Smoothies To Reduce The Appearance Of Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are more common than you'd think! Besides diet and exercise, here are five smooties to reduce the appearance of varicose veins.

The appearance of varicose veins in the legs is more than an aesthetic problem. Not only do they cause unwelcome blemishes on the skin, but they also indicate that the blood flow in the lower parts of the body is far from optimal. In turn, this means that blood isn’t returning to the heart as it should. Keep reading if you want to reduce the appearance of varicose veins with some simple smoothie recipes!

Before we really get into how to reduce the appearance of varicose veins, first we need to cover what they are. To start, this condition can occur due to an imbalance in the body’s normal inflammatory processes. Another common cause is because the valves that regulate the blood flow are weakened.

Although varicose veins don’t cause pain in their initial stages, they can cause heaviness in the legs, inflammation and other health complications further down the line.

Varicose veins are a very common issue. Researchers of the Edingbourgh Vein Study found that around 80% of their subjects presented some kind of varicose vein. Moreso, and in contrast with popular studies in the sixties and seventies,  slightly more men than women presented varicose veins!

Luckily, there is a whole host of natural methods and remedies that improve your body’s circulation, in fact, some foods even help reduce the symptoms and minimize the appearance of varicose veins. For example, grapes and strawberries help to rejuvenate blood vessels, while garlic lowers cholesterol levels and helps the circulatory system work better.

Here are 5 delicious and natural smoothies that you can use to complement other treatments for varicose veins. Enjoy!

1. Melon, Grape and Mint Smoothie

This delicious and refreshing shake is a great way to stimulate your body’s circulation and reduce the appearance of varicose veins given that it delivers a great injection of diuretic and anti-inflammatory compounds.  This diuretic effect will help your kidneys work better, thus, making it easier for your heart to work at its best. The antioxidants and fibers it contains also help to purify the body, eliminating toxic substances that can cause diseases.

Ingredients

• 1 slice of melon
• ½ cup of green grapes (75 g)
• 1 cup of water (250 ml)
• 4 mint leaves

How to Prepare

• Start by cutting the slice of melon into several cubes, and then place in the blender with the green grapes and the cup of water.
• Blend until you get a smooth mixture.
• Once blended, pour into a cup and garnish with the mint leaves.

How to Consume

• Drink the mixture while fresh at least 3 times a week.

2. Horseradish and Carrot Smoothie

The amazing antioxidant boost delivered by this horseradish and carrot smoothie help to cleanse your blood and eliminate the toxic waste that leads to problems with the circulatory system.

Because of this, the anti-inflammatory properties of this tasty smoothie facilitate the treatment of varicose veins and help reduce the sensations of pain and heaviness it causes in the legs.

Ingredients

• 2 horseradishes
• 3 carrots
• 1 cup of water (250 ml)

How to Prepare

• To begin, start by washing the vegetables well, meanwhile, make sure there is no dirt left behind.
• Then, cut them into pieces and place them in the jug of your blender.
• Add the cup of water, and process everything for a few minutes until it is well blended.

How to Consume

• Once it’s blended, take your smoothie on an empty stomach 2 or 3 times a week right after waking up.

3. Strawberry and Grape Smoothie

By combining the antioxidants provided by strawberries with the vitamins and minerals delivered by grapes, you get a drink that besides being delicious and satisfying – helps to improve your circulation and detoxify your bodies.

The ingredients of this smoothie help eliminate toxins from the blood. Moreso, it also prevents the formation of cholesterol plaques in the arteries. What could be better?

Ingredients

• 8 strawberries
• 10 grapes
• 1 cup of water (250 ml)
• 1 tablespoon of honey (25 g)

How to Prepare

• At first, you should thoroughly wash the strawberries and grapes, in order to get any leaves or stems that might remain attached to the fruit.
• Next, take the seeds out of the grapes. Although grape seeds are very beneficial, in smoothies they result in an odd texture and a sour aftertaste.
• Then, place them in the jug of your blender with a cup of water and a tablespoon of honey.
• Finally, process well until you get a smooth mixture – don’t hesitate to add ice if that’s your style!

In order to use the seeds, dry them and crush them. Even though you didn’t drink them, once crushed you can do a very effective grape seed scrub that will rejuvenate your skin.

How to Consume

• Drink this shake mid-morning every day for 2 weeks in a row.
• Next, take a week without the smoothie before resuming the habit.

4. Apple, Flaxseed and Garlic Smoothie

Super rich in antioxidants, dietary fiber, and fatty acids, this homemade shake is a natural remedy that’s a great ally for anyone looking to cleanse the blood and detoxify the body. Even though this one contains garlic, it still tastes delicius!

Garlic has been reported to have beneficial effects on the circulatory system due to its high antioxidant content and the ability to lower cholesterol levels.

Due to its unique ingredient combination, this smoothie provides vitamins, minerals, and amino acids helpful to your cardiovascular health. Because of this, once these are assimilated by the body,  these components help to reduce inflammation as well as lessen the appearance of varicose veins.

Ingredients

• 1 apple
• ½ a clove of garlic
• 1 tablespoon of flaxseed (10 g)
• 1 teaspoon of brewer’s yeast (5 g)
• ½ a cup of water (125 ml)

How to Prepare

• First, cut the apple into several pieces.
• Then, process it in the blender with the other ingredients.
• Once it’s well-blended, serve immediately.

How to Consume

• In order to reduce the appearance of varicose veins, drink this shake on an empty stomach 3 times a week.

5. Pear and Orange Smoothie

As well as being refreshing, delicious and aiding digestion, this pear and orange smoothie has some remarkable detoxifying and anti-inflammatory properties. Due to its high amount of vitamins and minerals, it will help to improve the circulation of your blood. Consequently, this is a great recipe for lowering your cholesterol levels and making your heart work better.

Ingredients

• 2 pears
• The juice of 5 oranges
• ½ a teaspoon of grated ginger (2 g)

How to Prepare

• To start, cut the pears into several pieces.
• Then, pulse them in the blender along with the juice of the 5 oranges and the grated ginger.
• Once it’s blended, serve straight away without straining.

How to Consume

• You should drink this smoothie on an empty stomach 3 or 4 times a week.

Other ways to reduce the appearance of varicose veins

• Be active! A healthy heart and circulatory system mean fewer chances of being affected by varicose veins. Get your body moving!
• Keep a healthy weight. It will help your heart work better.
• Lift your legs. It will help with blood flow and make it easier on your heart. Try to do it every night after work!