4 Summer Foods and Recipes for Improved Vein Health
It is summer once again, and with it comes hot days that can do a number on your veins. Luckily, it also brings plenty of nutritious foods to help you fight back against vein disease.
Incorporating these powerful foods into your diet along with these delicious recipes can help keep you healthy and reduce your risk for various types of vein disease.
Watermelon
This delicious fruit screams summertime. On top of being a conduit for nostalgia, watermelon is a great food for promoting vein health. As the name suggests, it has a high concentration of water which helps keep the blood pumping, and it actually causes you to feel full. This can help regulate how much food you eat at the next BBQ and maintain a healthy weight, which is a huge factor in vein health. Another great benefit to eating watermelon is that it contains lycopene which protects cells from sun damage. During the hot summer months, any protection against the sun’s harmful rays is a welcome feature, and it doesn’t hurt that it comes in such a tasty form either.
Heirloom Tomato, Watermelon, and Fennel Salad from Vegu Kate.
Tomatoes
You say “tomato.” I say, “what a great vegetable for your vein health this summer-O.” While some might not like this particular fruit (yes, that's right tomatoes are a fruit), it can be used in so many different ways that it’s nearly impossible to find one that doesn’t suit your needs or palate. It also contains many properties that make it ideal for maintaining healthy veins. Like watermelon, it has lycopene so you can strengthen them against dangerous UV rays. Likewise, tomatoes contain vitamins B and E which are great for preventing cell damage and drastically improves your blood circulation, therefore reducing the risk of potentially life threatening vein diseases like Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).
Ricotta Gnudi with Quick Tomato Confit & Fresh Corn from Wine Spectator.
Fennel
While you may not be as familiar with this as other members of its family, like carrots and celery, this umbellifer is just as versatile in the kitchen and in terms of its healthy properties. One of the best benefits of this food is that both its bulb and seeds can be eaten and both provide nutrients beneficial to vein health. It contains magnesium which has nutrients that have been shown to increase calcium in your body, which can help manage high blood pressure. It also contains Vitamin C which acts as an anti-inflammatory in order to alleviate stress or swelling in the legs. It also helps boost metabolism which can help you maintain a healthy weight.
Sautéed Fennel with Garlic from Tasting Table.
Salmon
There’s something fishy about this one, but it's definitely not its ability to help with your vein health. Salmon is a great alternative to red meat in a lot of ways due to its lower calorie count and high amount of Omega-3. It is also good for heart health by increasing blood flow and preventing veins from getting blocked which can lead to serious issues like DVT and even Pulmonary Embolisms in the worst case scenario.
Pesto Salmon Burgers w/ Asparagus and Tomato Salad from Womansday
These tasty Summer foods can definitely help you keep healthy and assist in disease prevention, but if you are already suffering from painful varicose veins or other vein disease, foods alone are not enough. Schedule a free vein screening with Elmore Medical today.
Elmore Medical Vein & Laser Treatment Center is the premier vein specialty medical practice in the Central Valley. Dr. Mario H. Gonzalez and his staff offer years of experience and medical expertise that you won’t find anywhere else. Contact us to set up a consultation appointment.