Nitric oxide is produced by nearly every type of cell in the human body and one of the most important molecules for blood vessel health. It's a vasodilator, meaning it relaxes the inner muscles of your blood vessels, causing the vessels to widen. In this way, nitric oxide increases blood flow and lowers blood pressure.
Vasodilation occurs naturally in your body in response to triggers such as low oxygen levels, a decrease in available nutrients, and increases in temperature. It causes the widening of your blood vessels, which in turn increases blood flow and lowers blood pressure.
Some drugs used to treat hypertension, such as calcium channel blockers also dilate blood vessels. But the vasodilators that work directly on the vessel walls are hydralazine and minoxidil.
Ginger tea is also an excellent choice, since ginger has specifically been found to improve blood flow. It is considered a vasodilator, which means it widens blood vessels and thus enhances blood flow.
Also known as “the sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D has many benefits. These include keeping the cells that line the blood vessels (endothelial cells) healthy. L-arginine. L-arginine is an amino acid that helps expand blood vessels and amplify blood flow.
Magnesium also restored some of the blood vessels' ability to open up when the body needs more blood.
CGRP: a novel neuropeptide from the calcitonin gene is the most potent vasodilator known.
Green leafy vegetables are a good source of dietary nitrates, which can help improve blood vessel function and reduce inflammation. They're also packed with potassium. This mineral helps prevent vascular calcification, a process that contributes to atherosclerosis ( 36 , 50 ).
Leafy greens like spinach and collard greens are high in nitrates, which your body converts into nitric oxide, a potent vasodilator ( 33 ). Eating nitrate-rich foods may help improve circulation by dilating blood vessels, allowing your blood to flow more easily.
Thyme contains powerful compounds, such as rosmarinic acid, that appear to help relax blood vessels in animal studies.
Magnesium is a well-known neuroprotective as well as vasodilatory agent with various experimental and clinical profiles. Several clinical studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of intravenous magnesium therapy for aneurysmal SAH (Veyna et al., 2002; van den Bergh et al., 2003).
Vitamin B. This family of vitamins is among the most important to strengthen your blood vessels and thus, prevent vein issues or at least keep them at bay if they're already surfaced. For those who have a history of vein issues and blood clots in their family, vitamins B6 and B12 are particularly important.
Magnesium glycinate is a good option as it is well absorbed and bioavailable. This makes it ideal for those needing to correct a deficiency.
Several studies have shown that magnesium citrate has a higher bioavailability. On the other hand, a meta‐analysis has shown that inorganic formulations, such as magnesium oxide, exhibited a greater increase in circulating magnesium levels than organic formulations.
Magnesium and Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Animal and human studies show that regular supplementation with magnesium can lower blood pressure, promote arterial relaxation, and fight arterial calcification.
People with vein health issues
Vitamin D helps to keep your arteries and blood vessels loose enough and relaxed enough to support proper blood flow. Thus, when vitamin D levels are low, your veins will struggle to do their job properly, and vein issues may arise.
For example, vitamin C may act as a diuretic, causing the kidneys to remove more sodium and water from the body, which helps to relax the blood vessel walls, thereby lowering blood pressure.
Although we're not sure where this claim originated from, we do know there is no scientific evidence proving apple cider vinegar clears clogged arteries. In fact, vinegar should not be substituted for standard treatment.
Laboratory studies have shown that ginkgo improves blood circulation by opening up blood vessels and making blood less sticky. It is also an antioxidant. For those reasons, ginkgo may improve vein and eye health.
Staying hydrated helps circulation by improving blood flow throughout the body. Warm water is particularly beneficial as it encourages the veins to expand, thus allowing more room for blood to flow. Chilled water, on the other hand, may cause the veins to close up.
Because L-arginine acts as a vasodilator, opening (dilating) blood vessels, many people take oral L-arginine to treat heart conditions and erectile dysfunction.