Escaping a family history of varicose veins
Q: My mother had a horrible case of varicose veins, and I’m starting to get them now too. Is there any way I can keep them from getting as bad as hers?
Dr. Wright: Varicose veins do run in families, but you can get them to slow down, or sometimes even stop, with vein-strengthening, flavonoid-rich foods and flavonoid supplements. You can boost your flavonoid levels by eating blue, red, and purple foods. or taking a supplement high in flavonoids, such as bilberry, hawthorne, or ginkgo.
Also, make sure you have enough fiber in your diet. Without it, too much pressure can build up in your abdomen, which may slow blood return from your legs and worsen those varicose veins.
