Blood Thinning Products: Diet, Menu

Blood is one of the main biological fluids in the human body; human health depends on its composition, viscosity and consistency. Today, more and more often you can hear that the blood is too thick, that is, its viscosity is increased.

Proper balanced nutrition will help to normalize the condition of the blood. What to eat with thick blood? What to do if the blood is thick? You will find answers to these questions in our article.

Causes of thick blood. The danger of blood clotting and its consequences

The condition is the result of an anomaly in the clotting process. The reasons for its viscosity can be:

1. deficiency of the vitamin-mineral complex;

2. fermentopathy;

3. drugs of coagulative properties;

4. high slagging;

5. smoking;

6. alcohol consumption;

7. dehydration;

8. elevated cholesterol levels;

9. hypoxia.

Thick blood can impede the movement of oxygen, hormones, and nutrients in the body, preventing them from reaching tissues and cells.

Effects:

Deep vein thromboses (DVTs), which can be characterized as cramps and pain in the legs.

DVTs usually form in the large veins of the legs, but can occur in other parts of the body such as the thighs, arms, abdomen, or pelvis.

Symptoms of DVTs include:

• swelling, redness;

• gradual onset of pain;

• pain in the legs when the foot is flexed or the leg is sprained;

• leg cramps;

• skin discoloration.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) - when part of the DVT separates or embolizes from its point of origin and travels back to the heart and lungs. If this piece of clot makes its way to the heart and lungs and accumulates, it can prevent sufficient blood flow and interfere with gas exchange in the lungs.

Symptoms of PE include:

• shortness of breath and rapid breathing;

• cardiopalmus;

• pain with deep breaths;

• coughing up blood;

• chest pain.

Other possible and often serious complications of blood clots are:

1. A stroke is when a blood clot travels to the brain and blocks an artery that sends oxygenated blood to the brain.

2. Heart attack due to a blood clot in a coronary artery.

3. Acute injury to the kidneys, resulting from a blockage or blood clot in one or both of the kidney veins that move blood away from the kidneys.

How to understand that the blood is thick. Who is at risk

The problem with a person with thick blood is that it often has no symptoms other than the formation of blood clots.

How to determine thrombosis by external signs?

Swelling of the leg, pain, usually of a moderate nature, slight cyanosis of the limb does not frighten patients, and sometimes they do not even consider it necessary to see a doctor.

In this case, a thrombus, without any warning, can break away from the vein wall in a few seconds, turn into an embolus - a thrombus that migrates through the vessels, and cause severe pulmonary embolism with an unpredictable outcome.

Fortunately, not every venous thrombosis is complicated by thromboembolism, although their number is very large.

However, in addition to blood clots, the following symptoms may be added:

• blurred vision;

• dizziness;

• headache;

• easy bruising;

• excessive menstrual bleeding or blood clotting;

• high blood pressure;

• lack of energy;

• dyspnea;

• anemia.

Who is at risk?

1. pregnant

   A frequent occurrence during pregnancy is venous thromboembolic complications during pregnancy.

   The fact is that the woman's body itself prepares in advance for childbirth, and therefore for blood loss. Already from the early stages of pregnancy, the blood coagulation system is activated.

   The inferior vena cava and iliac veins are compressed by the growing uterus. Therefore, the risk of thrombosis increases.

2. Women taking hormonal contraceptives

   Acute venous thrombosis may complicate the use of hormonal contraceptives.

   These drugs, as it were, deceive the woman's body, "convincing" him that pregnancy has already begun, and hemostasis, of course, reacts by activating the coagulation system.

   Although pharmacologists are trying to reduce the content of hormones, primarily estrogens, in these drugs, the incidence of venous thrombosis (and therefore the possibility of pulmonary embolism) in women taking hormonal contraceptives is at least 3-4 times higher than in those taking who does not accept them.

3. smoking women

   Since under the influence of nicotine thromboxane is released - a powerful blood clotting factor. Actively contributes to thrombosis and overweight.

4. Venous thrombosis is a common complication of neoplasms, both malignant and benign.

   In patients with tumors, as a rule, increased blood clotting. This is apparently due to the fact that the patient's body prepares in advance for the future decay of a growing tumor. Often, venous thrombosis acts as the first clinical sign of a cancerous process that has begun.

5. Travelers

   Even a long flight in a cramped airplane seat, with legs bent at the knees, with forced inactivity, can provoke vein thrombosis, the so-called "economy class syndrome".

6. Elderly people

   Physical inactivity, accompanying a sedentary lifestyle, provokes blood stasis - one of the main risk factors for the disease.

1. Atherosclerosis

   Atherosclerotic plaques cause arteries to narrow. The blood flow becomes difficult, and favorable conditions arise for the formation of thrombosis.

2. People who have a tendency to form blood clots are thrombophilias.

   It can be genetic, associated with gene damage, and can be inherited. And in some cases, it can be due to an imbalance in the coagulation and anticoagulation systems.

For good movement through the vessels, the blood must be sufficiently fluid.

A coagulogram is a laboratory test that evaluates how efficiently hemostasis works.

It is also important to control it during pregnancy and when taking certain drugs, including oral contraceptives and hormone replacement contraception in menopause. Against their background, a coagulogram should be done regularly.

If the blood has poor clotting, then a clot forms slowly. This is especially dangerous if you are planning surgery, because in this situation the risk of bleeding increases.

By the way, many confuse increased blood clotting and its density. It's not the same thing.

Blood clotting can be from dehydration or from certain diseases when an excess amount of blood cells are produced.

But the risk of blood clots can be realized without blood clotting, if there is a tendency to this - changes in coagulation factors or some genetic features.

A coagulogram will give a complete picture of the state of your hemostasis. It includes the main indicators by which the therapist will be able to assess how well the coagulation and anticoagulation systems of the blood work.

It includes the following tests:

1. Fibrinogen is a protein found in blood cells called platelets. When a vessel is damaged, a cascade of biochemical reactions is triggered, as a result of which fibrinogen is converted into fibrin, the basis of a thrombus. A low level of this protein indicates poor clotting and is considered in conjunction with other tests of the complex. Elevated fibrinogen can be seen in inflammatory diseases and normal pregnancy.

   When such changes in coagulability appear, bleeding from the nose and gums becomes more frequent. Sometimes bruises appear on the body, often for no apparent reason.

2. Prothrombin (prothrombin time, Quick prothrombin, INR) is a test that includes 3 parameters at once. They are needed to assess the rate of formation of a blood clot.

3. APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) is another test that checks how efficiently the blood clotting systems are working.

4. Thrombin time is a test that evaluates how quickly a clot forms when thrombin is activated. Thrombin is an enzyme that helps convert fibrinogen to fibrin. The test data is considered in conjunction with the rest, helping to determine the type and cause of the deviation.

These coagulograms are affected by the intake of certain drugs, even vitamins. Therefore, if there are deviations in it, be sure to tell the doctor what, for how long and at what dosage you are taking.

It is even better to take the instructions from the drug with you to the appointment.

Often the body responds to blood density with increased production of hemoglobin, so it is not uncommon for a combination of increased hemoglobin and an increased D-dimer index.

Normal values ​​of D-dimer indicate that the presence of a blood clot is unlikely.

You should also be aware that there are physiologically determined conditions when D-dimer becomes elevated. For example, pregnancy, from the earliest stages of pregnancy, D-dimer constantly increases and by the end of pregnancy can exceed the initial level by 3-4 times

In what cases is a D-dimer study usually prescribed?

The study of D-dimer is used when thrombotic conditions are suspected (for example, deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism), as well as in the diagnosis of a serious condition such as disseminated vascular coagulation syndrome.

In-depth studies on thrombophilia are quite expensive, but they are still recommended for those who have had thrombosis or thromboembolism in the family (father, mother, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, grandparents), as well as cases sudden death of relatives under the age of 55. Or in the event of thrombosis in a person under the age of 50 years.

Diet with thick blood: general rules, menu

Very often the question: “What to do if the blood is thick?” you can hear the answer: “Thinn.” However, the term “blood thinning” does not exist, and a decrease in viscosity will have a bad effect on blood clotting. The most correct answer is “normalize blood viscosity”, that is, bring it to a physiological norm, so that the viscosity becomes less, and blood clotting is not affected.

To return the blood to a normal consistency, it is necessary, first of all, to balance the diet and adhere to the optimal drinking regimen. It is supposed to drink at least 30 ml of water per 1 kg of weight per day. If you use compotes, tea, juice instead of plain water, then the amount of liquid you drink should be increased.

As for nutrition, it should be as balanced as possible in all respects (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals).

The blood becomes thicker with a lack of proteins and amino acids, so the diet must include meat (low-fat varieties, turkey or chicken), fish (sea), dairy products and eggs.

Of all the amino acids, taurine is especially valuable, so it is important to consume those foods where taurine is found in greater quantities (seafood) or vitamin complexes with taurine.

An equally important component of nutrition is fat. Fatty acids are an important component of the lipid membrane of blood cells. Normalization of the membranes of erythrocytes and platelets will prevent the "gluing" of cells. One of the most important substances is omega-3, it is part of some varieties of sea fish, and is also found in olive, linseed oil.

It is also important to observe the vitamin balance, it has been proven that an excess of vitamin C and K contributes to blood clotting. This is also facilitated by a lack of vitamin E. Therefore, it is important to balance the ratio of vitamins in the diet.

In order to normalize the consistency of the blood, it is necessary to exclude from the diet foods that can contribute to thickening of the blood, these include: bananas, buckwheat porridge, chokeberry (chokeberry), nettle, white cabbage.

You can try to thin the blood using the healing properties of plants. You can use yellow sweet clover, collected during the flowering period, and then dried.

Or mix it with other herbs in equal proportions:

• Red clover flowers.

• Grass of meadowsweet.

• The fruits of the red hawthorn.

• Rhizome of Valerian officinalis.

Thus, the menu should be compiled based on the following principles:

1. Building a diet based on plant foods.

   A large number of vegetables provide the body with fluids, vitamins, minerals and fiber - all the things without which the blood cannot have a normal level of clotting.

2. Reducing the amount of animal fats consumed.

   Animal fat, which did not go to build tissues in the body and does not participate in the functional activity of certain types of cells, is not absorbed by organs from the circulatory system, but clogs it and is deposited on the inner walls of blood vessels, impeding blood flow. That is why, for example, dairy products thicken the blood.

3. Exclusion of low-quality and harmful food.

   Fast food, snacks such as chips, industrial lemonades do not carry any nutritional value: they deliver food pleasure, but they harm the body very much, without bringing it any benefit. The composition of semi-finished products always includes a large amount of preservatives, dyes, flavors, a lot of salt and low-quality ingredients that reduce the cost of production.

The diet can be interchanged by day or the order of dishes can be varied according to your own taste.

1st day

• Breakfast: a bowl of oatmeal with a spoonful of honey and olive oil (salt to taste).

• Snack: a bar of fat-free cottage cheese.

• Lunch: chicken and carrot soup, vegetable salad seasoned with your favorite vegetable oil.

• Dinner: grilled fish, dried fruit compote.

2nd day

• Breakfast: scrambled eggs made with low-fat milk, but without oil (in a non-stick pan), with tomatoes or chicken fillet pieces.

• Snack: a handful of nuts (no more than 50 grams).

• Lunch: lean borscht.

• For dinner: seafood salad.

3rd day

• For breakfast: oatmeal with honey.

• For lunch: lean wild rice pilaf with pieces of chicken or turkey.

• Snack: a bar of fat-free cottage cheese.

• Dinner: grilled fish (salmon, pink salmon, chum salmon, cod - at the discretion of the patient), vegetable salad

4th day

• Breakfast: a few boiled chicken eggs (if there are problems with cholesterol, then give up the yolk), and for dessert, eat any allowed fruits and berries.

• For lunch: soup-puree of potatoes, carrots and turkey.

• Snack: strawberries (in summer, while there are a lot of fresh berries, you can freeze them and eat them in winter).

• Dinner: cauliflower stew, broccoli, carrots.

5th day

• Omelette of chicken or quail eggs with vegetables.

• For lunch: diet soup of potatoes, carrots, broccoli, turkey.

• For dinner: seafood salad.

6th day

• For breakfast: poached eggs with avocado and whole grain bread.

• For lunch: lean wild rice pilaf with pieces of chicken or turkey, a glass of kefir.

• Snack: cottage cheese soufflé with berries and low-fat sour cream.

• Dinner: baked white fish with vegetables.

7th day

• Breakfast: salad with squid, boiled eggs, cauliflower.

• For lunch: lean borscht, vegetable stew with pieces of turkey.

• Dinner: grilled fish, vegetable salad with linseed oil.

This is a sample menu for a blood thinning diet.

Folk remedies that are often used in parallel with it:

1. ginger is famous for its properties for hematopoiesis, you can add it as a spice to all dishes;

2. dandelion leaf juice can prevent blood clots, so chopped leaves can be added to salads;

3. raw celery, as well as its juice, is an excellent blood thinner; Celery juice can be drunk on an empty stomach.

You should choose a large apple and cut it in half, cut out the core. Some patients prefer red varieties of fruit, while others prefer sour green varieties. Sprinkle the apple cut with sugar and cinnamon, place in the oven or microwave, and bake for five to ten minutes. Check the dish from time to time so that the apple does not burn. It turns out fragrant, sweet and soft dessert, somewhat reminiscent of apple jam.

To prepare a seafood salad that can be consumed with a blood thinning diet, you will need the following ingredients:

• boiled squid - 3-4 pieces;

• small or large shrimp, pre-boiled in salted water - 400 grams;

• cherry tomatoes - 200 grams;

• mussels - 200 grams;

• olive oil - 3 tablespoons.

TOP 25 blood thinning foods

Some foods and other substances that can act as natural blood thinners and help reduce the risk of blood clots include the following list:

1. Turmeric

   The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory and blood thinning or anticoagulant properties.

2. Ginger

   Contains a natural acid called salicylate. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is a synthetic derivative of salicylate and a powerful blood thinner.

1. Cayenne pepper

   Cayenne pepper is also high in salicylates and can act as powerful blood thinning agents.

2. Vitamin E

   Vitamin E reduces blood clotting in several different ways. These effects depend on the amount of vitamin E that the person is taking.

   Foods containing vitamin E include:

   • almond;

   • sunflower oil;

   • sunflower seeds;

   • wheat germ oil;

   • whole grain.

3. Garlic

   In addition to the often desired flavor in food and cooking, garlic has natural antibiotic and antimicrobial properties.

    

4. cassia cinnamon

   Cinnamon contains coumarin. Warfarin, the most commonly used blood thinner, is a coumarin derivative.

   Chinese cassia cinnamon contains much more coumarin than Ceylon cinnamon.

5. Ginkgo biloba

   People take it for blood disorders, memory problems, and low energy.

   Ginko thins the blood and has fibrinolytic effects. This means that it can dissolve blood clots.

6. grape seed extract

   It contains antioxidants, which can protect blood vessels and prevent high blood pressure, can act as a natural blood thinner.

1. Ginseng

   A traditional Chinese herb that can reduce blood clotting. This effect may result from the content of coumarin, the same substance that makes cinnamon such a powerful anticoagulant.

2. Feverfew

   It is a medicinal herb that can act as a blood thinner by inhibiting platelet activity and preventing blood clotting.

3. willow bark

   1 tablespoon of crushed branches and bark is infused with 500 ml of boiling water in a thermos), which is taken in the morning and evening, 200-250 ml each.

4. Sea kale (aka kelp) and other types of algae are natural anticoagulants, thanks, among other things, to the large amount of iodine they contain.

5. A pineapple

   The tropical fruit contains a special enzyme that breaks down proteins. Studies show that bromelain can thin the blood, break down clots and reduce their formation

    

6. Chamomile

   Suppresses platelet activity and prevents blood clotting. While chamomile tea is considered fairly safe, be careful with it if you are taking blood-thinning medications.

7. Foods high in omega-3

   Omega-3 acids improve blood flow and normalize blood pressure, increase the level of "good" HDL cholesterol (high density lipoproteins), strengthen and make the walls of blood vessels elastic. In addition, omega-3s reduce the concentration of homocysteine, an amino acid that, when accumulated in the body, begins to damage the inner walls of the arteries, contributing to the formation of blood clots.

   For this reason, fatty fish, nuts, vegetable oils, and flax seeds should be included in the diet.

8. red cabbage

   In fact, any cabbage is good for blood vessels, including sauerkraut, but red cabbage has a very high content of substances important for them - potassium, vitamins C and group B. Its use improves blood quality and prevents the formation of blood clots.

9. Tomatoes

   Three to four fresh tomatoes a day is enough. Salicylates - derivatives of salicylic acid, affect blood platelets, preventing them from sticking together. The effect of strengthening the circulatory system is complemented by vitamin C and lycopene.

1. Raspberry

   Morse from fresh berries, fragrant tea from dry leaves will lower cholesterol and prevent atherosclerosis.

2. Cranberry

   Natural antioxidants help the body strengthen the immune system, reduce inflammation and strengthen the cardiovascular system.

3. Blueberry

   Vitamins A and C and coumarins fight blood clots.

    

4. Persimmon. It contains many antioxidants, and due to the presence of flavonoids, persimmon thins the blood, prevents the formation of blood clots, strengthens blood vessels and normalizes blood cholesterol levels.

5. Sprouted wheat. Excellent blood thinner if you eat at least 1 tbsp. in a day. It is good to add it to salads and sprinkle them with linseed oil.

6. Citrus. They contain vitamin C and a lot of liquid. Lemon is especially good at thinning the blood.

7. Kiwi

8. Dates

   They contain essential oils that thin the blood, which supplies the brain with oxygen.

   A sufficient amount of clean water, various spices, berries and fruits in your diet will allow you not to worry about the danger of thrombosis.

Products that increase blood clotting

These foods that increase blood clotting and are rich in vitamin K should be excluded from the diet if a condition of blood thickening is observed:

• Bananas and mangoes.

• Cabbage: broccoli, white cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi.

• Dog-rose fruit.

• Green vegetables and spinach leaves, dill, parsley, coriander, basil.

• Carrots, radishes, beets, red peppers and corn.

• Mango and bananas.

• Red and purple berries.

• White bread.

• Salt.

• Whole grains: wheat, rye, oats, buckwheat.

• Soy and legumes.

• Eggs.

• Juices: grape, pomegranate.

• Animal fats, as well as butter and sour cream.

• Liver, fatty meat, kidneys and brain of an animal.

• Walnuts.

This method is suitable for the treatment of low clotting in children. But in adults, it can contribute to thrombosis.

Because many people with thick blood may never have noticed symptoms or experienced clots, we recommend an active lifestyle anyway to reduce the risk of clots and other complications. Related measures include:

1. quitting tobacco smoking;

2. weight loss, if necessary;

3. do not sit for a long time in one position.

Diet and lifestyle changes can help many people who have these blood disorders reduce their risk of blood clots and other potential problems.