There is no question that diet plays an essential role in the health of your heart. One of the ways it helps is by promoting better blood flow.
Certain foods feature nutrients that enhance blood flow by reducing inflammation or relaxing veins. Regardless of how they help blood flow, the common denominator is that these foods are not processed. They are almost always plant-based and considered part of a “healthy” diet.
Dietary antioxidants play a vital role in blood flow. They may work by reducing inflammation on the arteries, potentially helping to produce nitric oxide and relieve arterial stiffness, so blood passes through more easily.
Nitric oxide is chemical that the body makes to help blood flow. Certain foods can prompt the body to produce more of it, allowing for short-term improvements in blood flow.
Continuously eating antioxidant-rich foods throughout the day, as part of meals and snacks, may help extend the benefits.
Antioxidant-rich foods like beets, oranges, grapefruit, blueberries, and more may all help to reduce inflammation, promote nitric oxide production, and promote better heart health.
Processed foods, on the other hand, produce almost the opposite result. They promote inflammation to make it more difficult for blood to pass. Long-term, these foods can lead to cholesterol deposits, arterial blockages, and stiff, rigid veins.
Choosing food with high nutritional value is the optimal way to keep blood flowing and make things as easy as possible on your heart.
Good circulation helps more than your heart. It helps ensure all of your cells and tissue are receiving adequate amounts of nutrient-rich and oxygenated blood so they can operate as best they can. This includes the brain, which needs a steady supply of blood keep you on your toes.
There is data to suggest that blood flow to the brain plays a key role in brain cell formation and longevity, as well as a lower risk of conditions like Alzheimer’s and other forms of cognitive decline.