Every fourth woman and every tenth man is faced with a feeling of heaviness in his legs, swelling, a burning sensation and expansion of the calf veins. All these are symptoms of developing venous insufficiency, a serious disease that is dangerous for its complications. What should be the diet and nutrition for varicose veins in order to avoid severe consequences?
A bit about the disease
Veins, vessels carrying blood to the heart muscle are equipped with special valves that allow fluid to be transported in all directions, including vertically upward. After the ejection of blood, they, like a small gate, firmly close their doors, preventing the blood flow from rushing down again. But, being in a state of spasm, the valves become insolvent, and part of the blood freely penetrates back, expanding the veins and creating heaviness in the lower extremities.
The onset of the disease is evidenced by spider veins on the legs, since the first small vessels under the skin begin to suffer, noticeable tubercles and, finally, pain and swelling that cause suffering to a person. Diet for varicose veins of the lower extremities is not able to completely eliminate the problem, but in combination with wearing compression clothes, daily exercise for the feet and foot baths can significantly improve the condition, removing the risk of complications. The most serious of these are phlebitis (inflammation of the veins), the formation of ulcers on the skin and the appearance of blood clots - blood clots, a deadly disease.
The main causes of the disease
Genetic predisposition is one of the main causes of varicose veins. Women are more susceptible to it. This is facilitated by improperly selected hormonal contraception and pregnancy. With it, pressure is created on the pelvic organs, in which varicose veins can also develop. A sedentary lifestyle, a long time in a static vertical position, excess weight create increased pressure on the veins of the legs, provoking the disease.
At risk are elderly people with constipation, workers lifting heavy loads, as well as people with chronic diseases, associated with frequent sneezing and prolonged coughing. A person with a predisposition is already shown a diet for varicose veins in order to minimize the risk of developing the disease.
What should be excluded from the diet
Based on the known causes of the disease, products should be excluded from use:
- contributing to thickening of the blood;
- causing weakening of intestinal motility and leading to constipation;
- affecting weight gain;
- leading to thinning of the walls of the veins.
The list of undesirable dishes includes fatty meats and fish and strong rich broths from them, smoked meats and canned food, spicy, sweet and salty foods, alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee and whole milk. The diet for varicose veins requires the rejection of the use of products from premium flour, jelly, stew and marinades. Food from a series of semi-finished products, fast food and other fast food, products with dyes, GMOs and everything containing the encoding “E” should be categorically excluded from the menu.
Calorie restriction
Overweight people need to control calorie expenditure, remembering that a decrease in body weight of even 10% can lead to a significant improvement. To spend more calories than taken with food, you must:
- reduce the diet;
- consume low-calorie foods ;
- increase feasible physical activity.
A calorie reduction of 900 kcal per day can lead to weight loss of 500 g per week. It is impossible to starve and leave the body without the necessary vitamins and minerals. This will lead to a decrease in hormone levels, a slowdown in metabolism, and destruction of muscle tissue. The diet for varicose veins on the legs requires five meals a day, which eliminates snacks using flour products and sugary drinks, drinking water (up to 2 liters) a day between meals and a variety of multivitamins and fiber-rich menus.
The Importance of Vitamin C
Vitamin C provides the synthesis of elastin and collagen, necessary for a good state of veins, and also improves blood circulation. Its effect is enhanced by interaction with vitamin E. Deficiency of foods saturated with these vitamins leads to an exacerbation of the disease of the lower extremities. The diet for varicose veins should include fruits such as avocados, in which, in addition to the necessary elixir of life, glutathione is present, a substance that protects the cardiovascular system.
A large amount of vitamin C is found in bell pepper, Brussels sprouts, dill, celery. Vegetables are best consumed with vegetable oil. The leader in the content of vitamin C is rosehip, a decoction of which you can drink before breakfast, which will contribute to a good metabolism. Oranges and lemons, strawberries and raspberries are desirable on the dining table of each person at risk for the disease.
Fiber
A feature of fiber is the lack of nutritional value while it is of great importance to the digestive system. Conventionally, it can be divided into two types: soluble and insoluble. The difference is that the first, when combined with water, turns into a gel-like mass, and the second is not subject to any changes when passing through the digestive tract. Soluble fiber is indispensable in the fight against constipation, as it changes the consistency of feces. The diet for varicose veins should include fiber-rich foods.
The best representatives of soluble fiber are beans, apples, pears, flax seeds, oats and carrots. The role of insoluble fiber (greens, nuts, seeds and husks of grains) cannot be underestimated. It, like a sponge, absorbs and retains toxins, removing them from the body, helping to cleanse the intestines.
The need for bioflavonoids
Substances produced by plants that promote the absorption of vitamin C are often called vitamin C2. These are bioflavonoids, of which rutin, quercetin, hesperidin and catechin are well studied. They are able to strengthen the walls of the capillaries, prevent bleeding, improve blood circulation in the heart muscle, perfectly relax both blood vessels and digestive ducts. Unique substances leave the body with urine and then, without oversaturated it. Eating foods rich in flavonoids is part of the comprehensive treatment of varicose veins.
The diet includes citrus fruits, buckwheat, apple skins, which contain the necessary routine and hesperidin. Onions, green tea, dark grapes, red wine and St. John's wort contain quercetin, a powerful antioxidant that can neutralize intestinal toxins. Green tea, along with apples, grapes and berries, also includes catechin, which strengthens the walls of the blood vessels of capillaries.
Important products for the prevention of varicose veins
Of the berries, one of the best foods is blueberries. Being a source of vitamins C and E, it additionally includes collagen and anthocyanidin, which helps restore proteins that form the walls of blood vessels. In addition, blueberries are a supplier of soluble and insoluble fiber, which makes it indispensable on the menu. As a seasoning for various dishes, a diet for varicose veins should include rosemary, which improves blood circulation. It contains ursolic acid, which can strengthen capillaries.
With damage to the veins, the body can not cope with the dissolution of fibrin. This makes them painful and dense. There is a plant that can help the vessels, improving their circulation - this is ginger. It is called a superfood for its healing properties. In terms of environmental friendliness, asparagus stands out, which protects the vessels from ruptures. It is undeservedly not among the most consumed products, which is unfair. The more popular beets reduce the level of homocysteine in the blood, which can damage the walls of blood vessels.
Diet for varicose veins and thrombophlebitis
In the case of a severe form of the disease and the occurrence of a complication in the form of thrombophlebitis, nutrition must be treated with special care, observing its regimen and eliminating undesirable foods. A sample menu might look like this:
| Day i | Day II | Day III |
| Breakfast | Oatmeal on water with raisins, figs or prunes. | Low-fat cottage cheese with honey, berries or fruits. | Rice pudding with prunes or dried apricots. |
| Lunch | Smoothie: kiwi and orange with honey. | Fruit Mousse. | Baked pear. |
| Dinner | Vegetable salad, white meat chicken soup, Borodino bread. | Meat okroshka on whey or kefir using low-fat veal, baked eggplant, grain bread. | Onion soup, vegetable casserole, rye crackers. |
| High tea | Salad of carrots and apples with yogurt. | Green tea with dried apricots or nuts. | Vegetable juice (beets, tomatoes, carrots, pumpkin). |
| Dinner | Seaweed salad, a portion of river fish, yesterday’s wheat bread pastries. | Beetroot salad, liver goulash, buckwheat porridge, Borodino bread. | Chicken meatballs or stuffed peppers with chicken, mashed potatoes, Borodino bread. |
The diet for varicose veins of the legs should include a plentiful drink in between meals: water with lemon, honey, rosehip, mineral, plain filtered and always at room temperature.