A Diet Lacking in Nutrition Can Negatively Affect Vein Health

A Diet Lacking in Nutrition Can Negatively Affect Vein Health

You may already be well aware that your diet effects your vein health, and that people who are obese or who are generally inactive are at an increased risk for developing varicose veins and other related conditions.

In addition to your weight and activity level, the specific foods and drinks that you are putting into your body on a daily basis can also take their toll as well. And while an unhealthy or unbalanced diet in itself likely won’t cause varicose veins to form, it can work together with other factors to both heighten your symptoms and cause current varicose veins to grow larger and more difficult to remove.

The average human adult body contains about 5 liters of blood, though this amount is constantly changing throughout each day based on what foods we eat and a variety of certain other factors. In addition to blood, there is a delicate balance of water and minerals in the body which must be maintained in proper concentrations in order for the body to function correctly. If even one small element is thrown out of balance, it can have detrimental effects on many of the body’s other systems as well.

When you eat an excess of foods high in sodium, your body’s natural response is to retain more water in order to maintain a healthy ratio of minerals within that water. When the body retains more water, then the volume of blood in the body also increases. This increased blood volume then increases the pressure that the blood is placing on the veins and valves, weakening them over time and causing their appearance to become more prominent under the skin – thus varicose veins develop. For someone who has maintained a poor, high-sodium diet for many years, the constant and continual water retention can make it very likely that they will develop varicose veins at some point later in life.

It’s also extremely important to avoid sugar and simple carbohydrates, as carbs break down in the body in a very similar fashion as sugar. Sugar and simple carbs cause your body to release insulin, which in turn inhibits your body’s ability to excrete sodium, resulting in even more water retention. A diet which is both high in sodium and high in sugar can, over time, prove to be a dangerous combination.

On the other hand, there are a couple of foods that you can seek out to help alleviate symptoms and prevent the formation of future varicose veins. Potassium is an excellent combatant to varicose veins, as it causes cells to release water which has been previously retained, allowing the excess water to leave the body in the form of urine. In addition, you should also maintain a diet high in fiber, which can aid in the body’s bowel processes and prevent any unnecessary exertion or pressure on the lower extremities.

While recommended, maintaining a proper diet alone can not completely prevent the future occurrence of varicose veins. One must also stay active, exercise frequently, and maintain a healthy weight, in addition to avoiding cigarettes, restrictive clothing, and injury. And while monitoring all of these ares of your life can be difficult, it is certainly not impossible, and is of extreme importance. To learn more how your diet is effecting your vein health, as well as to learn more about varicose vein treatment and prevention, contact Dr. Mark Zuzga, D.O. at West Florida Vein Center today. 727-712-3233.