Blood thickens with age as a result of illness, poor diet or habits such as smoking. This leads to serious pathologies: atherosclerosis, heart attacks, strokes.
Blood thinners improve blood flow surprisingly quickly, without drugs or dangerous side effects. Their list and description of properties are in the article.
Reduce blood viscosity
The water is clean
absolutely necessary, because blood consists of 92% of it. Dehydration leads to thickening of the blood, increased blood pressure, dysfunction of the heart and blood vessels, convulsions, muscle spasms and other problems.
Daily water needs vary from person to person and depends on age, type of activity, health status, environmental conditions, etc.
45 ml of liquid per kilogram of weight per day.
By liquid we mean: water (table water, mineral water), juices, compotes, teas, herbal infusions, soups, vegetables, fruits (watermelons, melons, cucumbers, apples, etc.).
The first signs of already occurring dehydration and blood thickening- a feeling of thirst and dark, rich color of urine.
For various diseases, discuss your daily water intake with your doctor.
Water and food intake
There is an opinion that you should not drink water during or immediately after meals. It is wrong. Dry eating does not lead to anything good.
You should not drink tea during or immediately after meals. They contain a lot of tannins and tannins that interfere with digestion. Poorly digested food leads to putrefactive reactions in the intestines, intoxication of the body and, as a result, thickening of the blood.
Water, compote or juice, drunk half an hour before meals, promotes digestive reactions and allows you to reduce the portion of food eaten.
Garlic
A powerful antioxidant that destroys free radicals in cells - the main culprits in almost all diseases, cancer, aging.
It was used by ancient civilizations in the 5th century BC as a spice and medicine.
Thanks to allicin, which is formed during the mechanical destruction of garlic cloves, we get a powerful weapon against thrombosis, heart and vascular diseases, cancer, and atherosclerosis.
Allicin, interacting with red blood cells, forms hydrogen sulfide, which reduces the tone of the walls of blood vessels, and the blood inside them begins to move more actively. This normalizes blood pressure, reduces cardiac stress, and improves oxygen supply to the entire body.
Garlic helps resolve existing blood clots and resists atherosclerosis.
Garlic is especially useful for older people who experience age-related blood thickening and deterioration of blood vessels.
Contraindications: anemia, kidney disease, ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, gallstones.
Tomatoes
Lycopene improves blood vessel permeability by 53%, studies by American scientists have shown.
Tomato paste supplies us with lycopene in an easily digestible form (due to the heat treatment of tomatoes) and in high concentration: 1 tablespoon is enough to get a daily portion.
Pineapples
The bromelain enzyme in the tropical fruit is a natural anticoagulant that reduces platelet aggregation and the formation of fibrinogen (the basis of blood clots).
Bromelain protects against crystallization of uric acid, leading to kidney stones and gout.
Fiber from pineapples, like a broom, removes toxins and “bad” cholesterol from the blood, which also helps thin it.
Pineapples are especially useful for people with high blood pressure.
Grape
contains the polyphenol resveratrol, which is much superior to vitamin E in antioxidant activity.
Scientists are concerned that half of people who experienced a sudden fatal heart attack took aspirin on the day of their death.
Scientific medicine predicts that resveratrol will become a reliable alternative to aspirin with an enhanced heart protection formula.
Experiments on animals revealed:
- improves recovery after a heart attack,
- production of a gene that slows down the aging process is stimulated.
Resveratrol acts similarly to aspirin: it dilutes the blood and inhibits the creation of clots in the coronary arteries, preventing them from sticking to their walls.
The best source is red grapes.
It is preferable to consume it “live”. Grape wine contains a lot of tannin, and also contains harmful additives (sulfur dioxide), and the juice (even freshly squeezed) loses the lion's share of healing polyphenol.
Important: grape seeds are very rich in tannic acids (tannins), which actively thicken the blood.
Ginger
has a long history of use as a medicine to treat various diseases, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor effects.
Gingerol and salicylates in ginger thicken the blood, break down blood clots and prevent the formation of new ones, which reduces the likelihood of vascular and heart diseases. Spice can also protect us from early aging, dementia, Alzheimer's, oncology and almost all diseases.
In terms of effectiveness, it is not inferior to garlic and ginseng, and in terms of antioxidant levels, ginger is second only to pomegranate and a few types of berries.
The plant is very effective. To avoid bleeding, it should be stopped two weeks before any surgical procedure.
Kelp
The strongest anticoagulant, a real healer for blood vessels, protects them from sclerosis and blockages.
The healing effect of seaweed is due to its unique biologically active composition:
alginic acid with its salts(sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium alginates, etc.) reduce blood clotting and blood pressure. Being effective enterosorbents, they cleanse the body well of toxins, radionuclides and heavy metal salts.
Iodine made from algae, it is easily absorbed, prevents blood thickening, and normalizes metabolism. Its quantity is colossal - in 100 g of dry algae the concentration reaches 800 mg.
Laminarin- intensive blood thinner with antithrombotic activity.
Beta-sitosterol(phytosterol with anti-sclerotic action), omega-3 polyunsaturated acids and hormone-like substances inhibit the development of vascular sclerosis, dissolve cholesterol deposits in them and improve blood flow, reduce cholesterol levels.
Vitamins B6, C and nicotinamide participate in reducing the prothrombin index by almost 13%.
Laminaria activates enzymatic systems that help cleanse blood vessels.
Mortality from atherosclerosis leads among residents of developed countries, where seafood is a rarity on the menu. For example, Japanese residents living in the United States suffer from atherosclerosis 10 times more often than their compatriots at home.
For atherosclerosis and for its prevention, to thin the blood, it is enough to take ½-1 teaspoon of dry kelp per day for a month, then, to avoid excess iodine, you need to take a break.
Seaweed is added to salad, soup, tomato juice, etc.
Contraindications: diseases of the kidneys and digestive organs in the acute stage, increased iodine sensitivity.
Laminaria is not addictive; it can be used for life without reducing the therapeutic effect.
Fish and seafood
rich in Omega-3, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and taurine.
These powerful antioxidants strengthen blood vessels, reduce the rate of formation of blood clots and cholesterol plaques in them, remove cholesterol, promote the resorption of existing cholesterol plaques and blood clots, improve blood flow and normalize blood pressure.
Taurine stops the accumulation of abdominal fat, which is the most harmful for humans, leading to diabetes, heart disease, strokes, heart attacks, and cancer.
Omega-3 in concentrated doses can be obtained from pharmaceutical encapsulated fish oil.
Turmeric
The main anticoagulant in turmeric is curcumin, which reduces the tendency of platelets to stick to each other and cause blood clotting.
Turmeric has been used since ancient times in Chinese and American Indian medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent that can treat wounds, skin and liver diseases.
Like garlic, turmeric resists atherosclerosis, the accumulation of bad cholesterol in blood vessels.
If you are taking blood thinning medications, talk to your doctor before adding turmeric to your diet. Stop taking it two weeks before surgery and tell your surgeon or dentist that you have been taking it.
Bulb onions
known for its medicinal properties against blood thickening, osteoporosis, pulmonary, eye, heart, vascular, cancer and other ailments, and slows down aging.
The flavonoid quercetin and allicin are strong antioxidants that dilate blood vessels and prevent platelet clumping.
Quercetin is especially abundant in red onions and their outer skins.
Cayenne pepper
Due to the large amount of salicylates, it acts as a natural vasodilator, relaxing the walls of blood vessels, which increases blood circulation and relieves blood pressure.
Vitamin E Products
Tocopherol has thinning and antithrombosis properties, provided that the daily norm is not exceeded, depending on age, health, and external conditions.
Sources: vegetable oils, cereal sprouts, sunflower seeds (a storehouse of Mg), apricots, nectarines, carrots, etc.
They are also great for thickening the blood.
Strawberries, cherries, mulberries, vinegar (table, grape, apple), kvass, cider, horseradish, horse chestnut, red clover, licorice, ginkgo biloba, hirudin, etc.
Other natural ways to thin your blood
sunlight improves metabolism and blood circulation. Walking in sunny weather is very beneficial; it recharges us with vitamin D, which is necessary for longevity.
Exercises. Regular but moderate exercise dilutes the blood. People who exercise too much have thin blood and are deficient in vitamin K, the main clotting agent.
Avoid Products with substances that thicken the blood. These include: vitamin K, tannins, rutin, excess tryptophan, cyanocobalamin, vitamins E and C, phytoestrogens, etc.
Summary
Unlike drugs, blood thinning products do not have dangerous side effects and are more effective: they not only stop thrombosis, but dissolve already formed blood clots, cleanse the walls of blood vessels and prevent blood clots from sticking to them.
If you are taking anticoagulants or are planning to have surgery, be sure to consult your doctor before adding garlic, turmeric, ginger, or any other blood thinners to your diet.
Be healthy!
Increased blood viscosity negatively affects its transport function, since the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to organs and tissues slows down, which causes multiple diseases. In addition to taking special medications, you should know which foods thin the blood: a list of the most effective ones included in the diet will help you cope with the problem. Thick blood is also dangerous due to the increased risk of blood clots. Often formed clots contribute to the development of varicose veins and thrombophlebitis, and provoke strokes and heart attacks.
Who needs this information
The reasons why the composition of the blood changes are quite numerous. The increase in the activity of the coagulation system is influenced by hormonal and age-related changes, taking specific medications and, of course, poor nutrition. You should pay attention to your diet when:
- varicose veins and thrombophlebitis;
- diagnosed ischemic disease of the brain and heart;
- vascular atherosclerosis (especially obliterating, which can lead to gangrene and amputation of the legs);
- obesity;
- diabetes mellitus;
- increased coagulation rates during pregnancy;
- taking oral contraceptives;
- excessive consumption of fatty and sweet foods, as well as carbonated drinks and alcohol;
- hereditary and acquired blood diseases (thrombocytosis, erythremia);
- pathologies of the pancreas and liver.
In addition, a simple lack of fluid in the body can increase the thickness of the blood. This condition occurs when dehydration occurs due to vomiting or diarrhea, as well as insufficient daily intake of water and other drinks.
Important! Age-related changes in the blood inevitably begin after 40 years. Women and overweight people are most at risk.
List of effective blood thinning products
After diagnosing increased blood clotting, anticoagulants and other drugs with similar effects are usually prescribed. However, they all have a number of contraindications and side effects. For example, aspirin often causes stomach ulcers and vascular fragility. Therefore, after consulting a doctor, you need to reconsider your usual diet and increase the proportion of the following products in it:
- Among the vegetables, the most useful for thinning the blood are tomatoes, cucumbers, beets, sweet peppers, zucchini, eggplant, onions and cabbage(the latter is especially effective when fermented).
- Among fruits, preference should be given to all types citrus fruits, since lemons, oranges and others are rich in ascorbic acid, reducing blood viscosity. Also recommended for use plums, grapes and apricots.
- Practically all varieties of berries useful for increased coagulability. You should eat fresh garden and forest berries more often in summer, and viburnum fruits in winter.
- Rich in valuable omega-3 acids fatty fish. These include salmon, trout, salmon, as well as more budget-friendly mackerel, herring and sardine. Fish oil normalizes blood composition and also reduces cholesterol levels and, accordingly, the risk of developing atherosclerosis.
- Since taurine and iodine have a positive effect on blood concentration, thinning it, the daily menu should include any seafood and seaweed (it can be consumed either raw or taken with dried seaweed powder).
- Useful spices include cayenne pepper, horseradish, garlic, dill, ginger root, cinnamon and mint. By the way, ginger can be used not only as a seasoning for meat, fish and baked goods: tea with its addition also perfectly reduces the viscosity and thickness of the blood.
- Vegetable oils (especially sunflower, olive, rapeseed and flaxseed).
- All fermented milk products.
Particular attention should be paid to the drinking regime. The lack of fluid in the body naturally thickens the blood, so you need to drink plenty of water every day. Drinks recommended for increased clotting include tea (green and black), fruit juices and compotes, berry fruit drinks, and herbal infusions. As for alcohol, it should be completely excluded from the diet.
What you can't eat
Having included healthy and most effective foods for reducing blood viscosity in your daily menu, you must at the same time give up harmful ones. These include, first of all, fatty foods.
- Any animal fat, as well as cream and butter from them, increase cholesterol levels and blood viscosity. Soups with rich broth and pork for main course are prohibited.
- and a variety of confectionery products are also contraindicated. An excess of fast carbohydrates increases blood concentration and also contributes to the development of diabetes and obesity. Therefore, you will have to replace your favorite buns, pastries, cakes and white bread with fruits from the list above, and add honey to your tea instead of sugar.
- We'll have to give up tempting ones too. sausages, smoked meats, pickled and canned products.
- It is not recommended to eat lentils, potatoes, walnuts, bananas and mangoes. They contain a lot of vitamin K, which increases blood clotting.
- Alcohol should be completely excluded from the diet. There is an opinion that a glass of dry red wine a day will only bring benefits, but most doctors recommend refraining from drinking any alcoholic beverages. In addition, high-quality wine is quite an expensive pleasure, and cheap wines are contraindicated even for completely healthy people.
Blood thinning products during pregnancy and vein diseases
Changes in hormonal levels during pregnancy very often affect the composition and concentration of the blood, and prescribing anticoagulants is quite dangerous. To reduce clotting, nutritional correction is usually used. Pregnant women are advised to eat more products from the list of healthy ones, with the exception of spices and herbs(they can provoke placental abruption). There are also restrictions regarding the drinking regime: increasing the volume of fluid consumed often causes swelling.
For thrombophlebitis and varicose veins, it is necessary to exclude from the list of permitted products spicy seasonings. Existing venous transformations progress significantly with regular consumption of pepper and other hot spices.
Diet correction is carried out only with the permission of the attending physician. In addition, combining a diet to reduce blood clotting with taking anticoagulants can lead to serious complications. Information about which food products thin the blood and a complete list of the most effective ones, if used correctly, will help prevent many dangerous diseases.
Thick blood - what to do (video)
Blood is a combination of plasma and blood formed elements (erythrocytes, platelets, leukocytes). The so-called “viscosity” of blood depends on their concentration. Its overestimated indicators have an extremely negative impact on. But what does that viscosity depend on?
Is it possible to somehow reduce it by including certain foods in your diet? Which vegetables are the most effective for thinning human blood?
How does nutrition affect blood viscosity?
And platelets, and leukocytes, and erythrocytes - all this is produced by the body itself using micronutrients and vitamins. And the basis of plasma is the most ordinary water with minerals, metals, and some groups of vitamins (mainly E and B groups) dissolved in it.
And normalize the viscosity The following list of microelements helps:
- vitamin E;
- folic acid;
- ascorbic acid;
- potassium;
- calcium;
- phosphorus;
- sodium compounds (but with their excess, blood viscosity only increases).
And it is extremely important to monitor the water-salt balance. Ideally, drink at least 2 liters of water per day. At the same time, liquid from vegetables and fruits is absorbed faster and the nutrient content in it is higher.
To quickly reduce blood viscosity, you should also avoid “heavy” fatty foods (rich in animal proteins. Foods and dishes containing such elements only slow down metabolic processes, but at the same time supply the body with cholesterol - it is precisely this that accumulates in the blood (and when excess content – leads to the formation of cholesterol plaques and blood clots).
15 Healthiest Vegetables
Nutritionists say that the best vegetables in this regard are those with a high content of indigestible fiber (it helps cleanse the intestines and also retains fluid in it) and greens.
1. Ginger
because he rich in phytoncides– they help cleanse the blood of cholesterol and toxins, and at the same time normalize the absorption of iron and the production of hemoglobin.
In fact, almost all seaweeds provide this benefit.
11. Peas
Especially useful when fresh. Peas contain a huge amount of flavonoids, B vitamins, as well as organic acids, which help digest carbohydrates(excess blood glucose also significantly increases plasma viscosity).
But it is worth considering that if you have dysbiosis, it is better to avoid peas - it accelerates the proliferation of all bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and slows down the synthesis of bile acids.
12. Kalanchoe
It is mainly used as a medicinal plant, but until recently it was also actively used in cooking as a seasoning for various kinds of vegetable salads.
Helps comprehensively normalize the biochemical composition of the blood, and also helps the body get rid of toxins derived from viruses (it will be useful when recovering from a prolonged flu, for example).
13. Chestnut
In principle, this plant is widely used in the treatment of most diseases of the cardiovascular system.
May horse chestnut flowers will help thin the blood best. They are brewed with boiling water or infused with alcohol. They have one of the highest contents of phytoncides based on organic acids, which help normalize the concentration of formed elements in the blood.
The only caveat is that such “folk remedies” are strictly contraindicated for children.
14. Olives
They contain a whole range of tannins, which are mostly composed of calcium. Green olives are considered healthier. They also contain fiber, vitamins KK, D, E.
But you shouldn’t overuse olives either - they are quite “heavy” for the gastrointestinal tract and can slow down metabolism (but for those who are overweight, this is only a “plus”).
15. Pumpkin
. You can also include pumpkin oil in your diet - it also contains B vitamins and folic acid.
But it’s better to cook pumpkin casserole, but add fructose instead of sugar - this turns out to be a low-calorie dish, but high in vitamins and fiber. Just keep in mind that the finished pumpkin casserole should be stored for no more than 10 hours. Then it begins to gradually lose its beneficial qualities.
You can also include pumpkin seeds in your diet. They are especially useful for chronic intestinal diseases and dysbiosis caused by individual physiology. But at the same time, when they are heat treated, their benefits do not decrease (but the oil concentration decreases).
Also check out the infographic:
Conclusion
In summary, including certain vegetables in your diet can really reduce the viscosity of thick blood. For chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system, they should definitely be consumed daily.
And don’t forget that you should drink at least 2 liters of water a day, and you should also give up protein, carbohydrate, and excessively fatty foods (especially if they contain animal and trans fats - they increase blood density the most, but the number of shaped elements does not change).
It has been proven that the main cause of 80-90% of heart attacks and strokes are blood clots formed in the vessels due to increased blood viscosity. To thin it out, anticoagulant drugs are used in medicine, but some products also have a similar effect on the human circulatory system. Adjusting your diet if you have thick blood can help you avoid serious health complications.
How does nutrition affect blood viscosity?
According to recent studies by American scientists, it is not atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels that lead to myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke.
Predisposing factors to increased blood viscosity are the following:
- Increase in the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin, platelets.
- Impaired absorption of fluid in the intestines.
- Dehydration of the body.
- Significant blood loss.
- High levels of fibrinogen protein, which plays a direct role in the formation of blood clots.
- Lack of amino acids, vitamins and minerals in the diet.
The heart has difficulty pumping thick blood through the vascular bed, the organs do not receive enough vital substances and are not freed from decay products. But the main danger of increased blood viscosity is the formation of clots in the arteries.
Professor David Krichevsky from the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia is confident that it is not atherosclerosis that kills people, but a blood clot that forms on a cholesterol plaque in the blood vessels.
Thrombosis largely depends on the daily diet. Fatty and fried foods thicken the blood because they make platelets easier to form into clots and stick together faster. But some foods, on the contrary, lower fibrinogen levels and provide the body with a sufficient amount of substances useful for normal hematopoiesis.
Preventing the formation of blood clots with the help of a properly selected diet, according to French professor Serge S. Renaud, reduces the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes in just one year. When following an anti-cholesterol diet, the same effect occurs much later.
What nutrients are needed to thin the blood?
Normal hematopoietic processes are impossible without the participation of:
- Amino acids and proteins (arginine and taurine are especially useful, helping to thin the blood and dilate blood vessels).
- Unsaturated fatty acids (have antioxidant and antithrombotic effects).
- Vitamins B, C, E, P (strengthen the walls of blood vessels, play an important role in the exchange of nutrients).
- Minerals (iron, iodine, magnesium, potassium, manganese, calcium) – reduce platelet aggregation (sticking together).
They are part of or activate the action of enzymes and hormones that affect blood counts, and their prolonged deficiency or excess in the diet leads to metabolic disorders and the development of cardiovascular diseases.
According to a study by Finnish scientists, subjects who consume large amounts of bioflavonoids in food are less susceptible to strokes and heart attacks.
Therefore, foods and drinks containing these active substances must also be included in the daily diet to prevent blood clots.
Best Blood Thinning Products
To prevent the formation of blood clots and blood thinning, healthy eating experts advise eating large amounts of fresh fruits, berries and vegetables daily (they are rich in vitamins, minerals and bioflavonoids). The menu must include fatty fish 2-3 times a week; for dressing vegetable salads, use unrefined vegetable oils (a source of vitamin E and unsaturated fatty acids).
The main natural anticoagulant is drinking water. Drinking 1.5-2 liters of water daily will reduce blood viscosity and reduce the likelihood of blood vessels clogging with blood clots.
If you are prone to blood clots, 10 products are considered the best for thinning your blood. They are available to everyone, their use will help to significantly reduce blood viscosity and prevent the formation of clots in the arteries.
Onion
Harvard professor V. Gurevich advises eating raw onions daily if you have high blood viscosity. Quercetin and adenosine (natural anticoagulants) contained in it accelerate the process of dissolving blood clots and reduce platelet aggregation. The most beneficial substances for thinning the blood are found in red and yellow onions.
In India, studies were conducted in which subjects were given a fatty meal with a lot of fried meat and butter. An analysis carried out soon showed increased blood clotting in these people. After a while, the same lunch was supplemented with 60 g of raw onion for the volunteers - tests showed that it completely blocked the negative effect of fatty foods on the blood and stopped the process of platelet adhesion.
To avoid problems with the formation of blood clots and sad health consequences, you must eat at least 50 g of onion daily, and be sure to add it to fried foods.
Garlic is also known for its blood thinning properties. It contains enzymes and allicin, which is converted in the body to achoene, a strong anticoagulant.
To release more ajoene, Professor Mahenda Jain recommends crushing the garlic first and consuming it with acidic foods.
An excellent remedy for reducing blood viscosity is an alcohol tincture of garlic:
- Pour 5 heads of peeled and crushed garlic into 1 liter of vodka;
- leave for 10 days;
- take 15 drops three times a day before meals.
You can eat a clove of garlic every morning. This will provide an amazing cleansing and healing effect for the whole body.
Ginger is also used to prevent blood clots. Charles Dorso, MD, from the largest US university, Cornell, believes that gingerol plays the role of an antiplatelet substance in ginger. Its chemical composition is close to aspirin, a well-known blood thinner.
For medicinal purposes, you can prepare a tasty and healthy drink from ginger:
- peel 5 cm of ginger root;
- grind it and pour 1 liter of boiling water;
- add 1 tsp. cinnamon and green tea;
- leave for 3-4 hours;
- add a spoonful of honey and the juice of half a lemon.
Take half a glass of the drink in the morning and at lunch. It not only thins the blood, but also perfectly tones the body.
According to the American Journal of Cardiology, regular consumption of turmeric reduces the risk of ischemic heart attack by 56% due to increased blood clotting.
By adding turmeric when preparing dishes, the risk of blood clots will be minimized. For a therapeutic effect, only 1-1.2 g per day is enough. You can add the powder to warm milk (1 tsp per glass) or use it with honey (mix 1/4 tsp of seasoning with 1 tsp of honey).
To thin the blood, you can use one of the ancient recipes of traditional healers - prepare oil with turmeric:
- mix a glass of turmeric and 4 liters of water;
- let it brew for 8 hours;
- evaporate the liquid over high heat until 2 liters remain;
- add a glass of mustard powder;
- evaporate the mixture until a thick mass is obtained, the consistency of which resembles butter.
Take half a teaspoon 2 times a day before meals for 4 weeks. Repeat the course after 10 days.
Berries
Raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, and currants are rich in bioflavonoids that dissolve blood clots and cholesterol plaques, vitamin C, which strengthens vascular walls, and salicylic acid, a safe analogue of aspirin for the body that normalizes blood clotting.
If you regularly eat at least a handful of berries for six months, the blood will become more fluid, and the coronary arteries will be strengthened 2.5-3 times.
In addition, nuts contain salicylates (especially a lot of them in almonds, peanuts and pistachios). Moderate amounts are found in pecans, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts and pine nuts.
Eating seafood (mussels, shrimp, fish) prevents the formation of blood clots because they contain many useful substances: omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, iodine and taurine.
To reduce blood viscosity, it is enough to consume 200 g of seafood 3 times a week. Fish should be steamed or baked.
The high concentration of antioxidants (vitamin E, polyphenols) and polyunsaturated fatty acids determine the great benefits of olive oil for the cardiovascular system. Its regular use reduces the likelihood of blood clots and cholesterol plaques and promotes their dissolution.
British scientists conducted a study in which more than 7,000 volunteers aged 45 to 75 years took 1 tablespoon of olive oil twice a day as an addition to their regular diet for two months. Blood tests of 90% of those participating in the experiment recorded low levels of thromboxane, a substance that causes platelets to stick together. Their cholesterol levels were also normal.
It is not for nothing that the Mediterranean diet with increased consumption of olive oil is considered the most effective for the prevention of heart and vascular diseases (reduces the risk of blood clots and the development of atherosclerosis by 25-30%).
Tomatoes
Tomatoes and tomato juice are considered the most useful of vegetables for thinning the blood. Vitamin C, lycopene and calcium have a positive effect on the condition of the heart and blood vessels, have an antiplatelet effect, dissolve atherosclerotic plaques and increase the lumen of the arteries. In terms of its effect on the circulatory system, tomato juice is comparable to aspirin. Therapeutic dose is 4 tomatoes per day.
During heat treatment, the vitamin C content in tomatoes decreases, but the bioavailability of lycopene increases. It is recommended to consume tomatoes both raw with foods rich in unsaturated fatty acids (vegetable oils, avocados) and cooked.
Red wine (red grape juice)
Dark grape varieties contain the strongest antioxidant resveratol. It not only cleanses blood vessels of cholesterol deposits, but also slows down the process of platelet gluing. Regularly drinking a glass of red wine with dinner or grape juice (as well as a handful of grapes) promotes antithrombotic processes and prevents heart disease.
What foods should you avoid if you have thick blood?
If you are at increased risk of blood clots, nutritionists advise avoiding foods rich in vitamin K:
- Spinach.
- White cabbage.
- Bobov.
- Green peas.
- Broccoli.
- Arugula.
- Parsley.
Vitamin K plays an important role in the body in treating wounds and abrasions, as it stimulates the blood clotting process. But with its pathological thickening, excessive consumption of foods rich in this vitamin can be dangerous due to the formation of clots and arterial thrombosis.
You should limit the consumption of saturated fats, broths, edible gelatin, sausages and flour products.
Caution should be exercised when consuming blood thinning products if you are already taking anticoagulant medications or if you are experiencing bleeding. It is important to periodically take blood tests to assess its viscosity and composition.
The following research and materials were used in writing the article:
- O. Ananyeva Medical nutrition for blood diseases
- M.V. Drozdova Blood diseases. Practical guide
- G.F. Lang Textbook of Internal Medicine
- S. A. Miroshnichenko “Treatment of blood diseases”
- M. Blombek and I. Antonica Blood clotting disorders. Practical recommendations for diagnosis and treatment.
Viscous blood creates many problems for a person, from malaise and drowsiness to thrombosis, cardiac disorders, heart attacks, and strokes.
Blood fluidity depends on many circumstances, the composition of food is the most important of them. Knowing which foods thicken the blood, you can adjust your diet and significantly improve your blood condition without medications.
The blood is thickening
Vitamin K. It is called the coagulation vitamin, it increases blood clotting, eliminates hemorrhages and bleeding. Found in all green vegetables.
Vitamin K Products: which ones should be excluded from the diet if there is thick blood, and which should always be on the menu to prevent cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
Tannins- tanning agents (hallotannic acid), which enhance blood clotting, effectively stopping it and healing wounds.
pomegranate, persimmon, sea buckthorn, bird cherry, sloe, quince, blueberry, dogwood, black currant, strawberry, chokeberry, lingonberry, viburnum (bark and fruit), cranberry, hazelnuts, pistachios, peanuts, walnuts, almonds, rose hips, chicory, all teas (especially in white), dark grapes, grape wine (young red has more tannins), rhubarb, cocoa, red beans, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, tarragon, thyme, bay leaf, vanilla, legumes (in reds above), dark chocolate, galangal root, eucalyptus, oak bark and acorns, acacia, chestnut.
The presence of tannin can be determined by the astringent feeling in the mouth.
Vitamin P or flavonoids, the most famous is Rutin. These very useful substances can increase blood clotting.
Flavonoids come from mint, rue, blueberries, blackberries, chokeberries, red grapes, green tea, coffee beans, citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, cabbage, buckwheat, red wine.
Tryptophan in large quantities promotes blood thickness. Once in the body, it is converted into serotonin, which has a vasoconstrictor and hemostatic effect.
Available (descending):
in red and black caviar, Dutch cheese, peanuts, almonds, cashews, soybeans, processed cheese, pine nuts, halva, rabbit meat, turkey, squid, horse mackerel, sunflower seeds, pistachios, sesame seeds, chicken, peas, beans, herring, veal, beef, salmon, cod, lamb, cottage cheese, chicken eggs, pollock, chocolate, pork, carp, halibut, pike perch, buckwheat, millet, sea bass, mackerel, oatmeal, dried apricots, mushrooms, barley, pearl barley, dates, prunes, raisins, bananas, peanuts, etc.
Trans fats. The isomers of unsaturated fatty acids in their composition are obtained by hydrogenation of vegetable oils.
Trans fats do not provide any benefit to the body, and among other harms, they make the blood heavier and thrombose blood vessels.
Back in 2009, in order to reduce heart and vascular diseases, WHO recommended eliminating COMPLETELY industrial hydrogenated fats from the diet and replacing them with polyunsaturated fatty acids. There is evidence that trans fats provoke diabetes, depression, cancer, liver disease and Alzheimer's.
Trans fats can be found:
in sandwich (light) butters, cholesterol-free cheeses (in which natural fat is replaced with artificial fat), mayonnaise, mayonnaise sauces, margarines, fast foods (especially French fries, deep-fried dishes), chips, semi-finished meat products and other breaded products , vegetable cream.
In food concentrates: bouillon cubes, soups, Doshirak-type noodles, packaged coffee and others.
In industrial confectionery products, butter and lean baked goods (bread, rolls, etc.).
Presence of trans fats may be indicated on the label vegetable oil, solid vegetable oil, hydrogenated (hydrogenated) fat, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, Trans Fats and the like.
Phytoestrogens– natural biologically active compounds produced by plants. They are similar in structure and biological properties to endogenous estrogens (female hormones).
Phytoestrogens are much weaker than “native” hormones, but have the ability to accumulate, their aftereffect is stable and long-lasting. One of the main tasks of phyto- and endogenous estrogens is to stimulate blood clotting factors and thicken it.
Contains phytoestrogens
all legumes (in first place - soybeans and flax), Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, celery, dill, flax seeds, pumpkin and sunflower, red grapes and wine, hops and beer, sprouted oats, unripe seeds of corn, wheat, rye, barley , rice, sunflowers, apples, pomegranates, carrots, dates, mushrooms, sesame seeds, green tea, in all dairy products.
Oils rich in phytoestrogens: flaxseed, soybean, wheat germ, olive, sesame, coconut, palm, grape.
Vitamin B12. An excess of this vitamin in food leads to blood clots and increased blood stickiness.
B12 is found in beef liver, kidneys and meat, lamb, pork, eggs, turkey breast, cheeses, milk, chum salmon, mackerel, cod, mussels, and shrimp.
Excess of vitamins E and C in the diet May increase blood clot formation and blood stickiness.
Sources:
vitamin C . The leaders are rosehip, kiwi, green walnuts, blackcurrant, viburnum, sea buckthorn, barberry, cloudberry.
Vitamin E is found in vegetable oils (olive, sunflower and safflower), sprouted wheat, peanuts, hazelnuts and almonds, whole grains, vegetables (spinach, carrots), avocados.
Fatty, high-calorie foods significantly slows down the flow of blood, fat literally clogs the circulatory system.
These are fatty meats (pork, lamb, duck), butter, lard, cream, cheeses, sour cream, fatty cottage cheese, nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts, peanuts), cakes, pastries, etc.
Foods high in refined carbohydrates: sugar, white bread, pasta, cookies, cakes, crackers, etc.
Refined sugar and its synthetic substitutes, such as aspartame, Splenda, etc.
Alcoholic drinks(vodka and cognac mainly) interfere with the functioning of the immune and digestive systems.
Their absorption requires enormous expenditures of those vitamins and minerals (zinc, calcium, magnesium, selenium, chromium) that ensure good condition of the vascular system and normal blood flow.
Alcohol also kills bacteria in the intestines, which help synthesize menaquinone - vitamin K2, which is responsible for bone health, protects against cancer, Alzheimer's disease and others.
Excessive caffeine consumption leads to disruption of body systems, causing insomnia and digestive disorders (constipation or diarrhea).
Diarrhea causes dehydration and thickening of the blood. On the other hand, moderate caffeine consumption is beneficial.
Sea and river predatory fish(tuna, mackerel, pike perch, pike, swordfish, perch, marlin, wild sturgeon, dorado, rainbow trout, cod, etc.) with toxic levels of mercury and other harmful substances.
The safe list includes: fish that feed on algae and plankton (pollock, for example), river and lake fish, if the reservoirs are not polluted.
Farmed fish often contains PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls that destroy human immunity), dioxins and other toxic compounds, which are abundant in concentrated fish feed.
They also reduce blood flow:
Viburnum (bark, fruits, leaves). It's all about the glycoside viburnin, which has a hemostatic effect and prevents bleeding of various natures. In addition, viburnum contains tannin.
Gelatin, jellies, smoked meats, meat broths, sausages, pickles, canned food, carbonated drinks, potatoes, all dark green leafy vegetables.
Plants - yarrow, burdock, motherwort, horsetail, corn silk, tansy, St. John's wort, knotweed, nettle, valerian, chokeberry, burnet, lemongrass, plantain, saffron, pine needles, rowan, rose hips, oak bark, basil, etc.
If the blood is thick you need to:
Reduce the proportion of foods in your diet that make your blood sticky.
It is better to completely avoid all “non-living” and unhealthy foods.
Increase your intake of blood thinning products.
You can make lists of products and check your menu against them.
Summary
Dense blood is a serious problem that can be solved with a set of measures. Adjusting your diet is the simplest and most effective measure. Now you know which foods thicken the blood, which means that by changing your diet, you can help yourself.
Of course, products with vitamin K, phytoestrogens, and tannins should not be completely excluded. After all, they also have other positive properties necessary for our health. Maintain moderation and consult your doctor, especially if you are taking anticoagulants.
Love your blood and take care of it.
Based on materials: L. I. Vigorov “Garden of Medicinal Crops”; Wikipedia; “The Healing Foods Hausman” P. & Benn Hurley J. (1989) Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Rodale Press.
Elena Valve for the project Sleepy Cantata.
