To strengthen blood vessels, doctors recommend including foods containing large amounts of vitamins P and K in your diet and diet.
Drugs from the category of venotonics work on a similar principle. Their main task is to restore the original tone of the blood vessels, and also to strengthen their walls, giving them elasticity.
Scientists have long established a compelling link between human nutrition and cognitive health.
In this article we will look at the 7 most useful products that will help strengthen the blood vessels of the brain and neck, improve blood circulation, increase memory and attention.
Why is it so important to watch your diet?
“Fragile” brain vessels are the main cause of strokes , in which rupture of the supplying vessels and hemorrhage occurs.
At the same time, some areas of the brain may not receive enough nutrients, which provokes paralysis, dysfunction of unconditioned reflexes, and in critical cases, death.
What causes this very “fragility” of blood vessels? Most often, this is natural wear and tear of the capillaries, which is complemented by non-compliance with a healthy diet and consumption of foods harmful to the brain, when huge amounts of cholesterol, lipids, sodium compounds and other toxins accumulate in the blood. Let's look at the most important products.
What will only harm
It is useful to know which foods improve cerebral circulation, but it is also recommended to study the list of harmful components for this process. First of all, it's alcohol. It should not be used at all.
Any quantity and strength negatively affects the health and functioning of the brain. Every holiday with alcohol leads to the death of millions of brain cells. This does not take into account the effects on other organs, such as the liver, kidneys, stomach, heart. In addition, you should exclude from the diet:
- Marinades and homemade preparations. They usually lead to high blood pressure due to the high content of salt and other preservatives.
- Fatty food. Leads to the formation of cholesterol and plaques that clog blood vessels. In addition, fatty foods slow down the functioning of all neurons in the brain, which negatively affects mental performance.
- Any products with a high content of “chemicals”. All unnatural dyes, sweeteners, and preservatives negatively affect the quality of blood.
In addition, you should avoid any type of fast food and processed meat.
Top 7 foods that are good for the blood vessels of the head
The following products will help normalize the condition of the blood vessels of the head, as well as prevent strokes and cleanse the body. They definitely need to be included in your daily diet. Here is a list of which ones are the best.
Nuts
They are rich in vitamin K, and also contain a large amount of vitamins that normalize the salt balance of the plasma.
If you include them in your diet and eat them daily, nuts will strengthen blood vessels and prevent demineralization of bone tissue.
Dried fruits
They are rich in fiber, and at the same time they contain a high amount of fructose (which is absorbed and broken down in the body much better than simple carbohydrates).
And prunes and dates are high in vitamin P. Dried apricots contain vitamin A, which restores the structure of the epithelium of the walls of blood vessels and also improves cerebral circulation.
Honey
It contains “rare” mineral trace elements that help cleanse the blood vessels of the brain, with the help of which the normal biochemical composition of the blood is restored and the removal of toxins from the plasma is accelerated. It is due to this that the condition of the blood vessels supplying the brain is normalized.
For more information about the effect of honey on the brain, see a separate article.
But you shouldn’t overuse honey – it contains a large amount of sugar, which in excess reduces the elasticity of capillaries.
Lemon
Lemon has a positive effect on the brain. Due to the presence of ascorbic acid and essential oils, lemon cleanses blood vessels, reducing cholesterol levels in the blood.
the likelihood of the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and blood clots , which clog the feeding vessels of the brain, significantly
You shouldn’t overuse lemon either, since the acid it contains irritates the gastric mucosa and also acts as a choleretic agent. It is quite possible to replace lemon with regular pharmacy ascorbic acid - the effect will be similar, but without side effects on the gastrointestinal tract.
Beet
Since ancient times, traditional healers have used beets to cleanse the blood of toxins and harmful cholesterol. And its inclusion in the diet has a positive effect on the functioning of the digestive tract: peristalsis and intestinal motility improve.
As practice has shown, metabolism directly affects the state of the cardiovascular system. At the same time, it is enough to include only 30–40 grams of beets in your diet to provide your body with a sufficient amount of fiber.
Unlike other brain-healthy fruits and vegetables, the fiber from beets is preserved when cooked.
Garlic
Thanks to the essential oils in its composition, garlic reduces the concentration of cholesterol in the blood
Garlic is also good for cognitive health, as it improves intercellular metabolic processes in the brain and neck, and also normalizes capillary tone.
Garlic is also one of the most effective “natural” antibiotics that kills pathogenic bacteria circulating along with the blood throughout the body.
Green tea
Green tea improves the tone of blood vessels in the brain, but practically does not increase blood pressure, so it can be used even for hypertension.
Green tea also dilates blood vessels, increasing blood flow.
It is also useful to include this tea in the menu for frequent migraines - it helps reduce the duration and severity of headache attacks.
Also pay attention to the infographic:
Now let's talk about traditional medicine.
Vitamins and minerals
Before identifying products to improve blood circulation in the brain, you need to understand exactly what substances and microelements help maintain it in a healthy state:
- Sulfur - helps fill cells with oxygen.
- Glucose provides the brain with energy.
- Phosphorus - helps the formation of neurons.
- Iron is responsible for both the formation of nerve cells and their interaction.
- Calcium - stimulates hematopoiesis.
- Lecithin - lowers the level of “bad” cholesterol in the blood, removes free radicals.
- Iodine - prevents excessive blood thickening and optimizes blood flow.
- Vitamins C, D, E - thin the blood, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, reduce the amount of cholesterol.
- B vitamins are natural antioxidants. In addition to strengthening blood vessels, these substances help improve memory and attention, as well as the speed of interaction between neurons.
- Fatty polyunsaturated acids Omega-3 and Omega-6. In sufficient quantities, they help the formation of new cells, strengthen neural connections and help improve metabolic processes in the cerebral cortex.
- Choline - participates in all chemical processes occurring in the brain.
The diet of a healthy person, both an adult and a child, should contain foods containing all of the listed substances.
Proven folk recipes
In folk medicine there are a lot of recipes with which you can restore normal vascular tone no worse than with the help of venotonics and similar medications. But before using any of them, you should definitely consult your doctor.
Garlic tincture
Garlic tincture will help not only strengthen the immune system, but also increase the resistance of the capillaries that permeate the brain to mechanical rupture. Prepare like this:
- pass 3 large heads of garlic through the garlic press;
- add 200 milliliters of strong alcohol (vodka or moonshine, but not alcohol);
- add 4 inflorescences of dried cloves ("culinary" is also suitable);
- leave in a dark place at room temperature for 7 days, shaking the container with the mixture daily.
Take 5 drops 3 times a day until the end of the prepared infusion, along with the usual diet menu . No more than 2 such courses are allowed annually (with a break of 6 months).
We suggest you watch this video:
Red clover remedy
Clover tincture is considered one of the most effective means for quickly reducing blood cholesterol with increased body fat mass (when lipid metabolism is impaired). Prepare as follows:
- thoroughly rinse 0.5 kg of fresh clover (stem and leaves only);
- pass the vegetable base through a meat grinder;
- put in a 2-liter glass jar and pour in 750 ml of vodka;
- leave for 3 days in the refrigerator without stirring;
- then strain through several layers of gauze.
Take 2 teaspoons once a day 10 minutes before your planned lunch (you can do it at another time, the main thing is to eat a hearty meal after that). The course of treatment is 1.5 months, then a break of 30 days and, if necessary, a repeat course.
Infusion of horse chestnut flowers
Chestnut infusion is a universal remedy for strengthening and normalizing the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Prepare as follows:
- Pour 30 grams of dried chestnut flowers with 0.5 liters of vodka or cognac;
- leave for 14 days at room temperature, shaking the mixture daily.
Take 8 drops 3 times a day (you can drop it on a piece of sugar, as the taste is quite bitter).
We recommend watching the video:
The finished tincture can also be used for rubbing joints - this perfectly relieves pain, inflammation and normalizes blood flow in the joint capsule.
Honey with lemon
A mixture of lemon and honey also strengthens the immune system, cleanses the liver of accumulated toxins, and also normalizes blood pressure, which will be useful for both hypo- and hypertensive patients. To prepare you will need:
- Pour boiling water over 1 kg of lemons (including peel), then cut into small pieces and pass through a meat grinder;
- add 0.5 kg of honey;
- add 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder.
Leave in the refrigerator for 2 days. Next, take 1 teaspoon 3 times a day (can be used as a dessert for tea). You just need to take into account that such a remedy can cause stomach pain due to irritation of the mucous membrane. To reduce the likelihood of such a side effect, you should increase the presence of fermented milk products (but not desserts) in your diet.
Other nutritional principles
Not only the diet itself is important for cerebrovascular accidents, but also the principles of proper food consumption. You need to eat often and in small portions. For the brain to work efficiently, you should not overload your stomach. This also applies to various batteries. If you combine different forms of protein, the processing and absorption time of the product increases.
It is important to prepare any product correctly. The ideal option is to steam or boil. If possible, it is better to eat raw vegetables and fruits. For better digestibility, salads must be seasoned with oil - olive or hemp. Any fried foods increase the content of negative cholesterol and accelerate the formation of blood clots in blood vessels.
Exercises to optimize blood circulation
In addition to food, you should pay attention to methods such as physical exercise and training the brain itself.
The set of exercises is as follows:
- Rotate your head in one direction or the other alternately.
- Tilt your head so that your ear touches your shoulder.
- Bend your head forward until your chin touches your chest.
By performing this complex daily, you can relax the neck muscles, improve blood supply to the head and reduce compression of blood vessels. You need to repeat all the exercises 10-15 times, if you have a sedentary job, then several times a day.
Breathing exercises also help. You can drink oxygen cocktails, and also buy a can of oxygen and take a couple of breaths a day.
Suitable for brain training:
- Daily game of chess.
- Memorizing poems will help develop the memorization process.
- Solving crossword puzzles.
- Do daily activities with your eyes closed.
- Try to start doing everything with your left hand.
Such mental gymnastics stimulates the work of all brain cells and prevents diseases of the nervous and vascular systems of the body.
What will help with blood circulation problems?
The most common result of persistent dysfunction in the circulatory system of the brain is a stroke. But after stopping the acute period with the help of nutrition, an adult may well recover. To do this, it is necessary to introduce into the patient’s daily diet:
- Orange and dark green vegetables.
- Legumes in any form. This could be peas, beans, especially green beans.
- Fruits in any form, including frozen and dried.
- Whole grain products. First of all, bread.
All products that improve blood circulation in the brain will have an additional effect and optimize the effect of prescribed medications and speed up recovery.
Any organ needs a full blood supply in order to function normally. Problems with blood vessels, cholesterol, increased blood clotting, as well as defective composition, lead to disruption of the functioning of entire systems. Brain function may also be impaired due to problems with the cardiovascular system or blood. This directly affects indicators such as performance, attention, memory, concentration and energy. In order to turn on your head, sometimes it is enough to change your daily menu.
The effect of food on brain activity
Dysfunction of cerebral vessels leads to inadequate delivery of nutrients and oxygen starvation of sensitive cells. Proper nutrition is directly related to the functionality of brain structures.
A balanced diet provides the body with essential nutrients and allows the brain to perform its functions more productively. Brain food products must contain proteins, fats and carbohydrates that provide:
- Improving memory and concentration;
- Stress resistance;
- Energy replenishment;
- Cell renewal.
Eating foods high in carotenoids is beneficial for the blood vessels of the brain - the elasticity of the vascular wall increases and the risk of blood clots decreases.
The cells of the central organ perform higher mental functions; without organic compounds supplied with food, cognitive activity is disrupted and the performance of the entire organism decreases.
Effect of organic compounds on brain structures:
- Proteins act as building materials for cells. During metabolism, an amino acid is released from the protein, which is necessary for transmitting impulses from the nerve fiber to the cells.
- Complex carbohydrates - participate in metabolic processes and also replenish expended energy.
- Fatty acids (omega 3, 6) – full-fledged brain function is not possible without the intake of fats. A lack of fatty acids leads to changes in cellular structure and inflammatory processes.
- Vitamins and minerals - participate in the synthesis of hormones and stimulate the development of cognitive abilities.
Eating food containing trans fats leads to atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels and the formation of plaques, which is dangerous by completely blocking blood flow.