It is never a good idea to remain in one position for a long time, either sitting or standing, as the blood cannot circulate freely. However, for many of us this is unavoidable because of our job. For some families predisposed to varicose veins and it is believed to be hereditary, this then becomes a greater problem.

What are Varicose Veins?

These are swollen veins usually on the legs that sometimes look slightly blue and lumpy.

How are they Caused?

It tends to happen when blood collects in the veins due to weakened valves in the veins that allow the blood to flow freely. Although they can look unsightly, they do not present a serious medical problem and do not effect the circulation but for many women (and yes they suffer from them more than men!) they can be painful especially after long periods of standing or walking.

Lifestyle Changes to Make

There are a lot of things you can do to prevent varicose veins from developing and all of them are sensible for everyone to consider introducing into their day regardless of whether they are worried about varicose veins. You should avoid sitting or standing for long periods although in some jobs this may be difficult to avoid. There are lots of ways to mitigate the effects of this as you could frequently change your position, get up and walk about as often as possible. Apparently soldiers who are required to stand still for long periods sway to and fro very slightly and contract and relax their calf muscles to pump blood up their legs.

Try to wear loose fitting clothing to keep the circulation running freely and don't wear high heels. Whenever possible raise your feet above the level of your hips. In order to prevent varicose veins from developing, exercise is advised especially gentle non weight bearing exercise such as cycling or swimming which gets the legs moving while supporting the body's weight. Losing weight will also take pressure off the circulatory system.

Older women sometimes wear compression or support stockings during the day, these squeeze the legs gently to improve circulation. Similarly you could gently massage your legs from time to time during the day. If you can't do this at your desk without arousing interest, do it when you go to the toilet. Start at your feet and work your way up but don't directly massage the varicose veins, you will find just 5 minutes a day will really help. Yoga exercise are also beneficial, when you are at home, lie on the floor with your feet up on a chair then breathe deeply for about 10 minutes this will cause fresh blood to enter your legs.

Raw Food can Help too

A high fibre diet is the best thing for varicose veins, at least 30 grams per day.

• Vegetables
  • Carrot
  • Celery
• Garlic
• Onions
• Ginger
• Cayenne pepper
• Fruit
  • Blackberries
  • Cherries
  • Bilberries
  • Pineapple
  • Citrus fruits (also nibble on the inside of the rinds)

You should avoid:

• Sugar
• Salt
• Alcohol
• Fried foods
• Processed and refined foods
• Animal protein
• Cheese
• Ice cream

Varicose veins cannot easily be prevented if you are in a job that demands a lot of sitting or standing or walking but you should think about how you can fit in rest periods or if you’re siting all day, some exercise. Try the yoga and massage tips and add a fruit juice of berries to your diet as well as ensuring it is high in fibre.

By TTS Cofounder Botanical Chef Omid Jaffari