Diet for varicose veins

People suffering from varicose veins must adhere to certain nutritional principles that serve as an aid to alleviating the patient's condition. You can learn more about what a diet for varicose veins is in our article.

The essence of the diet for varicose veins

The main content of the diet for varicose veins is the regulation of nutrition, which allows you to bring your weight back to normal (which reduces the load on blood vessels) and reduce blood thickness - one of the main dangers of varicose veins.

It has been proven that varicose veins can cause the blood to thicken, which can lead to thrombosis. In addition, viscous blood is more difficult to pump, which also increases the strain on the heart.

How can you thin blood? This is primarily supported by diet and adherence to a drinking regime. According to statistics, most vascular problems occur in people who do not drink enough fluids. This causes the body to lose its own fluid, the blood becomes viscous and blood clots form in the capillaries and other vessels.

From this we can conclude that to compensate for fluid losses and ensure normal metabolic processes, you should drink at least 2 liters of clean water every day - this is a natural, inexpensive means of 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 juices.

Alcoholic drinks, including beer, must be excluded, as they do not contribute to the saturation of the body with moisture.

Before you start drawing up a nutritional menu for varicose veins, you need to 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 must be eliminated from the daily diet.

Patients with varicose veins are recommended to always have two lists of foods at 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.

Food should not only influence blood circulation, but also help promote 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 components that prevent increased blood viscosity. Of course, malnutrition, bad habits, unfavorable environmental conditions and the frequent and uncontrolled use of medications have a negative impact on liver function. Hence the following conclusion: the diet should be designed in such a way that it does not overload the liver, but rather makes its work easier. That is, it is necessary to limit fatty, smoked, preserved and heavy foods - all those products that require additional resources for processing.

To alleviate the manifestations of varicose veins and prevent exacerbation of the disease, it is recommended to reconsider your attitude to bad habits, pay attention to the medications you take and consider the advisability of taking them (especially hormonal drugs and diuretics). - All of these factors have a great impact on increasing blood clotting.

Which substances are most important in the treatment of varicose veins?

• Vitamin E (tocopherol) ensures the elasticity of blood vessels. It is found in sufficient quantities in sprouted grains, egg yolks and vegetable oils.
• Ascorbic acid thins the blood and eliminates inflammation in the blood vessels. Berries, tomatoes, citrus fruits and kiwi are rich in vitamins.
• Rutin is considered an essential vitamin for healthy blood vessels. It is found in citrus fruits (especially the peel), black currants, nuts and green tea.
• Bioflavonoids are useful substances that facilitate venous blood circulation. The substances are mainly found in dark cherry varieties.
• Copper is needed to produce a sufficient amount of elastin in tissues, which serves to prevent the appearance of venous "nodules". A lot of copper is contained in seafood.
• Fiber forces the digestive system to work and prevents constipation - one of the factors that cause varicose veins. Fiber is found in plant foods, bran and grains.
• Water thins the blood, facilitates blood flow and reduces stress on the vessel walls.

Diet for varicose veins of the lower extremities

The lower extremities may be most susceptible to varicose veins. Basically, this can be explained by the increased load on the legs: people walk a lot during the day, stand, sit cross-legged, etc. At the same time, the vessels are under a lot of pressure. This is especially noticeable if you are overweight or have an unfavorable heredity (one of your relatives suffers from chronic varicose veins).

If your varicose veins are associated with a genetic predisposition, you should concentrate all efforts on maintaining normal vascular permeability and tone: do not overstrain your lower limbs, wear special underwear and stockings, eat right and lead a healthy lifestyle, drink enough water. It's good if your professional activity doesn't lead to prolonged strain on your legs.

If you are overweight, the first task is to reduce it - ideally not through fasting, but through a proper diet with enough protein foods and limiting simple sugars.

You shouldn't miss out on seafood: sea fish, shrimp, seaweed and squid are rich in minerals that our ships really need. Thanks to seafood, blood vessels become elastic, their fragility and permeability decrease.

In addition, the 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, the daily norm for a healthy person is 25 to 50 mg and for 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, the walls of the capillaries are usually strong, elastic, durable and allow good blood circulation. Normally functioning vessels mean the absence of pressure problems, swelling and varicose veins.

A change in diet, taking into account the enrichment of the diet with vitamins P and C, should be started with the following symptoms:

• rapid fatigue of the legs;
• the appearance of causeless bruises and spider veins;
• Pain in the joints of the lower extremities.

Diet for varicose veins and thrombophlebitis

In the case of thrombophlebitis, blood-thinning measures are more relevant than in any other disease. Nutrition is of no small importance: the food consumed must contain all the necessary substances to prevent blockage of the veins by blood clots and the development of the inflammatory process.

The diet for thrombophlebitis includes the predominant consumption of plant foods. Dishes with pineapple, watermelon, melon, ginger, all kinds of onions and cinnamon are particularly welcome. It is not recommended to eat bananas, legumes, meat products and soy in large quantities.

It is important to reduce the proportion of foods high in vitamin K in your daily diet as this promotes the coagulation process - blood clotting. This vitamin is found in all green plant foods - lettuce, parsley and cilantro, as well as any type of cabbage. There is also a lot of vitamin in walnuts, eggs, whole milk, meat, liver and fish. If you like drinking herbal teas, you should exclude plants such as nettle, raspberry leaves, linden and rosehip from the teas.

In addition, it is necessary to limit the consumption of fatty foods. The fact is that fat promotes better absorption of vitamin K because it is fat-soluble.

What foods should you take for varicose veins and thrombophlebitis? Give preference to colored vegetables, fruits, berries, dairy products and grains. You can prepare casseroles, stews, steams, etc. Also, do not eat too much or drink alcoholic beverages.

Diet for varicose veins in the pelvis

Pelvic varicose veins are a disease that predominantly occurs in women. In most cases, it is associated with pregnancy and childbirth, a sedentary lifestyle and 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 helps relieve pelvic vein symptoms. It represents a transition to a healthy diet rich in plant foods and fiber. Fiber is necessary, first of all, to prevent constipation, which aggravates varicose veins and increases the load on the vascular system of the abdominal cavity.

The body also needs protein-containing foods that contribute to the regeneration of the vascular walls.

What you should give up first are alcohol, smoking, fatty and carbohydrate foods.

What dietary recommendations can be given for pelvic varicose veins:

• If possible, eat a few pieces of pineapple every day;
• Prepare this medicine: Chop 200 g of peeled garlic and mix with 300 ml of honey. Take a week's vacation. Take 1 tbsp of the finished mixture. spoon before each meal;
• Sea kale is considered an excellent remedy for varicose veins. It should be taken several times a day for 3 months;
• It is recommended to eat a handful of pine nuts every day;
• It is useful to add some nutmeg powder as well as cinnamon and ginger to your food.

All other recommendations correspond to the general nutritional rules for varicose veins.

Diet for varicose veins of the esophagus

Varicose veins of the esophagus are a rather insidious disease, since the patient may not be aware of their existence for a long time. And the disease only becomes noticeable in the advanced stages.

Expansion of the veins of the esophagus requires a fairly strict diet that relieves the burden on the digestive system and facilitates the passage of food.

1. The number of meals should be divided into 5-6 times and portions should be small.
2. The food should be well crushed and chewed, or even better, cook the food in a semi-liquid state so as not to injure the walls of the esophagus.
3. The last meal of the day should be eaten about 4 hours before bedtime.
4. It is not recommended to sleep on a low pillow to avoid backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus.
5. It is necessary to sharply limit (or better yet eliminate) the consumption of fatty, fried, smoked foods, canned foods, as well as dishes with hot spices and a lot of salt.
6. Fasting days have a good effect: watermelon, melon fasting, as well as days with freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juices are particularly welcome.

It is advisable to limit meat in the diet - it is replaced with shrimp, lean fish and squid. You should also "forget" about aspic, canned food (both fish and meat), alcohol and rich broths. The consumption of black coffee is also limited.

All dishes are stewed, baked in the oven, boiled or baked. Experts recommend paying more attention to plant-based and fermented milk products and grains.

Diet menu for varicose veins

In order not to think about what to cook throughout the day without breaking your diet, it is recommended to prepare a sample menu in advance. In the future, it will be possible to change the already compiled diet by simply replacing some products with other similar ones.

Let's give an example.

The first day:

• For breakfast there is oatmeal with raisins.
• 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 portion of seaweed salad.

Second day:

• For breakfast, prepare a portion of low-fat cottage cheese with fruit and honey.
• Fruit jelly or mousse is suitable for the second breakfast.
• For lunch we eat pumpkin porridge and baked eggplant with tomatoes.
• As a snack - carrot and apple salad with yogurt.
• Dinner: a portion of mashed potatoes with beet salad.

Day three:

• For breakfast: rice pudding with plums.
• For second breakfast, bake a pear with honey and nuts.
• For lunch you can enjoy onion soup and vegetable casserole.
• As a snack – a glass of tomato juice.
• For dinner – steamed chicken meatballs with vegetables.

Day four:

• For breakfast there are steamed cheesecakes with fruit.
• For second breakfast: a smoothie made from yogurt and fruit.
• We have lunch with tomato soup and carrot cutlet with sour cream.
• Treat yourself to a snack with a cup of vegetable salad.
• For dinner you can cook chicken breasts with mint sauce.

Day five:

• For breakfast: whole wheat bread with peanut butter.
• Kefir with berries is suitable for second breakfast.
• We have lunch with okroshka and stuffed tomatoes.
• Snack: freshly squeezed apple juice.
• For dinner we serve a piece of steamed salmon with lemon sauce.

Day six:

• We have breakfast with buckwheat pancakes and applesauce.
• For second breakfast – a handful of pine nuts or dried fruits.
• We have lunch with rice soup and a piece of fish casserole.
• Snack – apple with cottage cheese.
• We have dinner with a portion of vegetarian pilaf.

We make the seventh day a day of fasting.

Before going to bed, half a glass of low-fat kefir or yogurt without additives is allowed.

Diet recipes for varicose veins

• Kiwi orange smoothie– a healthy sweet and sour drink that is very easy to prepare. All you need is a blender and ingredients: peeled orange, kiwi (if desired, you can also add tangerine or other fruits), a tsp. HoneyIn summer, we recommend adding a few ice cubes for freshness. Grind all products in a blender and pour into jars or jars.
• Eggplant baked with tomatoes- a healthy dietary dish. Ingredients: two medium-sized eggplants, 4 tomatoes, 2 or 3 cloves of garlic, vegetable oil, sour cream, spices. Let's start cooking: Cut the washed aubergines into slices (approx. 5 mm), do the same with the tomatoes. Peel the garlic and press it through a press or simply chop it. Sprinkle the eggplant slices a little with spices and place them on a tray greased with vegetable oil. Bake in the oven until golden brown, turning once to the other side. Place the finished eggplants on a plate and add 0. 5-1 tsp to each circle. Mix sour cream with garlic and place a piece of tomato on top of the sauce. The dish can already be served in this form. Sprinkle with grated cheese or sesame seeds if desired.
• Rice pudding with plums- a good replacement 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 (approx. 60 g, depending on taste) and lemon zest to the milk. Put on the fire, bring to a boil and add rice. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Then add the dried fruits cut into pieces and washed and put the rice in the oven at +120 °C for about 40 minutes. Stir the rice several times while cooking. Remove the cooked rice and let it cool. In the meantime, separate the egg yolks from the whites. Add the egg yolks to the rice and mix thoroughly. Add a few drops of lemon juice to the egg whites and beat until stiff, then carefully fold into the remaining mixture. Place in the oven for another 15 minutes or so - this can be done directly in the pan or distributed into special molds. We serve the dish in it. Sprinkle with cinnamon to serve. You can also top it with honey or fruit sauce.
• Mint sauce- A delicious addition to chicken breasts. Ingredients: red wine vinegar 75 ml, sugar 25 g, fresh mint leaves (approx. 10 g), a small onion (preferably the sweet version). Mix vinegar, sugar and salt on the tip of a knife. Grind the mint leaves and onions, add them to the vinegar and put them in the refrigerator for several hours (at least 2-3 hours). Serve with meat.
• Peanut pastecan be used for a quick and healthy breakfast or to prepare various sauces and main dishes. We need: 200 g roasted and peeled peanuts (without salt and pepper), ½ tsp. Salt, 40 ml vegetable oil, 5 g honey. Place the nuts in a blender, add salt and honey and grind at maximum speed for about 1-2 minutes. Add oil, mix and turn on the mixer again for 2 minutes. The paste is ready and can be stored in the refrigerator for 1. 5 to 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 eggs, add kefir, a little salt and sugar. Mix everything together. Gradually add buckwheat flour, stirring constantly. Then gradually add water, knead and check the consistency of the dough. Fry thin pancakes in a small pan greased with vegetable oil.

Bon appetit!

If you have symptoms of such an unpleasant disease as varicose veins, proper nutrition and diet for varicose veins can prevent further exacerbation of the disease. In addition, when varicose veins are just beginning to develop, changing your diet can help 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 most important thing: the foods consumed should be fortified and varied and do not contain large amounts of animal fats, unnatural additives (chemicals, preservatives), salt, simple sugars, hot spices and blood-thickening substances.

Recommended Use:

• berry, fruit and vegetable dishes (tomatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, citrus fruits, kiwi, pears, grapes, watermelon, eggplant, pumpkin, melon);
• nuts (except walnuts);
• Berries that reduce the permeability of the vascular wall (cranberries, currants, cherries, blueberries, sea buckthorn);
• various cereals (in the form of porridge, side dishes, casseroles and soups - buckwheat, oatmeal, millet, rice);
• lean fish, seafood, seaweed;
• dried fruits (all types);
• tea, fermented milk products, cottage cheese, unsalted cheese;
• vegetable oils.

The proposed set of products will help maintain normal vascular tone, control your weight and prevent the accumulation of fluid in the tissues. It is good if the diet is supplemented with drug treatment using special creams and medications prescribed by the doctor.

What should you not eat if you have varicose veins?

Proper nutrition for varicose veins includes limiting or avoiding the following foods:

• Sweets. These include baked goods made from white flour, sweets, cakes, jam, chocolate, condensed milk, cakes, ice cream.
• Hot spices: black pepper, chili, mustard, horseradish, as well as adjika, wasabi, etc.
• Carbonated drinks, alcohol, coffee, cocoa, purchased juices.
• salt and sugar.
• Fatty meat products: pork, lard, meat with layers of fat.
• Marinades, pickles.
• Canned fish and meat products.
• Rich broths, jellies, aspics.
• Bananas, pomegranates.
• Full-fat sour cream, heavy cream, processed cheese, butter.
• Legumes: lentils, beans, peas.
• Walnut.

It is not recommended to overeat, especially at night. Fasting is also not recommended. But fasting days, on the contrary, are useful. They can be prepared once a week, for example with kefir, watermelon, buckwheat, tomato juice or apples.