- Hands and feet that tend to feel numb and cold a lot
- Dizziness occurring any time you stand up
- Your wounds take more time to heal
- You suffer from poor memory
- Skin with a bluish tint to it
If you find that any or all of these signs sound all too familiar to you, then you likely have poor blood circulation as you are reading this. It is important to fix this problem because it can have a serious effect on your health.
Fortunately, there are many natural things that you can do to turn that poor circulation into good circulation; I am going to share them with you. First, let’s talk about what poor blood circulation actually means and how it can affect you health-wise.
We will then dive into the natural remedies you can start using as early as today to increase your blood circulation.
What is poor circulation and how does that affect me?
The circulation system in your body is fully responsible for sending nutrients, oxygen, and blood throughout your entire body. Poor blood circulation occurs when blood flow is reduced to a particular part of your body. This is a big problem and can lead to many issues; it can also be a sign of other health issues that are present. These health issues include:- Peripheral Artery Disease
- Varicose Veins
- Blood Clots
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Raynaud’s Disease
- …and many more (1, 2).
Now that you have a clear idea of what poor circulation is and the health issues it could present, let’s talk about the natural ways you can increase your circulation and get rid of all of these problems.
Stay Away From Alcohol and Sugar-Filled Drinks
I know that this is a difficult thing to ask, especially if you look forward to that glass of cabernet after a long day at work, but it is very important to avoid alcohol if you have poor circulation. It does not mean you have to stay away from alcohol forever, but for the time being, it is best to avoid it altogether.
Why no alcohol?
Because it causes dehydration, which leads to poor blood flow, causing you a host of problems. Sugar-filled drinks like soda have the same affect on your body, so it is best to steer clear of those as well.
Hydration Is Key to Blood Flow
One of the best ways you can guarantee a steady and smooth blood flow is by staying hydrated all day long. Most people do not drink enough water, nor are they aware of how much water they should be drinking.
Everyone is different and every body is different, so the amount of water each person should drink varies. You should be drinking up at least half of your body weight in ounces of water every single day to stay fully hydrated and keep your blood circulating properly.
When you fail to do this, you become dehydrated, which, as we stated before when we talked about alcohol, causes poor circulation.
Smoking Is a Big No
Smoking is not only bad for your circulation, but it is also bad for your health and body in many ways. That being said, by quitting smoking to increase your blood circulation, your entire body and health will thank you later on. Nicotine is known to cause build-ups in the arteries, which leads to poor blood flow.Working Out and Exercising Increases Blood Flow
It is important to exercise between thirty minutes to one hour each day to increase and improve your overall blood circulation. Working out on a regular basis makes your heart stronger, rids your body of toxins, dilates your arteries, and, most importantly in your case, increases and helps your blood flow.Get Rid of the Salt in Your Diet
Regardless of your blood flow, reducing your intake of salt in your diet is an excellent way to stay healthy. While you do not have to completely rid your diet of salt, it is a good idea to lower your intake. When you consume a lot of salt, your blood pressure rises and this can lead to poor circulation.
A good way to be sure you are reducing your intake of salt is to cut out all junk food and anything processed from your diet. These foods typically have a ton of salt in them (4).
Incorporate Dry Skin Brushing in Your Daily Routine
Another amazing way to improve that blood flow is by incorporating dry skin brushing into your daily routine. Dry skin brushing should be done right before you shower or bathe when your skin is fully dry. This is a great way to get the blood flowing properly and can also rid your body of those toxins mentioned before.Pamper Yourself With a Massage to Increase Blood Flow
A great way to increase your blood circulation and get rid of that poor circulation is to go and get a massage at a spa. This not only rids you of the poor circulation, it is also very soothing and will make for a relaxing experience. Let’s face it - our lives are busy and you likely need that massage mentally and physically anyway. It’s a win-win!Hydrotherapy Can Reduce Poor Blood Circulation
Hydrotherapy is another effective natural remedy you can try out to help your circulation, as well as helping yourself to stay happy and healthy. This is a great way to get the blood going. You could try taking a hot bath and alternating the water between hot and cold. This not only makes for a great and different bath experience, it also helps the circulation.Garlic Is a Power Food When It Comes to Blood Flow
Garlic is basically a natural way to help thin out your blood. It makes the blood circulate properly and reduces or gets rid of any blood clots. Not only is it a delicious way to season your foods and make them pop with flavor, but it will also prove to be a natural remedy to improve the blood flow.
Try incorporating garlic into the foods you eat every single day. For example, you can chop up tiny pieces of garlic in your omelet in the morning, put pieces of it into your salad for lunch, as well as cooking spaghetti for dinner and covering it with this power food (5).
Herb Your Way to a Healthy Blood Flow
Adding tons of herbs to your diet is another great way to boost the blood flow and transform the poor circulation into a healthy one. Herbs are great because they help to improve blood flow by strengthening the blood vessels. One excellent option when choosing your herbs is rosemary, which has a strong reputation for increasing circulation.Sunflower Seeds Are Your Next Power Food
They may be tiny, but their impact is strong! Sunflower seeds are right up there with garlic; they’re filled with Vitamin E and ready to improve your blood circulation. Sunflower seeds are also known to get rid of all of those nasty blood clots.
The great thing is, like garlic, this is another food you can easily incorporate into your meals throughout the day. You can even eat it as a snack! Try slicing an avocado, drizzling it with honey, and topping it with delicious sunflower seeds. You can thank me later.
Citrus Fruits Are the Way to Go
Citrus fruits are not only full of Vitamin C, but they thin out your blood too! Fill your diet with tons of lemons and oranges to make sure you are getting your Vitamin C. Citrus is a key tool that leads you to healthy blood circulation, which is exactly what you want and need.
Try slicing an orange for lunch and drinking freshly squeezed orange juice for breakfast. Oranges are also easy to incorporate into any type of dessert, while lemons are easy to help flavor your food. You could even try drinking a glass of lemon water, which also boosts your metabolism (6).
The More Colorful the Veggie, the Better
Colorful vegetables are the way to go if you find that your blood circulation is poor. Your circulatory system needs you to nourish it with healthy foods that are at their most natural form.
Vegetables are a great way to guarantee you nourish that system and get your blood flowing properly. Asparagus, broccoli, colorful bell peppers, and spinach are great veggies to add to your diet in order to turn around the blood flow situation you are dealing with (7).
May Dark Chocolate Be Your New Best Friend
This may be the first time in your life someone has told you to eat more chocolate. Well, I’m telling you just that right now! Eating a lot of dark chocolate is great because it is filled with antioxidants that are also known as flavonoids. What do these antioxidants do?
They increase your blood flow! Great news, right? That being said, you can go ahead and plan that chocolate-filled dessert for tonight, just make sure you use dark chocolate, which has all of the health benefits you are looking for (8).
Try out Different Types of Heat Therapy
Heat therapies are great ways to really pump up the blood and get it flowing. When you use heat, it really targets the blood and is an excellent way to increase your circulation, especially if you are having issues with it.
Try out heating pads, which are also very relaxing. You can try hot water bottles, heating packs, and research countless other types of heat therapy to try. By ridding you of both pain and toxins, heat therapy is a great way to go if you need a natural remedy to improve the blood flow.9)
Purchase a Quality Circulation Kit
Purchasing a circulation kit is a good step toward finding recovery when it comes to your blood circulation. Your circulation is tired and slow, which we can all understand. However, perhaps all it needs is a little push to get it going again. Thermal gloves and compression are proven ways to help your blood flow.Cut out the Stress in Your Life
Poor blood flow aside, cutting out any type of stress in your life can have a major impact on your overall health in a positive way. Since you are struggling with getting your blood to flow correctly and efficiently, reducing the stress in your life is a major positive for you.
You will have a happier life that your circulatory system will thank you for later. Try out yoga classes or take advantage of meditating a few times throughout the day to keep calm and lower your stress levels.
It Is Time to Get That Blood Circulating Properly
From everything we just discussed, you now have all of the information and ideas in regards to what it is going to take to get your blood circulation back on track. I did the research for you, but now it is up to you to apply these natural remedies to your life. It is never a fun thing to struggle with your health in any way.
However, the great news about your situation is that it isn’t that difficult to fix and that there is help for you out there. To break down all of the points I made, living a healthy lifestyle is the best way to improve your poor blood circulation. If you are filling your daily diet with healthy and natural foods, cutting out bad habits such as drinking and smoking from your lifestyle, and exercising regularly, you will find that your blood flow will improve almost all by itself.