Let it Flow

Your body depends on good circulation to nourish every cell with oxygen and nutrients. That includes the tips of your fingers, your toes, your head and everything in between.

 

Yet millions of Americans complain of poor circulation. They may have cold hands or feet, or feel the occasional tingling or slight numbness in their extremities. Other signs of poor circulation can include performance issues, slow recovery after activity, puffy feet or ankles, and muscle cramps. 

 

While more serious circulatory complaints are often linked to heart problems, diabetes and other acute health concerns,* many lesser circulatory issues may improve with diet and lifestyle changes. These include walking or other exercise, getting more antioxidants (especially circulation-friendly purples and blues) in the diet, and boosting nitric oxide levels. 

 

Nitric oxide is a molecule that the body produces naturally. It tells blood vessels to relax, which helps with blood pressure. Levels of nitric oxide decrease with age. In fact, by the time you’re in your 70s, you may have lost as much as 75% of the nitric oxide levels you enjoyed in your 20s. But the good news is, you can get some of it back! 

 

WHAT ABOUT BEETS? 

Certain foods contain beneficial nitrates that help activate or boost nitric oxide levels in the blood and thereby increase circulation throughout the body. Beets and beet root powders provide a wonderful source of dietary nitrates. Consuming beet products can naturally help blood vessels relax, which results in increased flow and reduced pressure.  

 

Did you know? A 2012 study in the British Journal of Nutrition found that beet root helped to improve both systolic and diastolic blood pressure numbers. ()