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A Raw Food Diet for Better Circulation

Apr 29, 2012 | By Meg Campbell
A Raw Food Diet for Better Circulation
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High cholesterol, poor nutrition, inactivity, smoking and certain diseases — such as diabetes — all have a negative impact on your circulation. While smoking cessation and regular exercise can go a long way to improve your arteries and blood flow, so can a healthy diet devoid of empty calories and saturated fats. Adhering to a raw food diet is one way to positively affect your body’s circulatory system.

Identification

Those who eat raw food sometimes call it living food because the live enzymes of uncooked food are intact. Raw foodists believe that uncooked food delivers more nutrition than heated food and is easier to digest. A diet lacking in processed foods and rich in whole, raw food can contribute to increased energy, weight loss, brighter skin, healthier hair and nails, and alleviation of certain chronic diseases, according to Stephanie Tourles, author of “Raw Energy.”

Raw Diet Foods

A raw food diet is inclusive of most food groups, as long as the food fits the definition of raw: it is either completely uncooked or hasn’t been heated above approximately 115 degrees Fahrenheit. The typical raw kitchen is stocked with a wide variety of fresh, frozen and dried fruits, fresh vegetables, dried seaweed, legumes, seeds, nuts, oils, herbs and spices, and certain raw grains, such as wheat germ and oats. Other common staples include powders from wheatgrass, spirulina and barley grass. With the exception of raw honey, a raw food diet is vegan.

Fiber

A raw food diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains, all of which are good sources of dietary fiber. The soluble fiber of a high-fiber diet can help lower overall cholesterol levels, bring down blood pressure and reduce inflammation, according to MayoClinic.com. High amounts of the wrong type of cholesterol, often cause by consuming too much saturated fat, can cause a buildup in your arteries, leading to atherosclerosis or peripheral artery disease. Both of these conditions are characterized by restricted circulation.

Vitamins

Certain vitamins are also considered beneficial to the circulatory system. According to the website Diabetes Health, a 1996 study published in the “Journal of Clinical Investigation” found that vitamin C improves circulation in diabetics. Omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in flaxseed oil, also improve circulation, according to “The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods," as do the antioxidants found in bright fruits and vegetables and dark leafy greens.

Considerations

Foods high in saturated fat, which are not included in a raw food diet, are as detrimental to circulatory health as those that boost circulation are beneficial. It may not be necessary to consume a completely raw diet to derive similar benefits from whole, nutrient-rich foods, but leaving behind fried, fatty foods is key to circulatory health. Your liver converts saturated fat into cholesterol, and too much cholesterol can make your circulation worse.

References

Article reviewed by Jennifer Poole Last updated on: Apr 29, 2012

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