Summer’s warm, sunny weather means growing season is in full-swing for South Jersey farms, and that means you have plenty of tasty options when it comes to ensuring your veins stay as healthy as possible. As every good vein doctor knows, your veins transport nutrients to every part of your body, and they also depend on good nutrition to stay flexible and “unclogged.” If you’re heading out to the market this week, consider adding these “vein doctor-approved” fresh produce items to your shopping list.
6 Produce Picks for Healthier Veins
- Peaches: Tantalizingly sweet, peaches offer a healthy dose of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent premature cell death and also keeps vein supple.
- Zucchini: By midsummer, gardens everywhere are overflowing with these green vegetables, which makes them an affordable way to get your daily dose of vitamin C, as well as plenty of fiber, which is very important for cardiovascular health.
- Eggplant: Round or elongated, deep purple or pale lavender, eggplant is rich in the antioxidant vitamin K, as well as important minerals and nutrients like folate, essential for good vein health.
- Beets: These purple globes are packed full of folic acid which helps keep levels of a compound called homocysteine under control. High amounts of homocysteine in the blood have been linked with vessel damage and heart disease. If you’ve had canned beets and found them not to your liking, try some fresh – there’s a world of difference.
- Watermelon: The deep red color of watermelon means its full of lycopene, a type of plant chemical found in red fruits and vegetables. Lycopene helps reduce “bad” cholesterol in the blood, decreasing your risk of developing atherosclerosis or “hardening” of the arteries.
- Tomatoes: No list of summer produce would be complete without tomatoes, the pride of New Jersey. Tomatoes are full of vitamin C, which is essential for helping veins stay elastic so blood flows normally from one area of the body to the next. When veins lose their elasticity, they’re more likely to become sluggish and even clogged. Tomatoes also contain lots of lycopene.
A tomato a day keeps the vein doctor away?
OK, guaranteeing good vein health isn’t quite that simple, but eating a healthy diet does play an important role in helping you maintain better vascular health, especially as you get older. One more important step: Schedule an appointment at our vein clinic to have your vascular health evaluated. As a top vein doctor in South Jersey, Dr. Dietzek is skilled at helping men and women understand their vein health risks and get the treatment they need to stay healthy. Take the first step toward a healthier vascular system and better circulation. Call our vein clinic at 856-309-8346 and schedule your evaluation today.