Diet with vein disease

Overweight may encourage the occurrence and progression of vein disease. Every extra kilo puts a greater strain on the body, including the veins in the legs. The return blood flow to the heart takes more and more effort with increasing excess weight. In addition, it is often the case that people who weigh less are more active in their everyday lives – exercise and sporting activities are great in preventing varicose veins.

Avoiding overweight and making sure you have a healthy diet are therefore positive contributions to preventing vein problems.

A balanced diet with sufficient fibre – with plenty of fruit, vegetables, and fish, but only moderate amounts of meat and small quantities of fat and sweet things – is important to achieve and maintain an ideal weight. Anyone with a low fibre diet is at risk of constipation, which also damages the veins because straining during bowel movements increases the pressure in the leg veins.

A deficiency of essential vitamins and trace elements can weaken the connective tissue and exacerbate the weakness of the vein walls that are anyway already flaccid in varicose disease.

Drinking sufficient fluid is important to prevent thickening of the blood and the associated risk of thrombosis. An adequate fluid intake helps to prevent constipation and also keeps the vein walls elastic. A healthy adult needs about 2 litres of water a day. Coffee and alcohol, on the other hand, should be consumed only in moderation.