How to Address High Blood Viscosity?
High blood viscosity requires increased water intake, consumption of foods with blood-thinning properties, increased intake of soybeans, and reduced intake of animal organs, animal fats, and sugary foods. Here are some specific recommendations:
1. Increase Water Intake
Water is an effective diluting agent. Factors such as water loss after a good night's sleep and water consumed during digestion can contribute to thicker blood. Drinking water can immediately thin the blood. However, it is important to drink water scientifically. First, it is crucial to grasp the right timing, such as drinking 200 milliliters of water in the morning after waking up, one hour before meals, and before bedtime. Secondly, choose water with good diluting effects. Salty water can promote cellular dehydration, which is not advisable. Cold water can stimulate vasoconstriction in the gastrointestinal tract, hindering water absorption into the blood, and is therefore not suitable for drinking. Pure water is too "pure," and its low osmotic state allows water to quickly enter cells, making it less effective for diluting the blood. The ideal diluting water is plain water or lightly brewed tea at 20-25°C, as its tension and density are close to blood and tissue cells, making it highly recommended.
2. Consume Foods with Blood-Thinning Properties
Foods that inhibit platelet aggregation and prevent blood clot formation include black fungus, onions, bell peppers, shiitake mushrooms, and fruits such as strawberries, pineapples, and lemons. Foods with anticoagulant effects similar to aspirin include tomatoes, red grapes, oranges, and ginger. Foods with lipid-lowering effects include parsley, carrots, konjac, hawthorn, seaweed, kelp, corn, and sesame. Vegetables and fruits contain a large amount of water, as well as rich vitamin C and crude fiber. Vitamin C can lower blood lipids, and crude fiber can prevent the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine, helping to reduce blood viscosity. Black fungus is sweet and neutral in nature, rich in carbohydrates, inorganic salts, sulfur, magnesium, and vitamin B. It has the effects of nourishing yin and promoting saliva production, activating blood circulation, and anticancer. It can dilute platelet aggregation and reduce blood viscosity.
3. Increase Soybean Consumption
Soybeans are rich in lecithin, an emulsifier that can reduce the size of cholesterol particles in the blood and keep them in a suspended state. This facilitates the passage of lipids through the vascular wall for utilization by tissues, thereby reducing blood cholesterol and improving blood viscosity.
4. Reduce Consumption of Animal Organs, Animal Fats, and Sugary Foods
Animal organs such as pig brains, stomachs, intestines, and animal fats contain large amounts of cholesterol and saturated fats, which can increase blood viscosity and promote atherosclerosis. Sugary foods can increase triglyceride levels in the blood and also elevate blood viscosity. Therefore, it is advisable to eat lighter meals, with a focus on vegetarian dishes and a combination of coarse and fine grains.