Here's Why Varicose Veins and Venous Insufficiency Are Due To Poor Diet
Have you ever wished you had listened to your instincts? I remember the day I sat in NYU Langone Vein Center having an ultrasound of my right leg. I thought I'd ruptured a vein on the leg press machine at the gym. I had been on one of those commercial diet plans that included training hard and eating three protein bars or shakes per day. My leg had been feeling unusually painful so I made an appointment to have it checked out. The leg was swollen, achy and veiny, for lack of a better word and it made me uncomfortable. The ultrasound results revealed venous insufficiency. It seemed one of my return veins had a sort of hiccup, that kept the blood from flowing back to heart.
Venous insufficiency is apparently very common. It is often the source of unsightly legs, varicose and bulging veins and a lack of blood flow which results in aching that ranges from mild to uncomfortable. The swelling comes from the pooling of blood in the veins. Symptoms also include varicose veins, which are related to the increased pressure within the veins as well as aching, throbbing, fatigue and heaviness—all of which worsen as the day goes on.
The doctor said the procedure would be simple. The conversation went like this:
"So Doc, tell me, what's Vein Ablation like?"
"I give you something to relax, then I go inside the vein with a tube as thick as a piece of spaghetti, apply laser/radiofrequency energy into the vein and seal it."
"Hmmm. What would happen to the vein?" I asked.
"Eventually the body would absorb it."
"Where would the blood go?"
"It'll be rerouted. The other veins will pick up the slack."
"Wouldn't the loss of that vein increase the pressure on the remaining veins?"
"Yes, it could."
Instantly, I could see there would be nothing "simple" about this procedure. Once I consented to having this done I would be a slave to it. I would have to wear a compression stocking. I would have to come back for follow-ups. If there was a complication, I would have to deal with that. The missing vein would result in the others being pressured, which would mean there's a good chance this could happen again. No thanks. I went home and began my research.
Studies prove there's a genetic predisposition to varicose veins, but our genes are not our destiny. Many of our symptoms are diet related and varicose veins are a symptom. According to medical doctors, varicose veins are attributed to a low fiber diet, and from being overweight or obese. However, Naturopaths insist venous insufficiency and varicose veins are directly related to mineral deficiency -- namely copper. Copper is the little known essential trace mineral that helps in maintaining healthy bones, immune system and blood vessels. A deficiency will show itself with white, grey or silver hair, wrinkling skin and you guessed it -- a reduction in vein elasticity. It is also a known contributor to hemorrhoids and heart disease.
I refused the Venous Ablation procedure to heal the condition with nutrition and some temporary supplementation until I could get my diet on track. I followed a mostly plant-based diet as outlined in my book EAT!-Empower. Adjust. Triumph: Lose Ridiculous Weight improving my digestion for the best absorption and assimilation of nutrients. Because copper should be taken in small amounts, in its organic form and colloidally, I ate foods that contained copper like hummus, cashews, sunflower seeds, shiitake mushrooms, lentils. chickpeas, walnuts and lima beans, as well as high amounts of leafy greens, and fruit. Additionally, I supplemented with some organic, essential trace minerals -- plant based and in colloidal suspension to help get my diet back on track.
Within two months I began seeing DRASTIC improvements in my leg! I couldn't believe my eyes. Also, I could stand for longer periods of time without pain. Heaviness also disappeared. There were no aches, no tenderness, the veins faded and the swelling decreased! I was thrilled that my leg was returning to normal! Best of all I could wear shorts and skirts again without being self-conscious! Surely the diet/nutrition approach proved more sane than removing a vein.
When you give your body what it needs, it heals. When the body heals, it heals everything. I'll be talking about that more in upcoming posts. Incidentally, I never regretted listening to my instincts on this one!
