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Poor Circulation and Diet

Jun 13, 2011 | By Nancy Clarke

Many dietary factors and eating habits can cause your blood circulation to slow. A lack of vitamins, minerals or protein in your diet will limit your body's production of red blood cells, the oxygen-carrying components of blood. A dietary imbalance in which you to consume too many solid fats and calories increases your weight and blood cholesterol levels, raising your risk for heart and artery problems that keep the blood from circulating properly. Prevent or improve poor circulation by eating a balanced diet geared toward heart health.

Blood Count

Anemia is a condition in which less oxygen circulates to your body cells as a result of low red blood cell production. Dietary causes of anemia can include low intake of protein, B vitamins or iron, nutrients that your body needs to form red blood cells. Protein deficiency is rare in America, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but vegetarians who eat a narrow selection of foods can lack one or more protein amino acids. Pregnant women whose iron and B vitamin needs increase or individuals who don't get enough of those nutrients through food can develop anemia. Inadequate blood circulation may present symptoms that include fatigue and cold extremities.

Blood Pressure

Instead of improving circulation, an increase in blood pressure harms the heart and arteries, increasing your chances of suffering a heart attack or stroke. Diets that are high in sodium, which comes mainly from salt in foods, or low in potassium due to inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, promote high blood pressure. This condition, which usually presents no symptoms other than headaches in rare cases, can result in poor circulation. Plaque buildup on damaged artery walls, called atherosclerosis, reduces the space for blood to flow. The heart can also lose the ability to pump enough blood at high pressure, resulting in heart failure.

Blood Cholesterol

A diet high in solid fats creates an imbalance in the components of your blood cholesterol, a major cause of atherosclerosis. Plaque accumulation, bleeding and clotting inside the arteries produce obstructions to circulating blood. Blood clots can break away and travel toward the heart or brain, where they may block oxygenated blood from these vital organs and cause heart attacks or strokes. Diets high in saturated fat and especially trans fat contribute to damage and narrowing of the arteries.

Prevention/Improvement

To adjust your diet toward preventing or improving poor circulation and its underlying causes, eat a variety of foods from all the food groups. This will provide the potassium, iron, protein, B vitamins and other beneficial nutrients that your body needs to maintain healthy blood and heart function. The American Heart Association suggests giving preference to foods that are lower in saturated and trans fats, sodium and total calories, and starting a weight-loss diet if you are overweight, to reduce your overall cardiovascular risk.

References

Article reviewed by Mary Bland Last updated on: Jun 13, 2011

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