Foods to Help Thin the Blood

There are many functions going on within your body that you are likely not even thinking about right now. Your organs are working as they should, your blood is flowing, your heart is pumping-these are all functions that we somehow take for granted. The truth is that when we consider the way in which our bodies work, we may not even give much thought to how things work or the manner in which they do. This is all important to our very well being, but not something that the untrained professional even has knowledge on.

You don’t necessarily stop to think about the way in which things work, unless of course you have some sort of a problem. When you have a health problem, then all bets are off and you want to get as involved as possible in the education of what’s going on within your body. One such area that many people tend to pay much attention to is the thinning of the blood. Though this isn’t always a bad thing, it is something to be mindful of and keep educated on.

What’s the Issue?

Most of the time, we look at thinning of the blood as a rather positive thing. When we try to thin the blood, we are working to avoid blood clots in a variety of different ways. Blood clots can cause the very organs that we depend upon to stop working properly. These clots can create a real danger and lead to many different health conditions. We want to be sure therefore that we work to keep the blood thin enough to move and circulate throughout the body in the manner which it was intended to.

On the flip side, you do want to be mindful however not to thin the blood too much. If you have been prescribed an anticoagulant, you are already using medication to ensure that blood clots do not develop. Any further measures to thin the blood may be dangerous and lead to other health problems. Therefore you want to be careful in your measures and know what you are doing.

What Foods Can Thin the Blood Naturally?

There are a list of foods that can actually help to thin the blood. You want to be sure that this is in your best interest, but if you are working to prevent blood clots then this can be an excellent measure. Here is the list of foods that can help to naturally thin out the blood:

Salicylates: The way in which these work is to help block Vitamin K, and that’s an important part of the process. These substances are found through aspirin or aspirin like substances, but they can naturally occur in some of the foods that we eat. Foods that happen to be high in salicylates include: curry and cayenne pepper, ginger, paprika, thyme, licorice, peppermint, dill, oregano, raisins, cherries, cranberries, tangerines, blueberries, and grapes.

Vitamin E: As you want to be sure that Vitamin K does not get absorbed into the system if you are working to avoid blood clots, this is an important nutrient to take in. Vitamin E works to almost counteract Vitamin K absorption and is therefore an important substance. There are many foods rich in Vitamin E, but be careful of those that are also high in Vitamin K such as spinach because these will create a counter effect.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Not only are these foods important at keeping your blood cholesterol levels in check, but they are also important when it comes to thinning out the blood. Sources of Omega-3 fatty acids include mackerel, salmon, anchovies, walnuts, and avocados.

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