People suffering from varicose veins should adhere to certain nutritional principles, which are aids to alleviate the condition of patients. You can learn more about what a diet for varicose veins is from our article.
The essence of the diet for varicose veins
The main essence of the diet for varicose veins is the adjustment of nutrition, which will allow you to return your weight to normal (which will reduce the load on the blood vessels) and reduce the thickness of the blood - one of the main risksof varicose veins. the veins.
It has been proven that with varicose veins the blood can thicken, which can lead to thrombosis. In addition, viscous blood is more difficult to pump, so the load on the heart also increases.
How to make blood thinner? This will be helped, first of all, by the diet, as well as by maintaining a drinking regime. According to statistics, most problems with blood vessels occur in those people who do not drink enough fluids. As a result, the body loses its fluid, the blood becomes viscous, and blood clots form in the capillaries and other vessels.
From this we can conclude that in order to replenish fluid losses and ensure normal metabolic processes, you should drink at least 2 liters of pure water every day - this is a natural and affordable medicine for reducing blood viscosity. It is allowed to replace water with herbal or green tea without sugar, or freshly squeezed juices from fruits or vegetables. The most preferred juices are grape, citrus, tomato or berry.
Alcoholic drinks, including beer, will have to be excluded, because they do not contribute to the saturation of the body with moisture.
Before you start creating a food menu for varicose veins, you should remember that the greatest benefits come from natural products that thin and renew the blood. Most foods containing preservatives, stabilizers, dyes and other chemicals contribute to blood thickening - they should be removed from the daily diet.
Patients with varicose veins are recommended to always have two lists of food products on hand - those that are allowed and those that are not recommended and can harm the body. We will talk about such products a little later.
In addition to affecting blood circulation, food should also help facilitate liver function. The fact is that the liver is responsible for many reactions and metabolic processes that occur in our tissues. In particular, this organ produces special compounds that prevent the increase in blood viscosity. It goes without saying that dietary deficiencies, bad habits, unfavorable environmental conditions, frequent and uncontrolled use of drugs have a negative effect on liver function. Hence the following conclusion: nutrition should be done in such a way as not to overload the liver, but to facilitate its work. That is, it is necessary to limit fatty, smoked, canned, heavy foods - all those products that require additional resources for processing.
To alleviate the manifestations of varicose veins and prevent the aggravation of the disease, it is recommended to review your attitude towards bad habits, pay attention to the medicines you take and evaluate the advisability of taking them (especially for hormonal medicines and diuretics). - all these factors greatly influence the increase in blood coagulability.
What substances are most necessary in the treatment of varicose veins?
- Vitamin E (tocopherol) ensures the elasticity of blood vessels. It can be found in sufficient quantities in sprouted grains, egg yolks and vegetable oils.
- Ascorbic acid thins the blood and eliminates inflammation in blood vessels. Berries, tomatoes, citrus fruits and kiwi are rich in vitamins.
- Rutin is considered an essential vitamin for healthy blood vessels. It can be found in citrus fruits (especially in the peel), black currants, walnuts and green tea.
- Bioflavonoids are useful substances that facilitate venous circulation. The substances are mainly found in dark varieties of cherries.
- Copper is required to produce a sufficient amount of elastin in the tissues, which serves to prevent the appearance of venous "knots". A lot of copper is found in seafood.
- Fiber forces the digestive system to work, preventing constipation - one of the factors that causes varicose veins. Fiber is found in plant foods, bran and whole grains.
- Water thins the blood, facilitating blood flow and reducing the load on the vascular walls.
Diet for varicose veins of the lower extremities
The lower limbs are probably the most susceptible to varicose veins. Basically, this can be explained by the increased load on the legs: a person walks a lot during the day, stands, sits cross-legged, etc. At the same time, the vessels experience a lot of pressure. This is especially noticeable if you are overweight or have unfavorable heredity (one of your relatives suffers from chronic varicose veins).
If your varicose veins are associated with a genetic predisposition, then you should focus all your efforts on maintaining normal permeability and vascular tone: do not overload the lower limbs, wear special underwear and socks, eat right and make a wayhealthy lifestyle, drink enough water. . It is good if your work activity does not involve prolonged stress on your feet.
If you are overweight, then the first task is to reduce it - preferably not by fasting, but by following a proper diet, with sufficient protein foods and limiting simple sugars.
You should not deny yourself seafood: sea fish, shrimps, algae, squid are rich in minerals, which our vessels really need. Thanks to seafood, blood vessels become elastic, their fragility and permeability decreases.
Also, food should provide the body with sufficient vitamins. Rutin (vitamin P) and ascorbic acid are particularly useful for the vascular system.
Such vitamins are found in large quantities in tea leaves, rose hips, citrus fruits, rowan berries, etc. By the way, for a healthy person, the daily rate of rutin is from 25 to 50 mg, and in case of vascular diseases, this amount increases to 150 mg per day.
Vitamins C and P tend to stimulate the production of collagen, which is considered one of the main components of the skin and vascular walls. If there is no deficiency of the listed vitamins, then the capillary walls are usually strong, elastic, stable and allow good blood flow. Normally functioning vessels mean the absence of pressure problems, swelling and varicose veins.
Changes in the diet, taking into account the enrichment of the diet with vitamins P and C, should begin already with the following symptoms:
- rapid fatigue in the legs;
- the appearance of bruises without cause and spider veins;
- pain in the joints of the lower extremities.
Diet for varicose veins and thrombophlebitis
With thrombophlebitis, as with any other disease, blood thinning measures are important. Nutrition is of no small importance: the food consumed must contain all the necessary substances to prevent blockage of veins with blood clots and the development of the inflammatory process.
Diet for thrombophlebitis includes the predominant consumption of plant foods. Dishes with pineapple, watermelon, melon, ginger, all kinds of onions, as well as cinnamon are especially welcome. It is not recommended to eat bananas, legumes, meat and soy products in large quantities.
It is important to reduce the percentage of foods rich in vitamin K in your daily diet, which improves the process of coagulation - blood clotting. This vitamin is present in all green plant foods - lettuce, parsley and cilantro, any type of cabbage. There is also a lot of vitamin in nuts, eggs, whole milk, meat, liver, fish. If you like to drink herbal teas, then you should exclude from the teas plants such as nettle, raspberry leaves, sturgeon and rose.
In addition, it is necessary to limit the consumption of fatty foods. The fact is that fat promotes better absorption of vitamin K, since it is fat-soluble.
What food should you take for varicose veins and thrombophlebitis? Give preference to vegetables, fruits, berries, dairy products and colored grains. You can cook pans, stews, steam, etc. Also, do not overeat and drink alcoholic beverages.
Diet for pelvic varicose veins
Pelvic varicose veins are a disease that occurs mainly in women. It is associated, in most cases, with pregnancy and childbirth, with a sedentary lifestyle and with the internal use of contraceptives. The disease especially often affects those who already have varicose veins of the extremities and hemorrhoids.
In addition to drug treatment, diet will help relieve the symptoms of pelvic veins. It represents a transition to a healthy diet rich in plant-based foods with fiber. Fiber is necessary, first of all, to prevent constipation, which worsens varicose veins, increasing the load on the vascular system of the abdominal cavity.
The body also needs protein foods, which help regenerate the vascular walls.
What you should give up first is alcohol, smoking, fatty foods and carbohydrates.
What recommendations can be given regarding the diet for varicose veins of the pelvis:
- If possible, eat a few pieces of pineapple every day;
- prepare this medicine: chop 200 g of peeled garlic, mix with 300 ml of honey. Leave it for a week. Take the finished mixture 1 tbsp. spoon before each meal;
- Sea cabbage is considered an excellent remedy for varicose veins. It should be consumed several times a day every day for 3 months;
- It is recommended to eat a handful of pine nuts every day;
- It is helpful to add some nutmeg powder to your food, as well as cinnamon and ginger.
All other recommendations correspond to the general rules of nutrition for varicose veins.
Diet for varicose veins of the esophagus
Varicose veins of the esophagus is a rather insidious disease, since for a long time the patient may not be aware of its existence. And only in an advanced state the disease makes itself felt.
The expansion of the esophageal veins requires a fairly strict diet, which reduces the load on the digestive system and facilitates the passage of food.
- The number of meals should be divided into 5-6 times, and the portions should be small.
- Food should be crushed and chewed well, or even better, cooked in a semi-liquid state so as not to damage the walls of the esophageal tube.
- The last meal of the day should be taken approximately 4 hours before bedtime.
- It is not recommended to sleep on a low pillow to avoid reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus.
- It is necessary to greatly limit (or even better to eliminate) the consumption of fatty, fried, smoked foods, canned foods, as well as dishes with hot spices and a lot of salt.
- Fasting days have a good effect: watermelon, melon fasting, as well as days with freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juices are especially welcome.
It is recommended to limit meat in the diet - it is replaced with prawns, lean fish and squid. You should also "forget" about aspic, canned food (both fish and meat), alcohol and rich juices. The consumption of black coffee is also limited.
All dishes are steamed, baked in the oven, boiled or baked. Experts advise paying more attention to plant-based and fermented milk products and cereals.
Diet menu for varicose veins
In order not to think about what to cook for yourself all day, without spoiling your diet, it is recommended to draw up a sample menu in advance. In the future, using the already compiled diet, it will be possible to change it, simply by replacing some products with other similar ones.
Let's give an example.
First day:
- We have oatmeal with raisins for breakfast.
- For a second breakfast, you can make a kiwi and orange smoothie with honey.
- For lunch - buckwheat soup and vegetable salad with Borodino bread.
- Snack - fruit yogurt.
- We have dinner with a piece of boiled fish and a side of seaweed salad.
Second day:
- For breakfast, prepare a portion of low-fat cottage cheese with fruit and honey.
- For the second breakfast, fruit jelly or foam is suitable.
- We have lunch with pumpkin porridge and baked eggplant with tomatoes.
- As a snack - carrot and apple salad with yogurt.
- Dinner: a portion of mashed potatoes with beetroot salad.
Third day:
- For breakfast: rice pudding with prunes.
- For the second breakfast, bake a pear with honey and walnuts.
- You can have lunch with onion soup and vegetable casserole.
- For a snack - a glass of tomato juice.
- For dinner – steamed chicken meatballs with vegetables.
Fourth day:
- We have steamed cheese with fruit for breakfast.
- For the second breakfast: a smoothie with yogurt and fruit.
- We have lunch with tomato soup and carrot cakes with sour cream.
- Have a light snack with a cup of vegetable salad.
- For dinner, you can boil chicken breast with mint sauce.
Day five:
- For breakfast: whole grain bread with peanut butter.
- Kefir with berries is suitable for the second breakfast.
- We have lunch with okroshka and stuffed tomatoes.
- Snack: freshly squeezed apple juice.
- We have dinner with a piece of steamed salmon with lemon sauce.
Day six:
- We have buckwheat pancakes and applesauce for breakfast.
- For the second breakfast - a handful of pine nuts or dried fruit.
- We have lunch with rice soup and a piece of fish casserole.
- Snack – apple with curd.
- We have dinner with a portion of vegetarian pilaf.
We make the seventh day a day of fasting.
Half a glass of low-fat kefir or yogurt without additives is allowed before bedtime.
Dietary recipes for varicose veins
- Smoothie with kiwi and orange– a healthy sweet and sour drink that is quite simple to prepare. All you need is a blender and ingredients: peeled orange, kiwi (if you want you can add tangerine or other fruits), a spoon. honey In summer it is also recommended to add some food ice cubes for freshness. Grind all the products in a blender and pour into cups or glasses.
- Baked eggplant with tomatoes- a healthy diet dish. Ingredients: two medium eggplants, 4 tomatoes, 2 or 3 cloves of garlic, vegetable oil, sour cream, spices. We start cooking: cut the washed eggplants into slices (about 5 mm), we do the same with the tomatoes. Peel the garlic and squeeze it with a press, or just chop it. Sprinkle the eggplant slices with spices and place them on a plate coated with vegetable oil. Bake in the oven until golden brown, turning once on the other side. Put the finished eggplants on a plate, put 0. 5-1 spoon in each circle. sour cream is mixed with garlic and a piece of tomato is placed on top of the sauce. Now in this form the dish can be served on the table. If you want, you can sprinkle them with grated cheese or sesame seeds.
- Rice pudding with prunes- a good substitute for the usual boring porridge. Necessary ingredients of the dish: 100 g of round rice, 600 ml of milk, sugar, 2 eggs, lemon peel, cinnamon. Cooking: add sugar (about 60 g, according to taste) and lemon peel to milk. Put it on the fire, let it boil and add the rice. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. After that, add the dry fruits cut into pieces and washed and put the rice in the oven at a temperature of +120 °C for about 40 minutes. Stir the rice several times during cooking. Remove the cooked rice and let it cool. Meanwhile, separate the yolks from the whites. Add the yolks to the rice and mix well. Add a few drops of lemon juice to the egg whites and beat until stiff, then carefully fold in the rest of the mixture. Put it in the oven for about another 15 minutes - this can be done directly in the pan, or distributed in separate molds. We serve the dish in them. When serving, sprinkle with cinnamon. You can also add honey or fruit sauce.
- Mint sauce- A delicious addition to chicken breast. Ingredients: red wine vinegar 75 ml, sugar 25 g, fresh mint leaves (about 10 g), a small onion (preferably the sweet variety). Mix the vinegar, sugar and salt on the tip of a knife. Chop the mint leaves and onion, add to the vinegar and refrigerate for a few hours (minimum 2-3 hours). Serve with meat.
- Peanut pasteit can be used for a quick and healthy breakfast, or for the preparation of various sauces and main dishes. We will need: 200 g of roasted and peeled peanuts (without salt and pepper), ½ tsp. salt, 40 ml of vegetable oil, 5 g of honey. Pour the nuts into a blender, add salt and honey and grind at maximum speed for about 1-2 minutes. Add the oil, mix and turn the blender back on for 2 minutes. The dough is ready, it can be stored in the refrigerator for 1, 5-2 months.
- Buckwheat pancakes– thin, suitable for any filling, or simply with sour cream. Ingredients: 1 cup of buckwheat flour, 1 cup of kefir, salt and sugar to taste, 1 cup of water, 2 eggs, vegetable oil. Beat the eggs, add the kefir, a little salt and sugar. Mix everything. Gradually add the buckwheat flour, stirring constantly. After that, add water little by little while stirring and checking the consistency of the dough. Fry thin pancakes in a small frying pan greased with vegetable oil.
Enjoy your meal!
If you have symptoms of such an unpleasant disease as varicose veins, then the right food and diet for varicose veins can prevent further aggravation of the disease. Moreover, if varicose veins have just started to develop, then changing your diet will help to avoid complications and negative consequences of the pathology.
What can you eat if you have varicose veins?
It is not difficult to choose products that can be useful for varicose veins. It is important to remember the main thing: the food consumed should be fortified, varied and should not contain large amounts of animal fats, unnatural additives (chemicals, preservatives), salt, simple sugars, hot spices andblood thickening substances.
Recommended for use:
- dishes with berries, fruits, vegetables (tomatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, citrus fruits, kiwi, pears, grapes, watermelons, eggplants, pumpkins, melons);
- nuts (except walnuts);
- berries that reduce the permeability of the vascular wall (cranberry, currant, cherry, bilberry, sea buckthorn);
- various cereals (in the form of porridges, side dishes, casseroles and soups - buckwheat, semolina, millet, rice);
- lean fish, seafood, seaweed;
- dried fruits (all kinds);
- tea, fermented milk products, cottage cheese, unsalted cheese;
- vegetable oils.
The proposed set of products will help maintain the normal tone of the blood vessels, control your weight and prevent fluid accumulation in the tissues. It is good if the diet is supplemented with drug treatment using creams and special medications prescribed by the doctor.
What should you not eat if you have varicose veins?
Proper nutrition for varicose veins includes limiting or eliminating the following foods:
- Sweets. These include baked goods made from white flour, cakes, sweets, jam, chocolate, condensed milk, sweets, ice cream.
- Hot spices: black pepper, chili, mustard, horseradish, as well as adjika, wasabi, etc.
- Carbonated drinks, alcohol, coffee, cocoa, store-bought juices.
- Salt and sugar.
- Fatty meat products: pork, lard, meat with layers of fat.
- Marinade, pickle.
- Canned fish and meat products.
- Rich juices, jellies, aspics.
- Bananas, pomegranates.
- Full-fat yogurt, cream, processed cheese, butter.
- Legumes: lentils, beans, peas.
- Nuts.
It is not recommended to overeat, especially at night. Fasting is also not encouraged. But fasting days, on the contrary, are beneficial. They can be organized once a week, using, for example, kefir, watermelon, buckwheat, tomato or apple juice.