5 Ways to Improve Your Spleen and Blood Health This Summer
Blood is the primary means through which the body delivers nutrients and oxygen to your organ systems. It is the vessel through which immune cells travel in order to deal with threats, such as infection. The spleen and the liver act as filters, which clean the blood, create new blood cells, and act as platelet storage areas. They are also key parts of the immune system. When things go wrong with the blood or the spleen, whole body illness can follow. It makes sense, then, to try to maintain blood health and improve it as much as possible.
Here are 5 great ways you can improve and maintain blood and spleen health this summer:
Eat the Right Foods
Foods that are rich in blood building materials are grass fed beef or lamb; free range chicken, wild caught fish and pasture-raised eggs. Green leafy vegetables are very rich in iron and other blood building components and support health spleen and liver function. Avoid bread and high carb products, as well as sugar/sweetener containing products and these tend to compete with your body for essential nutrients and minerals essential for blood health.
Exercise Regularly
At least 30 minutes of exercise per day is best for optimal health. The exercise that you do doesn’t have to be anything extremely strenuous. In fact, some of the best exercise for cardiovascular health is low-impact activities. Walking around the block a few times, taking a long walk at the park, or just choosing to take the stairs instead of the elevator are all ways you can add a bit of exercise to your daily routine.
Avoid Sitting
Standing desks are becoming more and more popular, and there is a reason for that–sitting for long periods is bad for your health. It causes poor circulation and allows blood to pool in the areas of the body that are compressed during sitting. In turn, the heart must work harder to keep blood flowing, which causes the filtering function of the liver and the spleen to slow down. If you must sit, try to get up and move around every 20 minutes or so.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been shown to reduce stress and improve the health of both the blood and the spleen. By balancing the body, acupuncture effectively lowers the blood pressure and increases circulation.
Try Yoga
The movements and breathing techniques that yoga teaches have been shown to improve both blood circulation and heart health. By moving the body deliberately through various poses, yoga can facilitate blood flow, metabolism, and waste disposal by the spleen.
Whatever method or combination of methods you choose, improving your circulation and the health of your blood will dramatically improve both your overall wellness and your quality of life. Seeking out the help of a qualified acupuncturist or nutrition specialist can help get you on the path to better blood and spleen health. Call Dr. Forman and his compassionate team today to learn more.
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