Living50+ Blog

10 Ways to Improve Your Blood Circulation

Written by Living50+ | Oct 20, 2021

Good blood circulation is vital for maintaining a healthy body. It helps to transport oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, while also removing waste products and toxins. However, many people struggle with poor blood circulation, which can lead to a variety of health issues such as numbness, tingling, and even blood clots. In this blog post, we'll explore ten ways to improve your blood circulation and promote better overall health.

From simple lifestyle changes to targeted exercises and therapies, there are a variety of strategies that can help improve blood flow throughout the body. By incorporating these tips into your daily routine, you can support your circulatory system and reduce your risk of serious health complications. So if you're looking for ways to improve your blood circulation, keep reading to discover our top ten tips.

10 Ways to Improve Your Circulation!

  1. Walking

    Physical exercise is the key element for improving your circulation. When you are moving your body, you stimulate the heart to pump more blood. What's more, exercises such as walking help to support your muscles. As a result, you don't feel stiff as your muscles are working, and your circulatory system is trying to provide more oxygen and nutrients to your body cells.

    Incorporate a minimum of 20 minutes of walking into your daily lifestyle and see its effects on your activity level. You will feel a lot better when you include walking in your routine.

  2. Managing Blood Pressure

    Managing blood pressure is important to keep your circulation flowing properly. When we age, our blood vessels get more rigid than elastic. This can make our blood pressure go up, and the cycle continues. To improve our blood circulation, it is important we work on managing our blood pressure. With age, it becomes a concern for many people as they feel their bodies getting more tired than usual.

    Eat a diet low in sodium and ensure you stay hydrated. Also, try to avoid processed foods as they contain a high content of preservatives. Instead, choose a healthy diet with fresh fruits and vegetables.

  3. Wearing Compression Gear

    Compression gear is helpful to increase overall blood and oxygen flow to the body. It helps in improving overall circulation, which results in better health and fitness. Athletes wear compression gear to enhance their performance as well. You can wear them to improve overall circulation towards the body.

    If, for some reason, you aren't that physically active, for example, and you have joint pain, then using compression gear can be helpful. Choose medicated-level compression gear that helps to improve your overall circulation without disturbing your skin.

  4. Taking a Bath

    It is helpful to take a bath, specifically a hot body bath, to improve your body circulation. A bath will help you improve your vessel dilation. That essentially means that your vessels will open more as the temperature rises and the water drops create pressure on your skin. This will improve the overall flow of blood in your body.

    As you take a bath, you will notice your body getting more relaxed and calm as well. This may also occur as improved circulation in your body helps to give you relief from chronic pain.

    Check out our post, 8 Ways To Maximize Your Bath After 55!

  5. Doing Yoga

    Yoga helps to provide relief to stiff muscles and improve flexibility in the body. What's more, you practice deep breathing by doing yoga which helps to improve your circulation of oxygen in your body. You will see that yoga, when done regularly, helps improve mental and physical health. You will experience better mental clarity as you begin doing yoga, and your body will be more relaxed than before.

    Try doing simple yoga poses, or get a yoga instructor to help you do custom yoga that is helpful in terms of your individual needs. They may help you with your back pain by telling you how to do relevant yoga poses, for example.

    Click here to learn about how to prepare for your first yoga class! 

  6. Lifting Weights

    Lifting weights is also helpful when you are in your retirement years. Yes! You read that right. You don't have to be young and fit to lift weights. Simply buy some dumbbells or any weight that you can lift with a bit of resistance and note tremendous changes in your fitness. See yourself getting stronger as you build stamina from the resistance exercise that you do.

  7. Staying Hydrated

    When you drink water, the circulatory system improves. Your kidneys begin to excrete the toxic materials from the body, and the blood with fresh oxygen and nutrients starts flowing in your body. You feel a sudden surge in your energy levels as well. Scientifically, out of the numerous benefits of water, one also includes that water acts as a medium to deliver nutrients. With low water intake, the blood gets thicker, which hampers the circulation in the body.

  8. Getting a Massage

    Getting a massage is a fantastic way to feel relief from body stiffness and chronic pain. This thing happens as massage helps in improving your circulation over your body. A massage therapist can relieve the knots in your body that cause pain or stiffness and help in improving the circulation in the body.

    You can also massage yourself by applying any natural oil or body butter. Most people use shea butter and olive oil to see the best benefits.

  9. Eating Healthy Diet

    Eating a healthy diet is one way to improve your overall health and fitness. The key is to eat a well-balanced diet that is full of nutrients. You need vitamins and minerals all your life to keep functioning at your best. For example, iron is an essential component of your blood that helps transport oxygen all over your body. You can get this iron from nutritionally rich foods such as meat and eggs.

  10. Doing Basic Chores

    Don't hesitate to do basic chores to get you moving. This includes doing the laundry, gardening, cooking, and whatever activities you feel you can easily do without putting a strain on your health and risking your safety. It doesn't have to be long and strenuous; several minutes of some activities like these will help you get better health and fitness. 

Incorporate these simple yet highly effective things into your daily routine and improve your circulation. Feel more energetic and healthier than before, and enjoy your retirement years!