Healthy veins are key to overall cardiac health.
Veins carry deoxygenated blood from body organs and muscles back to the right atrium of the heart. When veins become blocked with plaque, fat, or other substances, they can’t function efficiently. This condition is known as Peripheral Arterial Disease, or PAD, and can become serious enough to cause a stroke or cardiac arrest.
Blood may pool in the lower extremities (usually the legs), which can cause painful, bulging varicose veins.
PAD can be avoided through regular exercise, following proper treatment for diabetes if you’ve been diagnosed, and eating foods known to contain vitamins for vein health.
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Vitamin C is Among the Best Vitamins for Vein Health
Vitamin C does a lot to promote vein health. Here are some of what it does for veins:
- Strengthens vein walls
- Has antioxidant qualities that protect membranes from free radicals that damage cells
- Helps veins heal from damage
- Reduces inflammation
- Helps produce the protein collagen
Vitamin C is in citrus fruits, berries, tomatoes, broccoli, and potatoes.
Fun fact: British sailors use to eat lemons and limes to prevent scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C that affects the body’s ability to heal. Some subjects in the far-flung empire found this amusing and called visiting sailors “limeys.”
2. Vitamin E is among the best Vitamins for Legs Circulation
Like Vitamin C, Vitamin E is an antioxidant that can help prevent and repair cell damage. It keeps platelets from sticking together, an important factor in preventing plaque buildup.
Vitamin E is also one of the poor circulation treatment vitamins that can improve overall vein health.
Moreover, it’s one of the best vitamins for legs. It’s key for boosting blood circulation, particularly in the legs. Physicians often prescribe Vitamin E for patients who complain of leg cramps that may be caused by narrow or hardened arteries.
Vitamin E can also reduce the size and appearance of spider veins.
Vitamin E has been added to fortify many cereals. It’s naturally found in spinach, almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and avocado.
3.The Vitamin B Group: Vitamins for Varicose Veins
Vitamin B is actually a group of eight essential vitamins. I’ve never been sure why they don’t warrant their own letters.
Taken together, this group of vitamins is particularly valuable for vein health. They strengthen blood vessels and might actually prevent the development of varicose veins in some people. Taking a vitamin B supplement might prevent varicose veins during and after pregnancy, or provide a boost to someone whose job requires a lot of standing.
Vitamin B is found in whole, unprocessed foods. It’s also in some meats like liver and turkey, and in potatoes, bananas, lentils, beans, and chili peppers.
4. Vitamin K is Another Vitamin for Varicose Veins
Actually, Vitamin K is a pretty solid vitamin for vein health, but it’s more popularly known as a vitamin to treat varicose veins. Rub Vitamin K cream it on veins to build up capillary health.
Vitamin K is also a strong anticoagulant; in fact, it is named for the German word. Blood clots are how the body heals itself from cuts. It also helps blood flow more smoothly in veins and reduce pressures inside them.
Vitamin K is found in broccoli, mustard greens, Swiss chard, and Brussel sprouts.
5. Vitamin D is Another Vitamin for Vein Health
As a vitamin for vein health, Vitamin D has an unusual contribution: it helps veins contract and relax.
This helps veins keep their elasticity and prevents them from stiffening, which would interfere with proper blood flow.
Vitamin D is found in dairy products and oily fish like salmon.
