Alternative Ways to Help Blood Circulation

According to the Mayo Clinic, when arteries narrow and reduce blood flow to your extremities, a condition technically known as Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), it is likely due to excess fat in your bloodstream. Poor circulation commonly effects the legs, resulting in painful conditions, the heart, which can lead to cardiac conditions, and the brain. You can, however, implement an alternative health strategy that combines diet, herbs and exercise to combat poor blood circulation.

Add Garlic to Your Diet

• Garlic is a pungent spice that is thought to be one of the main contributors to the Mediterranean diet, a diet known to reduce the risk of heart disease. A study published by "The Journal of Applied Physiology" in July 2000, found that a compound found in garlic, allicin, was able to vasodilate (open up) constricted pulmonary arteries in rats. Garlic is inexpensive and easy to add to a variety of dishes, including pasta sauce, dips, meats and soups. Garlic supplements with standardized amounts of allicin are also available at many health food stores.

Exercise

• Exercise not only makes you look and feel better, but is also one of the most effective ways to improve your blood circulation. A study published in "The Journal of Applied Physiology" in October 2009, tested the effects of exercise on the blood volume of tendons in humans. Researchers found that dynamic exercise, exercises that move the joints like running and swimming, significantly increased the blood volume in the tendons as well as decreased tendon stiffness. Exercise daily to keep your blood circulation going and to prevent muscle stiffness due to poor circulation.

Ginkgo Billoba

• Ginkgo biloba is an herb that has been used for hundreds of years in Asia to improve memory and help with poor blood circulation. A study published in "Phytotherapy Research" in April 2008, found that ginkgo was able to improve coronary artery blood flow in patients that had been diagnosed with coronary artery disease. Ginkgo biloba can be found at most health food stores in supplement form or as a bulk tea. Add Ginkgo to your daily routine to help improve poor blood circulation.