What exactly is blood circulation? It’s the process where the heart pumps blood throughout the body, providing blood supply to all body organs and tissues. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, “It (blood) carries oxygen and nutrients to the cells and picks up carbon dioxide and waste products.”
Good blood circulation is vital to lowering your risk of heart issues, high blood pressure, diabetic neuropathy, blood clots, and organ damage. If you’re looking for a few tips on how to improve your blood flow, this blog is for you!
1. Exercise, exercise, exercise.
What better way to get your blood circulating than to get moving? Sitting or standing for long periods of time hinders your circulatory system from supplying blood to all different areas of your body. Most doctors recommend walking or some other type of physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day. If you want to keep your body healthy, get up and get moving!
2. Choose healthier foods.
Start eating more iron-rich foods. Iron is a vital element of haemoglobin, our blood’s oxygen transporter, and a lack in this mineral is the most widespread nutritional deficiency. Try working dark, leafy greens, bananas, and whole-grain foods into your diet.
3. Manage stress.
It’s sometimes harder to control than we think, but reducing stress can greatly improve your blood flow. Taking an occasional day off work, getting outside, and taking a break from the things that cause the most stress in your life can reduce your blood pressure and increase blood circulation.
4. Drink more water.
Water is essential to a healthy functioning body. Our organs need to stay hydrated to continue doing their best work. Even a large part of our blood is made up of water! Increasing your water intake helps to flush out the yucky stuff like toxins and other waste. Doctors recommend that the average adult should be drinking up to 8 glasses of water per day. Fill that water bottle and get to it!
5. Cut the caffeine.
Unlike the point mentioned above, caffeine has the opposite effect of water on our bodies. Caffeine can cause dehydration, and some articles even found that it reduces blood flow. Overall, we know that sugary drinks are not the best for our health. If you’re getting sick of drinking plain ol’ water, try adding some flavor to it like a lemon wedge or cucumbers. There are plenty of healthy alternatives to caffeinated drinks.
6. Stretch those muscles.
Stretching your muscles with the right technique has plenty of benefits for your body and overall health. Regularly stretching helps to promote blood circulation, increase your flexibility, and relieve muscle tightness.
7. Say no to smoking!
Smoking prevents your blood from circulating properly — a big reason to quit! The moment you stop smoking, your body starts to reap the benefits immediately. Check out this article that gives you a timeline of what happens to your body 1 hour, 1 month, and even 20 years after you quit smoking. You can do it!You only have one body, so it’s essential that you take care of it. To improve blood circulation, it’s important to exercise regularly, watch your weight, monitor the type of foods you’re eating and follow the other tips above. At Muskegon Surgical Associates, we’re here to help you live your best life. To learn more about our services, visit the MSA website or contact us at 231-739-9461.