The veins are one part of your body that you rarely think about. You know it is there and you already learned about its functions, but chances are that it does not cross your mind. This means that you may not even know how to care for your veins or that it needs caring at all. But for the important role the veins play in your body, they should be well taken care of.
The veins are a network of tubes that supply blood from all parts of the body back to the heart. Blood contains oxygen as well as nutrients, which are all essential to our survival. The veins, together with the arteries and the capillaries, make up the circulatory system. The only time people remember their veins are when something wrong happens, but you do not have to wait till then.
That is why today, we would be looking at some ways to take care of your veins.
Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated has a lot of benefits on your body, as it benefits your veins as well. Drinking lots of water makes the blood thinner, which improves blood flow. This means the blood gets to flow easily through your veins. But when you are regularly dehydrated, it could cause your blood to thicken, which puts a lot of pressure on your veins to do what they should normally do.
So do your veins a favour and make sure you are regularly hydrated all day long.
Eat Healthy
The food you eat also keeps your vein in top condition. Particularly, you should eat foods that are rich in fibre. This is because fibre improves the digestion process as it allows you to digest food better This also helps prevent indigestion and prevents pressure from building in your abdomen. Pressure in your abdomen can affect the flow of blood in your veins. Another reason why fibre is good is that it increases the levels of good cholesterol in your body, which has a healthy impact on your veins.
Other things you should eat more of include fruits and vegetables as they are endowed with lots of nutrients and minerals that keep your body, as well as your veins, healthy.
Exercise Regularly
Keeping your body in great shape is a good way to care for your veins. Exercise helps to keep your blood pumping, which takes helps to move blood from your legs up to your heart. The good thing is you do not have to visit the gym to do exercises that would help you. Taking evening runs, riding a bike, or doing push-ups and sit-ups at home is enough to get your blood pumping, moving the blood where it needs to be. There are many other simple exercises you can do everyday at home.
Another great thing about exercises is that they keep your weight in check. Being overweight has been observed to pose serious risks to your health as it affects your veins as well.
Quit Smoking
Smoking has a lot of harmful effects on the body, so it may not come as a surprise that it is bad for your veins. This is because the toxins in tobacco smoke thicken the blood, putting more pressure and strain on your veins. Varicose veins is a common disorder that affects the veins. It is caused by increased blood pressure in the veins.
Cut Down On Your Salt In Take
Sodium, which makes up salt, can pose a risk to your heart and your circulatory system as a whole when consumed in large quantities. When there is high sodium level in your body, it makes your body work harder, putting more strain on your veins. Things you can do include reducing the salt you add to your food, eating fresh foods, and avoiding canned foods. You can find out some healthy ways to reduce your salt intake.
Collins Nwokolo is a human physiologist, writer and health enthusiast. He loves writing helpful articles on health and fitness, which he enjoys sharing with everyone.
