The health of your circulatory system is essential for maintaining life itself. Blood flow brings oxygen to every cell in your body, and any issues with it mean less nourishment where it’s needed. Unfortunately, blood flow naturally decreases with age, and the condition can be complicated by a variety of health problems. If you want to stay as healthy as possible long after turning 50, you should take proactive steps that will help keep your circulatory system healthy and strong.
4 Tips on How to Keep Circulatory System Healthy
1. Get into interval training
Interval training, especially HIIT (high-intensity interval training) is a proven leader among fat-burning exercises. And it claims that title exactly because it gets your heart pumping and blood flowing like nothing else. Less intense interval training is safe for seniors and according to an article in The New York Times, it can literally reverse some of the age-related muscle degeneration.
The study cited in the article compared the effects of many exercise types on seniors. While all of them showed some positive results, interval training was the one to produce the greatest effects down to the muscle genes.
2. Eat some superfoods
Some superfoods are better than others if you want to keep circulatory system healthy. The best among them are goji berries, blueberries, and maca powder. Note that you can not only add these products to your daily meals, You can also use them as supplements to get some additional benefits. For example, maca powder is often included in male sexual enhancement pills. Blueberry extract is a common ingredient in dietary supplements for eye health.
Superfoods high in antioxidants are most beneficial for improving your blood flow, but those high in fiber are also very important for maintaining the health of your circulatory system. That’s why consuming lots of berries and fresh fruits and veggies is good for you in general.
The not-super but still great foods that promote circulatory system health are watermelon and citrus fruits.
3. Cut down on sugar
There are some things you need to stop doing in order to keep circulatory system healthy. Consuming a lot of sugar is one of the most important among them. It’s a fact proven by studies that reducing sugar intake lowers blood pressure. High blood pressure is one of the most dangerous symptoms of circulatory problems and a risk factor for stroke and cardiovascular disease.
Bear in mind that cutting down on sugars doesn’t mean giving up on all sweets. Natural sweetness of fruits is no sign of danger. Instead you should exclude artificially sweetened products, especially beverages. Don’t forget that a can of Coke (0.33) contains as much as 7 teaspoons of sugar. Juices, sauces, seasonings, and even canned soups often aren’t much better. Nearly all processed products have a way too high sugar content, so you should avoid them as much as possible.
4. Get a massage
One of the most pleasant ways to keep circulatory system healthy is getting regular massages. This procedure improves blood flow in a very gentle but effective manner, that’s why it’s usually included in physiotherapy.
For seniors suffering from some health conditions that restrict their ability to exercise, massages are essential for keeping their blood flow at a healthy level. Note that you might be able to boost the benefits of a massage by adding some essential oils. Citrus and peppermint are very good in enhancing blood flow. It will be best to use coconut or almond oil as a base for this treatment.
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