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Varicose veins are quite common and affect about 23 percent of adults around the world. In varicose veins, the veins under the skin swell up or enlarge and appear to be bluish or red in color.
Any part of the body can develop varicose veins. But, mostly, these veins affect legs because of excess pressure on the lower body.
A number of factors also contribute to the development of varicose veins. Some of the risk factors for varicose veins include obesity, family history, long hours of sitting or standing, pregnancy and the associated hormonal changes, etc.
Varicose veins can be quite discomforting. They cause severe pain and you may experience heaviness and itching in the affected area. Also, varicose veins have a tendency to worsen over time.
You should know that what we eat plays a vital role in the functioning of our body. When it comes to varicose veins, there are certain foods that improve the vein functioning and certain others that can aggravate the condition even more.
Table of Contents
Foods to avoid with varicose veins
Following is a list of foods that you should strictly avoid if you are suffering from the pain of varicose veins. These foods have a negative impact on your health and can make varicose veins even worse:
Refined Grains
Fibers and bioflavonoids are essential for proper vein health. These contribute significantly to the strengthening of vein walls. Fibers also help you maintain a proper bowel movement. The process of refining grains strips them of these beneficial flavonoids and fibers. Refined grains are low in fibers and can cause constipation. This can lead to extra pressure on the veins while passing stools, leading to the worsening of varicose veins symptoms.
Foods containing added/ refined sugar
If you have varicose veins, try to avoid refined sugar as much as possible. Not only does refined sugar lead to obesity, but it also increases the amount of insulin secretion. The increased weight due to refined sugars puts even more pressure on the lower body and the vein’s health may deteriorate.
Foods with high sodium content
Avoid salty foods if you have varicose veins. Too much sodium leads to more water retention in the body. This, in turn, increases the volume of blood flowing through the veins. Due to increased blood, the pressure inside the veins increases. This can worsen the swelling and pain of varicose veins.
Greasy and Junk Foods
Fried and greasy foods should are a big no if you have varicose veins. Junk foods and fried foods are known to negatively affect blood circulation. These are also low on fiber content and can lead to digestive issues. Fried foods and junk foods lead to obesity and thus can lead to the worsening of varicose veins. These foods also contribute to the development of new varicose veins.
Canned foods
If you have varicose veins, refrain from consuming canned foods. Canned foods usually contain a chemical called Bisphenol (BPA). This chemical has similar effects as that of the hormone estrogen and can make the varicose veins even worse.
Alcohol
Consumption of alcohol can further aggravate the condition of varicose veins. Alcohol hinders the proper circulation of blood and inhibits the optimal functioning of the liver. This can result in thicker blood and can cause further damage to the vein walls. Alcohol can also indirectly lead to excess water retention, thereby increasing the volume of blood in the veins. Therefore, you must avoid alcohol at all costs if you are dealing with the problem of varicose veins.
You understand that a healthy diet is essential for maintaining a healthy body. Now that you know about the foods to avoid in varicose veins, you should also know about the foods that can be beneficial in the condition.
The following foods help significantly in improving the vein health and the intake of these foods can be really helpful in relieving the symptoms:
- Foods rich in bioflavonoids strengthen the veins and reduce their permeability and fragility. Apples, buckwheat, grapes, blackberries, cherries, etc. are rich sources of the bioflavonoid Rutin. These foods should be eaten to improve the condition of varicose veins
- Avocados can do wonders in improving varicose veins. Avocados are rich sources of vitamins. In addition to this, they also contain glutathione which prevents oxidant damage to the veins
- Beetroot is very effective in protecting the blood vessels from further damage. It contains betacyanin which reduces the amount of homocysteine in the blood. Homocysteine can cause serious damage to the blood vessels and thus the intake of beets can protect the veins from this damage.
- Rosemary is another widely recommended herb to cure varicose veins. It improves blood circulation and prevents damage to the vein tissues. (Also Read: Home remedies for varicose veins)
A healthy diet along with regular exercise can work miraculously in improving varicose veins and can provide significant symptomatic relief. (Also Read: How to use tomato to treat varicose veins?)
However, if the condition of your varicose veins keeps on becoming more severe by the day and you are experiencing a lot of discomfort, consult your doctor without delay.
What to do in case of severe varicose veins?
In serious cases of varicose veins, the doctor may suggest surgery. While opting for the surgical procedure, you should make a well-informed decision.
Presently, the best treatment option for varicose veins is laser treatment. Laser treatment is a minimally invasive procedure and does not inflict any pain. The procedure has a success rate as high as 100 percent and provides a permanent solution to the problem of varicose veins.
If you have any queries about the laser treatment, you can contact Pristyn Care. We will be happy to resolve them for you.
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