Poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, eating large amounts of food rich in carbohydrates and fats - all this gradually wears out the cardiovascular system of every person.
It is because of this that, closer to the age of 50, atherosclerosis and arterial hypertension develop - diseases in which the lumen of blood vessels narrows. And after a certain time, all this leads to heart attacks and strokes. And the worst thing is that these diseases are practically untreatable.
According to research, it is extremely important to follow specialized diets that help control blood pressure, thin the blood and prevent vasoconstriction of both the brain and the human body as a whole. What products best promote their expansion without causing harm?
Top 10 Vasodilator Foods
According to the recommendations of doctors and scientists, a list of the most useful products has been compiled that promote vasodilation, but without any consequences for the liver, kidneys, or gastrointestinal tract. They are recommended to be included in the diet of everyone without exception, not to mention those patients who have had a heart attack or stroke, for whom such products are mandatory. Let us also recall that in the last article we looked at the 15 best vasodilating drinks.
Garlic
Garlic contains allicin, as well as a complex of essential oils (they are conventionally grouped into the group of “phytoncides”), which smoothly reduce blood pressure by improving the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels.
Allicin, by the way, also reduces low-density cholesterol levels, so garlic can be used to prevent atherosclerosis.
Ginger
Ginger root also has vasodilating properties . It also contains allicin, but in smaller quantities.
Its key benefit is strengthening the immune system, normalizing the biochemical composition of the blood, as well as quickly removing toxins from the body that accumulate during infectious infection.
It is they who most often provoke the thinning of the walls of blood vessels, which, when they expand, can lead to rupture of capillaries and arteries (this is what is called a stroke). Ginger is also good for the heart and blood vessels.
Lemon
Lemon expands the lumens slightly, so it reduces blood pressure only in combination with, for example, green tea .
But the large amount of ascorbic acid found in lemon reduces the concentration of cholesterol and also reduces already formed atherosclerotic plaques. With regular consumption of lemon, the lumen of blood vessels increases naturally.
Honey
Honey contains a whole range of “rare” micronutrients, including zinc, copper, iron, aurum (gold), and fluorine compounds. Most of them are used in the hematopoietic function (to restore red blood cells and platelets, which reduces density and thins the blood).
Also, regular consumption of honey improves the elasticity of blood vessels - this is especially useful for varicose veins.
Kalina
Rich in phytoncides, ascorbic and other organic acids. Dilates arteries if consumed fresh . This reduces the pressure.
If you eat more than 50 grams at one time, your heart rate increases and your blood pressure increases. Therefore, viburnum should be consumed in small portions. Best with sugar or honey. Or you can mix it with raspberries - the bitterness almost completely disappears.
Cranberry
Cranberries contain a huge amount of antioxidants (derived from vitamin E), B vitamins, and anthocyanins.
Doctors indicate that its consumption increases the level of high-density cholesterol (“good” cholesterol).
It is also noted that cranberry normalizes the balance of prothrombin in the blood, which has a positive effect on the strength of capillaries and blood vessels in the brain. These berries must be included in the diet for arterial hypertension and heart failure.
Beet
Beetroot is also a vasodilating food product, but its effect is prolonged. That is, a noticeable effect will be only after regular use.
At the same time, it cleanses the intestines well of accumulated dense feces and toxins - this reduces the rate of development of atherosclerosis, and beets also have a positive effect on cholesterol levels.
Doctors also advise preparing kvass based on beets - it does not taste like the most exquisite dish, but for the cardiovascular system it is one of the best “folk” remedies.
Green tea
Green tea dilates blood vessels much better than regular black tea. It has a mild effect, reduces blood pressure, but can cause insomnia - it is better to drink in the morning or at lunch, but not later.
Can be combined with lemon or cranberry juice.
Horseradish
Its action is similar to garlic - it is the phytoncides and essential oils that give it its specific taste and smell. It also acts as an antibacterial agent, but if consumed excessively, it can cause dysbacteriosis (since not only harmful but also beneficial bacteria are destroyed).
The recommended daily intake is up to 30 grams. Horseradish improves the functioning of blood vessels by increasing their elasticity and acts as a simple spasm.
Strawberry
The composition contains a large amount of ascorbic acid and digestible fiber (which, like a sponge, accumulates moisture).
Nutritionists recommend adding strawberries to oatmeal for breakfast - this normalizes the sugar balance, reduces blood pressure, prevents the appearance of edema, but at the same time provides the body with a large portion of energy (since oatmeal contains easily digestible carbohydrates and fiber).
Just keep in mind that excessive consumption of strawberries can cause allergies (especially often in children).
What products can help?
What to include and what to exclude from your diet?
A properly composed menu will provide:
- normalization of blood supply processes;
- normalization of blood pressure indicators;
- restoration of cholesterol balance in the body (LDL to HDL ratio);
- will help eliminate the accompanying symptoms of hypertension;
- will ensure the restoration of normal well-being.
A nutritionist will help you choose the right products that dilate your arteries and thin your blood, but if you can’t consult a specialist, but you need to act immediately, you should consider the components of the table and create a menu based on them.
Nutrition as the basis of a healthy lifestyle.
| What foods dilate blood vessels? | ||
| Product | Action | Characteristic picture |
| Whole wheat bread | It is a source of coarse dietary fiber that cleanses the body of harmful toxins. Helps normalize cholesterol levels. |
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| Cereals | You should eat buckwheat, brown rice and oatmeal. Such cereals are good at clearing clogged arteries. |
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| Legumes | Legumes do not contain fatty acids, but these components are indispensable in the menu of hypertensive patients. They contain proteins, microelements, complex acids and iron. |
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| Asparagus | When considering foods that dilate blood vessels, one cannot fail to mention asparagus. The product will also help eliminate minor cholesterol deposits. |
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| Persimmon | Prevents the formation of cholesterol deposits in the arteries. In winter, fruit should definitely be included in your diet. It is the best natural antioxidant. |
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| Cayenne pepper (pictured) | Ensures normalization of blood flow in the body, prevents excessive accumulation of cholesterol on the vascular walls. It is important to consider that pepper completely loses its positive qualities as a result of heat treatment. |
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| Coconut milk | As a result of constant consumption of coconut oil, the patient’s blood pressure stabilizes and the blood vessels in the brain expand. Coconut milk provides replenishment of vitamin deficiencies in the body. |
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| Green tea | Provides a decrease in blood pressure and ensures the process of removing cholesterol from the body. Green tea is a natural antioxidant. |
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| Turmeric | Oriental spice is the best remedy for agnospasms. Helps in the fight against excess weight. |
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Having examined foods that dilate blood vessels, we can conclude that plant components should be introduced into food. It will not be possible to benefit from animal products.
Fact! The price of healthy food products is not high; for some reason, many patients think that such food is expensive.
Your body will thank you for following a healthy diet.
However, a complete rejection of animal products is extremely unjustified. The human body requires animal proteins and fats to support vital processes.
Therefore, you can eat such food, but with some restrictions: do not abuse it and choose gentle methods of heat treatment.
What should you exclude from your diet?
In case of atherosclerosis or arterial hypertension, the following foods that constrict blood vessels should be completely avoided (or their presence in the diet should be minimized):
- Butter and ghee. Although it is necessary for the normalization of brain function, it is one of the largest sources of bad cholesterol. It should be abandoned first of all, especially for people over 50 years of age with chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system. Don't forget that there is also oil that is beneficial for blood vessels.
- Pastries and sweets. In principle, you can add here all foods whose consumption leads to a sharp increase in blood sugar levels (above 8 mmol/l in a healthy person). Their main harm is damage to the walls of blood vessels, which reduces their resistance to stress and increases the likelihood of rupture. Sugar is also bad for the heart. All this also applies to chocolate. But it is worth remembering that cocoa in its pure form slightly dilates blood vessels, helping to combat their narrowing. Cocoa also cleanses the lumens of blood vessels from cholesterol. But all the beneficial properties of cocoa are offset by the sugar in chocolate. Therefore, you should give preference to dark chocolate.
- Fried potatoes. Not only does it increase the concentration of bad cholesterol, but it also contains free radicals (formed during the heat treatment of vegetable oils). Increases the likelihood of the formation of atherosclerotic plaques due to destabilization of lipid metabolism (when fat cells simply do not have time to break down).
- Fatty meats. This includes pork, duck, beef, various kinds of offal and liver (and even rich broths that are obtained from them). It also has a negative effect on lipid metabolism.
- Fat cheeses, yoghurts, sour cream. They are especially dangerous for vascular diseases of the lower extremities; they increase the risk of varicose veins.
- Coffee should also be drunk with caution. For more information about the effect of coffee on the lumen of blood vessels, see our separate material.
In total, there are a lot of products suitable for our purpose. However, they are not harmful in any way, so they should be included in the diet for hypertension, atherosclerosis or varicose veins. And most importantly, the diet should be varied, but with a preference for plant foods, without heat treatment. For a more detailed diet plan, you should seek help from nutritionists.
Hypertension is a cunning and dangerous disease. It may develop unexpectedly. And the lack of treatment is fraught with death. Hypertension must be controlled, treated and not allowed to develop.
The benefits and harms of green tea for the body
The beneficial properties of the drink in relation to blood vessels directly depend on the composition of the leaves of the plant.
It contains:
- flavonoids;
- vitamin P;
- zinc;
- vitamin C;
- organic acids;
- antioxidants.
The principle of preparing green tea does not imply long-term processing of plant materials at high temperatures . Therefore, already in its finished form, all the beneficial properties of the plant are preserved unchanged, and after brewing tea with hot water they appear more intensely.
For blood vessels, green tea will have the following benefits:
- strengthens the walls, increases their elasticity;
- improves blood circulation;
- will ensure a complete supply of blood vessels with oxygen;
- will have a tonic effect;
- will prevent the formation of cholesterol and atherosclerotic plaques;
- will help thin the blood;
- will get rid of small blood clots and prevent the formation of new ones;
- adjusts blood pressure;
- will lower blood sugar levels.
The uniqueness of green tea is that it contains elements that have both beneficial and harmful effects on human health . For example, theophylline and theobromine increase vascular tone and relieve low blood pressure. But these same substances have a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, which can lead to neuroses, irritability and other disorders.
Therefore, green tea is contraindicated for:
- elevated body temperature - green tea will make it even higher, but black tea will have the opposite effect;
- liver diseases - the drink contains substances that “force” this organ to function in an enhanced mode;
- tendency to fractures, increased bone fragility;
- arthritis, rheumatism, gout;
- stomach ulcer – with regular consumption of the drink, the acidity of gastric juice increases, which leads to a protracted course of the disease and problematic healing of existing ulcers;
- iron deficiency in the body, anemia - caffeine, which is part of tea, prevents iron from being absorbed.
Gynecologists do not recommend drinking the drink for pregnant women - it destroys folic acid, which is necessary for the proper formation and development of the fetus.
Despite the fact that the drink has a beneficial effect on the condition of blood vessels, if you have existing diseases of the cardiovascular system, you must obtain permission to introduce green tea into your diet from your doctor.
We recommend reading about tinctures for the heart. You will learn about how the tincture will help the heart, blood vessels and nerves, about cocktails and mixtures of five ingredients, as well as about drinks to strengthen the heart and contraindications to tinctures. And here is more information about dried apricots for the heart.
What is hypertension?
For people with high blood pressure, a blood pressure monitor and medications should always be at hand. However, in addition to drug treatment, there are non-traditional methods of influencing hypertension. Folk remedies, food, special gymnastics - all this can be a help in the fight against high blood pressure.
High blood pressure occurs for various reasons
There are many reasons for vasoconstriction and high blood pressure. These include congenital anomalies and physiological stress.
The modern rhythm of life suggests:
- Constant fatigue syndrome;
- Nervous tension;
- Psycho-emotional overload;
- Constant stress;
- Limited mobility;
- Excessive stress: mental and physical;
- Developing bad habits;
- Lack of oxygen in the body;
- Dietary disorders: overeating, fasting, use of fast foods, lack of vitamins, limited diet.
All this leads to the appearance of “bad” cholesterol in the blood, the formation of blood clots and narrowing of blood vessels.
Alas, at this stage of development of medicine and pharmaceuticals there is still no unique treatment regimen that could completely get rid of the disease. However, there are some remedies and methods available that can keep your blood pressure at the required level.
Folk remedies for vasodilation
The beneficial properties of herbs can also be used to dilate blood vessels.
Traditional medicine, based on the healing properties of plants, has dozens of ways to dilate blood vessels at home:
- Garlic oil. This remedy is one of the most effective and versatile. The head of garlic should be mashed into a paste or finely chopped and placed in a glass jar, filled with a glass of unrefined vegetable oil. Leave the product in the refrigerator for at least a day. Then you need to drink one teaspoon of oil mixed with the same amount of lemon juice three times a day before meals. The duration of the course must be at least three months.
- Hawthorn. This remedy strengthens blood vessels and relieves their spasm. 20 grams of hawthorn fruits need to be poured with 200 grams of boiling water and boiled for 5 minutes. Then the product is filtered and stored in the refrigerator, taking one tablespoon before meals. A similar composition can be prepared from hawthorn flowers, but take 1 tablespoon per glass of water. The duration of the course is 3 months.
- Valerian. This plant is known for its calming properties, but it also relieves spasms and relaxes vascular muscles. To do this, you need to boil 10 grams of dry valerian roots in 200 grams of boiling water in a water bath for 30 minutes. Then the broth should be infused for another 2 hours, well wrapped. Afterwards, strain and store in the refrigerator. It is recommended to take the product one tablespoon 3-4 times a day.
- It is also useful to drink herbal infusions, using motherwort, yarrow, dried grass, mistletoe, and fireweed.
- Hazel. Dry hazel bark and leaves are crushed. 20 grams of raw materials are poured with a glass of boiling water and left for an hour, well wrapped. The finished infusion should be taken one tablespoon 3-4 times a day.
- To cleanse blood vessels from toxins and plaques, other plants are used - birch buds, chamomile flowers, yarrow, St. John's wort, immortelle. The ingredients are mixed in equal proportions, 100 grams each, then a tablespoon of the mixture is poured with two glasses of boiling water and left for half an hour. You need to take the infusion twice daily: in the morning, on an empty stomach, and in the evening. The course continues until the prepared mixture is finished. This course can be conducted once every 2-3 years.
These are the most common and well-proven home vasodilation methods. They can be used simultaneously with therapeutic drug methods, but you should consult your doctor before doing so. He will be able to determine whether this remedy will harm in a particular case and whether it will conflict with the therapy he has prescribed.
Vasodilator products for pressure
Among all the known foods, vegetables and fruits, spices and seafood, there are a number of “special purposes”. Eating these foods daily can improve your health by normalizing your blood pressure.
There are TOP 10 natural products used by humans as food that are able to normalize blood pressure and keep it within certain limits. They have the ability to dilate blood vessels and prevent surges in blood pressure.
Vasodilator foods of the first order:
- Raw almonds;
- Cayenne red pepper;
- Coconut milk;
- Cocoa beans;
- Turmeric;
- Garlic;
- Green tea;
- Pomegranate;
- Spinach;
- Beans.
- Almond
Diet planning during pregnancy
Pregnant women often suffer from high blood pressure. This is due to some changes in the body of the expectant mother.
During pregnancy, women complain of blood pressure problems
Hormonal changes and excess fluid affect blood pressure levels, and pregnant women should not use conventional medications to treat and control blood pressure.
Pregnant women should monitor their health by monitoring their blood pressure. This allows you to make a properly selected diet of foods that promote vasodilation. At the same time, the products should not cause side effects, for example, increased gas formation.
For women suffering from hypertension, the diet must include the following products:
- Vegetables and fruits (except melons);
- Berries;
- Greenery;
- Dairy and fermented milk products;
- Porridge;
- Peeled, unroasted nuts;
- Low-fat varieties of fish and meat;
- Stale bread.
It is necessary to limit the consumption of fatty, fried and smoked foods. And you should give up coffee, strong black tea, soda, and baked goods.
A glass of beet juice or cranberry juice will have a preventive effect and protect against high blood pressure.
During pregnancy, you need first of all those foods that have a high content of folic acid, potassium and fiber.
Nutrition for vasodilation
Cleaning vessels with bay leaves
Proper nutrition is one of the main factors for those who want to know how to dilate blood vessels at home. Without strict adherence to a number of rules, success will not be achieved. The following recommendations must be followed:
- First of all, you need to reduce the amount of animal fats in your diet. You will have to give up butter, pork and lamb, sausages, fatty cheeses, and so on. Fermented milk products should have a minimum amount of fat. You shouldn’t give up meat completely, but preference should be given to chicken, turkey, and lean veal.
- Fish should be included in your daily diet. Fish oil not only does not cause the formation of “bad” cholesterol, which forms plaques, but also reduces its amount in the blood and “cleanses” the circulatory system. Fish can be boiled, baked, stewed, marinated. It is not advisable to fry it or use it in the form of canned food or preserves.
- Fresh fruits, vegetables, leafy salads and greens should be in the daily diet, regardless of the time of year. It is believed that you need to eat at least 5 servings per day, each approximately 200 grams.
- It is best to exclude alcohol from the diet. It does dilate the blood vessels, but its effect is short-lived, after which they can narrow even more.
It is allowed to use cognac as a vasodilator, but only in exceptional cases, for example, with severe stress or hypothermia, and no more than 40-50 milligrams.
Following these simple tips will help reduce the rate of vascular overgrowth. But besides this, it will be useful to use numerous folk recipes for dilating blood vessels at home.
Products for vasodilation of the lower extremities
In case of vascular diseases of the lower extremities, it is imperative to maintain a cholesterol-free diet. Atherosclerosis of the blood vessels in the legs often develops against the background of elevated cholesterol levels in the blood, often high blood pressure and narrowing of blood vessels.
For diseases of the lower end vessels, some products are prohibited
There is a list of products that are prohibited for consumption in cases of diagnosing vascular diseases of the lower extremities:
- Butter and all animal fats;
- Fatty meat of animals and birds;
- Rich broths;
- Giblets and liver;
- Fried potatoes and chips;
- Fatty cheeses;
- High fat dairy products;
- Pastries and sweets.
Why does vasoconstriction occur?
To dilate the blood vessels of the brain, it is necessary to first determine what factors cause the spasm and narrowing of the vascular bed. It is by eliminating the cause of the disease that treatment must begin. Factors that provoke narrowing of arteries, capillaries, veins:
- Diet leading to obesity: consumption of fatty foods, baked goods, trans fats.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Sedentary work.
- Low physical activity or, conversely, too high.
- Excess weight.
- Nervous stress: stressful situations, nervous tension at work, emotional fatigue.
- Bad habits: smoking, excessive drinking, drug taking.
Has a person followed a special diet and a healthy lifestyle all his life? It has a chance to delay pathological vasoconstriction. But even absolutely healthy people cannot escape old age; after 70 years, capillaries, veins, and arteries lose elasticity, become thinner, become fragile, and break easily.
There are many reasons for vasoconstriction - from congenital pathologies and predisposition, to lifestyle and stress of the modern rhythm:
- excessive mental and physical stress;
- constant fatigue syndrome due to work overload;
- stressful situations and constant nervous tension;
- physical inactivity – low mobility, “sedentary” work;
- oxygen starvation due to insufficient exposure to fresh air;
- bad habits;
- unhealthy diet – fast food, an abundance of spicy, salty, fried foods, lack of vegetables and fruits in the diet.
All these reasons, especially poor nutrition, inevitably lead to the formation of “bad” cholesterol in the blood, which provokes the formation of plaques that clog blood vessels and contribute to the formation of blood clots. Vessels lose their elasticity, become fragile and brittle.
Is it possible to drink alcohol for this purpose?
Any drink that contains ethyl alcohol has vasodilating properties - this is an axiom.
But can alcohol be used to treat atherosclerosis and high blood pressure (hypertension)? In no case, since ethyl alcohol also increases the frequency of contractions of the heart muscle, which ultimately increases the pressure and wear of the walls of capillaries, arteries, and veins. How do different alcoholic drinks work?
- Beer. When consuming only 100 - 250 milliliters, blood pressure drops (mainly due to the diuretic effect). But if you drink more, your blood pressure increases significantly, as does the overall load on the cardiovascular system. Another negative effect is a sharp increase in blood sugar levels. In case of diabetes mellitus, beer is strictly contraindicated for consumption.
- Wine. Acts in a similar way to beer. That is, when consuming only 30 - 70 milliliters, the vascular lumens of the head expand, and the pressure drops. Further (if you drink more) it increases sharply. This drink will be useful only in small quantities and if consumed not regularly. In this regard, it is better to consult a doctor, since it is necessary to take into account the individual physiology of the patient. And preference should be given to dry red wines (with low alcohol and sugar content).
- Cognac. It acts exactly like wine (it is made from so-called “wine” alcohol). But due to its strength, it almost immediately increases the heart rate and pressure on the walls of blood vessels. Therefore, it is better to avoid this drink (especially if you have liver failure).
- Vodka. Even a small amount of it increases the pressure abruptly. And although drinking vodka reduces the level of bad cholesterol, it also destroys liver cells, the gastric mucosa, and slows down the regeneration of nerve cells. A safe dose of vodka is about 15 – 20 milliliters, no more.
Overall, alcoholic beverages should not be used for this purpose. Perhaps wine, but this should definitely be discussed with your doctor and adhere to the dosage recommended by him.
Mechanisms of vasoconstriction
Any vessel is a hollow organ that consists of several layers. The outer layer provides its mechanical contraction and expansion. With its help, the body regulates body temperature, dilating blood vessels when overheated and constricting when cooling. But if this mechanism fails, chronic long-term vasospasm may develop.
One of the reasons for the disruption of the mechanism of constriction and dilation of blood vessels is age. The older a person is, the less elastic his blood vessels are.
But there is another mechanism for vasoconstriction - the growth of plaques on its inner surface. Cholesterol and atherosclerotic plaques are deposited on it, which narrows the lumen of the vessel.
In some cases, vasoconstriction may be caused by several reasons, for example, an increase in cholesterol plaques and loss of elasticity of the walls of blood vessels.
In such cases, it is necessary to follow a set of measures that will help slow down the process of plaque growth, as well as loss of elasticity.
Drug vasodilation
Today, the choice of drugs for vasodilation is quite wide.
Today there are many medications that can dilate blood vessels. Some of them are used urgently if it is necessary to relieve a spasm, while others are suitable for permanent use, but provide a long-term effect. The most commonly used are the following:
- Nitroglycerine. This simple and affordable drug should be in the first aid kit of every “heart” patient, and people prone to angina attacks should have it with them at all times. It must be used for attacks of angina pectoris - pain in the heart due to physical or mental stress. One nitroglycerin tablet quickly relieves spasm and pain. But this drug is not effective for many diseases and conditions, such as heart attack and stroke.
- Spasmalgon. Another short-acting drug. It cannot be taken on an ongoing basis, but if you need to relieve an attack of headache caused by vasoconstriction, then Spazmalgon is the optimal remedy.
- Papaverine. An effective remedy against vasospasm, but it should only be taken under the guidance of a doctor.
- Calcium channel blockers. This is one of the most common means of combating hypertension. Drugs in this group block receptors that are responsible for vasoconstriction, making the drug effective for the treatment of arterial hypertension.
- Ginko Biloba. Preparations based on this plant are used to combat age-related changes in blood vessels, as well as improve cerebral circulation.
This is only a part of the drugs to eliminate vascular spasms.
To combat the narrowing of blood vessels due to the deposition of cholesterol and atherosclerotic plaques, other drugs are used. There are many commercial forms and names, which the doctor must select in accordance with the diagnostic results.
Reasons for the development of pathology
If we do not take into account various infectious and hereditary diseases, then first of all the cause of impaired conductivity of blood vessels is created by the person himself:
- Heavy physical activity;
- Emotional instability, which manifests itself in anxiety, aggression, nervousness. Stressful situations.
- Frequent overwork;
- Lack of oxygen.
- Sedentary lifestyle. With low human activity, stagnant processes form in the body.
- Harmful, unhealthy diet. Fatty foods, carcinogens, overeating. As a result, obesity can develop, which is one of the main causes of atherosclerosis.
- Bad habits. Alcohol and smoking abuse leads to hormonal imbalance in the body.
Many reasons contribute to the formation of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels, which reduces permeability, making them inelastic.
Symptoms of atherosclerosis
It is not so difficult to suspect cerebral vascular stenosis even at home, since the disease manifests itself in a rather specific way. The main symptoms of impaired blood circulation in the brain area are:
- constant headache, worse in the evening;
- dizziness, loss of coordination;
- noise and buzzing in the ears;
- increased fatigue and drowsiness;
- memory problems.
- frequent attacks of headache;
- dizziness, tinnitus, fainting;
- confusion;
- memory impairment;
- increased fatigue and decreased performance;
- deterioration of vision and hearing.
It is very difficult not to notice such symptoms, as they significantly affect the quality of life.
In addition to medications, the first thing you should do is change your diet. After all, it is the products that can help us cope with blockage of blood vessels and influence the restoration of their elasticity and patency.
Food can and should be used to cleanse blood vessels, and not only peripheral ones, but also cerebral vessels.
What foods are good for vascular diseases? Food products that strengthen, dilate and are used to clean blood vessels are very diverse.
The effect of green tea on blood vessels
European scientists have been researching the properties of green tea for a long time. They noted that the catechins contained in this tea can gently reduce blood pressure by dilating blood vessels in the brain. By drinking three cups of green tea per day, hypertensive patients can get rid of headaches and tinnitus. Regular consumption of tea leads to normalization of blood pressure.
Scientists from China refute this opinion, believing that caffeine and tannin contained in tea cannot influence the reduction of blood pressure. Caffeine has two effects on the body. It is endowed with the ability to constrict the blood vessels of the brain, dilating the blood vessels of the muscles, and the vessels of the gastrointestinal tract are narrowed. In this situation, it is very difficult to determine whether green tea can effectively lower blood pressure. Moreover, caffeine has an stimulating effect, stimulating the heart and causing it to pump more blood.
Does green tea dilate or constrict blood vessels? A lot also depends on the amount of green tea you drink. If a healthy person drinks three to four cups of this drink a day, he is unlikely to notice that his blood pressure has changed, or that his blood vessels have dilated or narrowed. For a hypertensive or hypotensive person, the same dose of tea will be noticeable, since they react to the slightest change in their condition more sharply than completely healthy people.
Green tea is actively used as a prophylactic agent to cleanse blood vessels and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. To reduce the effects of caffeine on the body, tea should be brewed according to a special recipe.
Green tea for vascular problems
6 grams of green loose leaf tea must be rinsed with boiled water. Pour 200 ml of boiling water over the tea and leave to steep for 10 minutes. This green tea contains a small amount of caffeine and should be consumed three times a day after meals.
During this period, it is necessary to reduce fluid intake to 1 liter so as not to overload the cardiovascular system.
We treat blood vessels with herbs
In parallel with the organization of proper nutrition for hypertension and atherosclerosis, available folk remedies are used to cleanse and dilate the blood vessels of the brain. All of them are easy to prepare at home, create a favorable background for basic drug treatment and can be an excellent prevention of an impending disease.
At home, you can dilate blood vessels with the help of medicines made from herbs or other natural ingredients.
Garlic-based medicines
How to brew and drink correctly
In order for green tea to benefit blood vessels, it must be prepared according to certain rules:
- The standard dose for preparing 1 glass of drink is a teaspoon, regardless of whether the leaf is large or small. It is believed that 200 - 250 ml of hot water is enough for this amount.
- You should absolutely not brew the drink with boiling water - all the beneficial substances will simply “evaporate”. The optimal water temperature is 80 - 90 degrees.
- The brewing time depends on what specific purpose the person is pursuing. If you need to increase blood pressure and tone blood vessels, feel a quick surge of strength, then after one and a half minutes of brewing the drink can be consumed. This time is enough for caffeine’s abilities to fully “unfold.” But to lower blood pressure and dilate blood vessels in the brain, you need to drink green tea brewed for 3 to 5 minutes.
- High-quality plant materials make the drink taste bitter, so it can be improved. To do this, you do not need to use sugar - it destroys some elements in green tea, reducing the benefits of the drink. It can be replaced with 1 teaspoon of honey, a ring of lemon, rosehip or hawthorn syrup.
- You can drink no more than 500 ml of green tea per day, but you must simultaneously drink at least one and a half liters of water. The drink has a diuretic effect, so you need to replenish fluid loss in the body.
- When choosing green tea, you should pay attention to natural high-mountain raw materials. At the very least, you should completely abandon the packaged drink - there is no benefit, but it can harm your health.
Green tea should be consumed with great caution by those who already have problems with the heart, vascular system and diabetes. It is advisable to consult your doctor and follow all his recommendations. For example, with hypertension occurring simultaneously with gastritis, you can drink only lightly brewed green tea without lemon and syrups, but with honey.
We recommend reading about tea for blood pressure. You will learn whether tea affects blood pressure, which one to choose for high or low blood pressure. And here is more information about the hearty herbal collection.
A green tea drink has a beneficial effect on a person’s overall health, has an active effect on blood vessels and is capable of stabilizing blood pressure when consumed correctly. You just need to learn how to prepare it correctly and follow the daily dosage. And the benefits will be undoubted.
