Blood clots can affect anyone, regardless of their background. Every year, up to 900,000 Americans are affected by blood clots. Within 10 years, one in three persons who suffer blood clots may have another one, according to the CDC.
More than half of all blood clots happen within 90 days of leaving the hospital, but some are caused by unhealthy choices we make.
Certain foods linked to venous diseases can also increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis. A specialist suggests that two dietary sources may be particularly problematic.
The North American Thrombosis Forum notes that the relationship between inflammation, nutrition and thrombotic occurrences is complex and not fully understood.
According to the British Journal of Haematology and other medical journals, inflammation plays a role in initiating blood clotting.
Inflammatory cytokines may contribute to blood coagulation by decreasing the effectiveness of natural anticoagulant mechanisms.
According to Dr. Ariush Mozaffarian, Dean of the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, speaking at the North American Thrombosis Forum: “Inflammation” has multiple underlying causes and there are various pathways that play a role.
According to Dr. Ariush Mozaffarian, the relationship between nutrition and inflammation is an area of ongoing research and much of it remains inconclusive.
We know that “poor nutrition” can lead to metabolic issues such as insulin resistance and obesity, which are major contributors to active inflammation.
“Those are major pathways for active inflammation. Similarly, a good diet can improve metabolic risk and desperately lead to weight loss, which can dramatically improve inflammation.”
The major foods to stay away from, according to Dr. Mozaffarian, are those high in carbohydrate, sugar, and salt.
According to Dr. Mozaffarian, soda and sweets are “the worst foods you can have,” as reported by the North American Thrombosis Forum.
“There’s no reason to have soda,” the expert said, adding, “if people want a sweet, have a little bit of ice or dark chocolate, nuts covered in honey, fruits, or any food that has some nutritional value.”
Soda contains high levels of sugar which can disrupt the process of blood clotting.
High glucose levels not only promote clot formation but also inhibit the ability of clots to dissolve.
Candy, similarly, is among the foods that contribute to plaque buildup in blood vessels.
When this plaque becomes brittle or inflamed, it can rupture and cause a blood clot.
Avoiding blood clots
The Mediterranean diet, which is based on the natural diets of people who live near the Mediterranean Sea, has some of the best foods for fighting inflammation.
The diet has a focus on foods derived from plants that are high in fiber and is mostly made up of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, and nuts.
The diet includes fats, but they come from good places like olive and canola oil, so they won’t block your arteries.
Red meat is limited to a few times a month in the Mediterranean diet, whereas fish and poultry are taken at least twice a week.
As explained by The North American Thrombosis Forum, the Mediterranean “diet also encourages a lot of exercise and supports drinking red wine in moderation.”
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