary essential oil which is good to treat circulation problems. Other good essential oils are cypress, ginger and peppermint.  I recommend Young Living Essential Oils (let me know if you’re interested).

4. Elevate your legs

Elevating your legs is a good way to increase your circulation and relax at the same time and it gives you a break from standing for extended periods of time.

5. Healthy eating

Eat healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, adding green juicing if you haven’t already, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Avoid consuming processed foods, foods rich in sugar or salt, and foods rich in unhealthy fats. Also eat spicy foods, such as cayenne pepper, garlic and ginger, as they increase your body’s temperature, which increases blood flow.

6. Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba can help promote healthy circulation and is a versatile herb that strengthens memory and improves circulation. The University of Maryland Medical Center website mentions that laboratory studies have shown that ginkgo improves blood circulation by opening up blood vessels and making blood less sticky. Ginkgo is a available as a liquid extract, tablets, capsules or dried leaf for teas. It can take 4 to 6 weeks to see any effects from ginkgo. If you already take medication for circulatory problems, always consult your doctor before taking any herbal remedies.

7. Drink enough water and reduce caffeine and alcohol consumption

Staying hydrated during the day is essential for the organs to perform their daily functions. When you drink enough water, oxygen levels in your blood increase, leading to better circulation and improving your overall health. It’s also beneficial to reduce caffeine and alcohol consumption.

8. Hydrotherapy

Try taking a hot bath or a hot shower. You can add Epsom’s salt to your bath, which has healing properties and relax for 20 to 30 minutes. Hot water helps to relax tense muscles and increases blood circulation and allows oxygen to flow more smoothly throughout the body. You can also use a body scrub to stimulate circulation. It’s also a good idea to inhale the steam from the bath or shower, as it helps to relieve congestion and opens nasal passages. Thus you are able to breath better, which helps with oxygen flow and blood circulation.

9. Use hot and cold treatment

This involves alternating between cold and warmth on the affected body part. Apply heat, such as hot packs for 30 seconds or so, and then switch to cold pack. This could even be a bowl of warm water and a bowl of cold water

10. Quit smoking

Quit smoking. I know it’s not easy; otherwise. it wouldn’t be the problem of millions of people. Not only is smoking bad for your health, nicotine is among the leading causes of circulation problems.

11. Manage stress levels

Over time stress can have negative effects on the body’s circulation. When we are stressed, the stress effect shifts blood flow away from the skin to support the heart and muscle tissues. Find ways to relieve stress, such as regular exercise, listening to music, breathing exercises, meditation or psychotherapy.

Remember that good circulation will have an overall good effect on your body and mind, so start moving to a healthier lifestyle and diet.

Thank you for joining me today.  If this was helpful give it a thumb up, share with your friends, and Come Juice With Us!

Credit: Healthy and Natural World

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