TGIVF!!
We started out our spring Vinegar Fridays with a guest post by Jeriann Watkins Ireland. She's joining us again this month to discuss how apple cider vinegar can help with conditions like varicose veins.
It’s almost summer, and
that means it’s time for shorts, skirts, and other skin-exposing clothing. If
you’ve got skin conditions like eczema, warts, spider veins, or varicose
veins, sometimes wearing warm-weather clothing seems daunting.
I’ve always had pretty
visible veins, especially when I’m cold. Sometimes, I don’t even feel cold and
I look down and my hands are purple. My dad had the same issue and I’ve never
given it much thought -- just chalked it up to bad circulation.
One major concern when it
comes to circulation is veins, particularly varicose veins. Varicose veins are blue, twisted veins that can be seen
through the skin. These veins have damaged valves that result in them holding
more blood at higher pressure than normal. This can cause leg pain, swollen
ankles, aching, cramping, itching, restless legs, and even venous ulcers. For
some people, varicose veins are simply an aesthetic inconvenience, making warm
weather attire less appealing. Others suffer severe pain due to the venous
insufficiencies that cause varicose veins.
Luckily, venous
insufficiency doesn’t have to be permanent. Below I’m going to talk about the
different causes of venous insufficiency and how Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) can
combat the root cause of varicose veins in each situation.
Pregnancy
When you’re pregnant, the
presence of the fetus puts pressure on the uterus. This can cause blood flow
issues in the surrounding veins. Hormonal changes also weaken the vein walls
and cause valves to stop functioning properly. This causes blood that’s supposed to
circulate back to the heart to get stuck in pools, usually in the legs.
Luckily, our good friend
ACV boosts the body’s ability to produce hormones and balance levels of
estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Apple Cider Vinegar also offers other
benefits to pregnant bodies, such as helping with indigestion and encouraging
balanced levels of bacteria in the microbiome of both the mother and the
developing baby. Drinking a shot of ACV in the mornings can help regulate
hormones and digestive function throughout the day.
Obesity
Being overweight can cause
increased blood pressure, which can damage valve function and prevent blood
from moving up toward the heart. Regular ACV consumption is known to help with
both weight loss and blood pressure management. It helps with weight loss by
balancing bacteria and flushing fats out of the body. It helps with blood
pressure by getting rid of bad cholesterol.
Of course, like any weight
loss strategy (or health strategy in general), consistency is important. 2 TBSP
a day of ACV is recommended in order to see results. Adding ACV to salad dressings is a
great way to eat healthy and manage blood pressure and weight at the same time.
You can also make a warm tonic each morning with ACV, local honey, and lemon
juice. You can also add water to this mixture to dilute the strong flavors. Without water, it’s more of a “shot. With water, it can be a morning beverage to sip on. Drinking warm lemon water
in the mornings is recommended as a
detoxifying method, so mixing it with ACV helps boost those effects.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
If you’ve ever had blood
clots or other vein conditions, you’re much more likely to experience varicose
veins. Luckily, we already know ACV helps blood flow, so combining it with
other ingredients that aid circulation can help prevent blood clots. Try
putting some turmeric or cayenne pepper in your daily shot of ACV. These are
both natural blood thinners. Turmeric is also an anti-inflammatory, so if
you’re already experiencing pain due to venous insufficiency, it can help calm
things down.
Lack of Movement/Prolonged
Crossed Legs
ACV won’t help you move
more, but I like to combine my wellness strategies through awareness. If I’m
sitting at my home office with my legs up on my yoga ball (which is horrible
for circulation), and my legs start to go numb, I use the moment to do
something healthy. This might be as simple as stretching and drinking a glass
of water. If I haven’t had any ACV yet, I might take a moment to mix up a shot
with honey, turmeric, ginger, or other healthy ingredients, based on what my
health focus is that day. So while I go up the stairs or wait for water to heat
up, I make sure to move as much as possible. This helps combat the negative
effects on my body from sitting all day.
Do you have issues with
varicose or spider veins? Have you found other strategies to manage or prevent
them? Share in the comments!
