Add caption

So what should you be juicing more of to boost blood flow? Here are the top foods to get juicing for circulation!

Orange

This sweet citrus fruit is made into one of the most popular juices consumed around the world. In fact, approximately 85% of all the oranges are used for orange juice.

And it’s one delicious juice to be drinking for better circulation since oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C, which, according to Johns Hopkins, may lower blood pressure in high doses. Vitamin C also supports capillary health by strengthening collagen and it lends to health of the blood vessels in the eyes.

If you’ve never had freshly juiced orange, you’re missing out big time on one of the sweetest most nutritious juices out there. Pop a few oranges in your juicer, and your whole family will be running to taste some of that sweet nectar.

Beets

You may have heard all the hullabaloo surrounding how beet juice improves workouts. If you’re wondering how – it’s because beets are very rich in natural chemicals called nitrates, which have been shown to boost athletic performance.

How? Well, your body converts nitrates into nitric oxide, which actually causes blood vessels to dilate, boosting blood flow as well as increasing oxygen and nutrient delivery to muscles and organs.

This is great news not only for fueling your workouts but for improving circulation on a daily basis!

Lemon

The acidic and sour lemon fruit packs a powerful health punch despite the sour-puss faces that might ensue.

Lemons are recognized as a detoxifying fruit, used for cleaning out and purifying the blood of accumulated toxins.

They can also help lower blood pressure by keeping the blood vessels pliable.

On top of all that, lemons contain a lot of important nutrients for circulatory health including vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin P. Vitamin C has been proven to improve capillary health. Potassium regulates blood pressure, and vitamin P, or flavonoids, are powerful antioxidants that promote capillary health and prevent capillary bleeding.

Drinking plain lemon juice is not necessarily recommended (it’s super sour!), although it may get your digestive system going when consumed on an empty stomach. Add lemon to your juicer along with other fruits and veggies, and you’ll get a hint of tanginess that perfectly balances out a sweet mix.

Ginger

Ginger contains a unique combination of nutrients which come together to stimulate blood circulation. Some of those include chromium, magnesium, zinc, histidine, isoleucine, and methionine.

Ginger also helps prevent blood clots in the arteries and lowers cholesterol levels. People with high cholesterol are more likely to suffer from poor blood circulation or a heart condition which causes poor circulation.

Since ginger allows for better blood flow, when you eat it, you’re less likely to suffer from uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous poor blood circulation symptoms like numbness, cramping, thrombosis, or even heart attack.

Garlic

Garlic is recognized by experts as a blood purifier, cleansing the blood of toxins and preventing plaque buildup in the blood vessels.

This pungent root vegetable is important because it stimulates the production of nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide which relaxes the blood vessels, lowering blood pressure. It improves blood circulation in the hands and feet, increasing the concentration of oxygen delivered to these areas.

A person who experiences numbness or tingling in the hands and feet can benefit from adding more fresh garlic to his diet.

If you’re adding garlic to your juicer, balance it out with some breath-freshening ingredients like parsley or mint. You’ll want to reap in all the health benefits that garlic has to offer, but none of the smelly side-effects.

Watermelon

Watermelon contains lycopene, an important pigment and antioxidant that is responsible for the red color in certain fruits and vegetables. Lycopene can prevent many diseases from developing all over the body, including diseases connected with poor circulation.

Lycopene stops ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol from being oxidized by free radicals, preventing plaque buildup in arteries—the culprit behind cardiovascular disease.

Watermelon is also an incredible fruit for rehydrating because it contains many important electrolytes and it is approximately 92 percent water content.

Cayenne

Cayenne pepper is a potent circulatory booster known for increasing metabolic rate and blood circulation. It stimulates the circulatory system and encourages blood flow to the extremities and to the surface of the skin.

Cayenne is a warming agent, literally increasing body temperature when consumed. The blood vessels dilate when warmed, improving blood flow throughout the body, and decreasing blood pressure.

This hot pepper contains a compound called capsaicin which may reduce cholesterol levels and clear out arteries and blood vessels, improving blood flow to and from the heart and reducing the risk of heart attack.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain two key components in circulatory health: lycopene and magnesium.

Red tomatoes contain lycopene—that important red pigment which improves blood flow and prevents heart disease. Lycopene clears out accumulated toxins and other junk that are hanging around in the blood stream, threatening your health.

Tomato also contains the essential mineral magnesium which has been proven to reduce inflammation in the blood vessels, regulate blood pressure, and improve blood circulation.

Spinach

The health benefits of spinach are vast, improving function across all systems of the body, and eliminating toxins and free radicals throughout the bloodstream. It is no wonder that spinach can also improve function of the circulatory system.

Among the numerous vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which spinach supplies, it provides 23.7 milligrams of magnesium per cup, which is 6% of your RDI. Magnesium regulates the heartbeat and protects the heart from muscle stress. It lowers cholesterol and blood pressure—two main causes of heart attack.

Other heart-healthy nutrients that spinach provides include vitamin C, beta carotene, chlorophyll, folate, and potassium. It is also a rich source of vitamin A and vitamin K.

Simply adding a handful of spinach to your juicer every day can reduce the risk of developing an inflammatory disease, cancer, or a disease which may be accompanied by poor circulation.

Pumpkin seeds

Here’s a circulation boosting food that you don’t want to toss in your juicer – there’s nothing to really “juice” in pumpkin seeds – but make a wonderful addition to smoothies.

Pumpkin seeds are seriously rich in nutrients, such as Vitamin E, which is an important nutrient for healthy blood flow because it widens the blood vessels and keeps blood from clotting. It’s also a powerful antioxidant which neutralizes free radicals and maintains healthy blood and skin. These benefits of vitamin E improve blood flow throughout the whole body and decrease the risk of heart disease.

Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of vitamin E. In 100 grams of seeds, you get 237% of your daily recommended intake (DRI). Not to mention the heaps of other vital nutrients you get like magnesium, manganese, copper, protein, zinc and a whole lot more.

Hawthorne Berry

If you, like me, are a fan of super-nutritious smoothies that you pack with helpful supplements – here’s one ingredient you’ll want to add in for a boost in circulatory benefits: Hawthorne Berry.

You may or may not have heard of this magical berry, but in Europe, it is widely regarded as a medicinal plant and a safe treatment for heart disease. Hawthorn berries are proven to improve symptoms shared by heart disease and poor circulation including shortness of breath and fatigue.

Hawthorn has powerful antioxidant properties that prevent buildup of plaque in the blood vessels, allowing freer blood flow and increased oxygen delivery to the entire body. In one study, 60 patients who were given hawthorn for 3 weeks showed improved blood flow to the heart and were able to exercise for longer periods of time.

Hawthorn berry can reduce the risk of heart failure, atherosclerosis, and chest pain. It has been proven to regulate cholesterol and blood pressure levels, improving blood flow and increasing oxygen supply to the heart, hands, and feet.

How do you take it? You can find it in capsule form, of course, but my favorite thing to do with it is to add it in powder form to smoothies – if you regularly make and drink smoothies anyway, it makes for a quick, simple way to quickly get a dose of this good stuff.

The circulatory system is responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients to all the vital organs and tissues in the body. Poor blood circulation can result in dire consequences—it may even be an early sign of cardiovascular disease. To naturally improve circulation, include the foods mentioned above to your daily diet, cut back on foods high in sodium and cholesterol, and exercise regularly.

A little change goes a long way, so make these tiny changes, and you’ll live a long—and healthy—life!