Nature Made Blog

If you’ve ever had your foot fall asleep, you know how aggravating those pins and needles can be. Turns out, there is more to circulation that just keeping your extremities awake. Circulation is the process of blood literally circulating through the body by way of the heart pumping it through veins and arteries. It is a little more complex than that, but it basically means that all your body parts are getting oxygen, which it needs to survive.

Circulation is important for a bevy of reasons, but the fact that your extremities can suffer as a result of poor circulation is enough of a reason to keep your circulation working strong. Here are a few ways you can maintain good circulation.

• Keep Your Hands Warm – Anyone who has ever made a snowball without gloves knows just how painful frozen fingers can be. Keep your hands warm with mittens or gloves, but don’t make them so toasty that you are sweating.

• Stretch – Stretching and staying limber are ways you can increase blood flow and avoid getting those pins and needles. Yoga is another great way to increase flexibility and help stamina.

• Ginkgo for It – Gingko Biloba is an herbal supplement that may increase peripheral circulation. That means that it can help improve blood flow to the limbs and brain, which may improve memory and mental alertness.

• Jasmine Tea – I personally love the smell of Jasmine—and the light floral flavor of Jasmine Tea, so this is one I wouldn’t mind getting more of—especially if it might help my circulation. This tea also offers a few other health benefits, including reducing cholesterol and relieving stress.

• Stop Smoking – Not that smoking has any sort of health benefit whatsoever, it is especially bad for your heart. One of the best things you can do for your heart right now is to put out the smokes.

• Get Spicy – Cayenne pepper, the stuff that makes so many chilis, curries and seasoning rubs light up, has been known to help in combating high blood pressure and other blood related issues. Talk to your doctor before using cayenne as anything other than a food spice though, as it can be a powerful ingredient.

• Get a Massage – Getting a massage can aide in circulation when done by a massage therapist. So when you’re asking for something for the holidays, put a session at a massage therapist on your list. Can’t go wrong there!

Blood circulation is something that can easily go overlooked, but by establishing good circulation now, it can help prevent coming into issues later in life, such as varicose veins or even heart disease.

What are some of the ways you maintain good circulation? Do you feel the tingle in your toes, or is there a spring in your step?