Diet And Nutrional Support For Varicose Veins

Most varicose veins do not necessarily require medical treatmen. This condition, which can have quite an ugly appearnace, develops when veins become distended due to weakened vessel walls or one-way valves normally responsible for allowing backflow of blood upwards to the heart malfunctions. As a result, blood pools in clumps in the superficial veins, causing swelling and stretching.

When you have varicose veins, it is not just about the ugly appearance. You also experience a sensation of heaviness in the legs, to deep aching, to severe pain with swollen ankles and feet. Shoes that appear to fit your feet in the morning become too tight in the afternoon. The distended vein is sore, and the skin gets itchy around the affected area. Symptoms get more painful and inflammed as the day progresses, and with prolonged standing.

Causes Of Varicose Veins

Lack of circulation causes veins to dilate and twist, eventually leading to varicose veins. Pregnancy, obesity, prolonged sitting with legs crossed, standing for long periods, low-fibre diet, using garters or tight clothing, and genetic predisposition are other causal factors. Age makes skin less elastic, reducing support to the veins.

Dietary Guidelines For Minimising Inflammation

* Follow a diet high in fibre and rich in fresh fruits and vegetables including legumes, and grains.

* Eat citrus fruits and blueberries.

* Consume plenty of fish, fibre and raw fruits and vegetables.

* Avoid ice cream, margarine, red meat, animal fats and other fatty foods, refined carbohydrates, pastries, or other rich foods.

* If you are salt sensitive, minimize your salt intake because it can cause swelling.

Recommended Nutritional Support

Grapeseed or Pine Bark Extracts. These contain oligomers that help prevent blood vessel fragility, which can cause veings to bulge or leak in varicose veins.

Vitamin C with Flavonoids. Promotes better circulation, strengthens vein walls, and discourages blood clot formation. Lack of vitamin C can trigger pain in the limbs and make capillaries more fragile.

Bilberry. Its anthocyanacides minimise vein weakness and prevent bulging of veins.

Ginkgo Biloba. Ginkolides are free-radical scavengers and promote better circulation.

Horse Chestnut. The seeds have long been traditional medicine for treatment of varicose veins and haemorrhoids. The active component is escin (or aescin).

Green Tea. Anthocyanidins in tea provide antioxidants, reduce inflammation, and help arrest venous weakness.

Essential Fatty Acid. The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids maintain vein elasticity and lowers inflammation, which may cause swelling in the veins.

Bromelain. Helps make blood less viscous and reduce risk of clotting; may also prevent the hard and lumpy skin that forms around varicose veins.