Having poor blood flow is something that many people in today’s society struggle with.

Due to environmental, nutritional, lifestyle, and psychological factors, the ability to obtain proper blood flow naturally can be almost impossible.

I struggled with poor blood flow for years as a teenager and young adult. Between the age of 18 and 19 my health began to deteriorate rapidly.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and low testosterone which completely rocked my entire world. Here I was a kid beginning one of the most exciting times in my life and my health was in the trash.

I was constantly fatigued, I could barely sleep, and I couldn’t lose fat to save my life. Putting on muscle was next to impossible. My fingers and toes were constantly freezing. I couldn’t even think about getting an erection.

My blood flow was terrible.

Over the past four years I have been able to overcome these challenges through self education and using natural methods.

Reasons For Boosting Your Blood Flow

Imagine never getting cold fingers and toes.

Imagine going to the gym and getting an amazing pump for every single workout and being extremely vascular every single day.

Imagine getting your body to a place where it heals fast and functions optimally.

Boosting your blood flow plays a dramatic role in all areas of health.

If you do not have proper nutrient delivery and optimal circulation poor blood flow begins to have a negative impact on every area of your health

In this guide I am going to give you everything.

Everything I have experienced success with.

You will have everything you need to boost your blood flow through your lifestyle with this guide.

Before we dive into the nitty gritty it is important to have a basic understanding of the words I will be using and of how the circulatory system works.

Taking the time to look at these is going to allow for the greatest success when implementing the strategies we will talk about later on in this guide

Let’s get into it!

Table Of Content:

Defining Blood Flow Terms
Physiology Of The Cardiovascular System
How Do Hormones Play A Role In Blood Flow
How To Optimize Your Blood Flow

Defining Blood Flow Terms

Vasoconstriction

Vasoconstriction is the constriction or narrowing of blood vessels due to the contraction of the muscular wall of the blood vessels.

This process is necessary for the preservation of body temperature, when hemorrhages occur, and when in times of stress.

Vasoconstriction is the opposite of what we want when we are looking to boost blood flow.

Vasoconstriction makes it more difficult for blood to get to the extremities and leads to cold fingers and toes among many other things.

Instead we want to make sure that we coax our body in a way that promotes vasodilation.

Vasodilation

Vasodilation is the widening of blood vessels due to relaxation of the muscular wall surrounding blood vessels.

This leads to less vascular resistance and less stress on the heart to pump blood throughout the body, allowing for more blood to reach all areas of the body.

Nitric Oxide

Within the vasculature, nitric oxide:

Induces vasodilation
Inhibits platelet aggregation (the clumping together of platelets)
Prevents neutrophil/platelet adhesion to endothelial cells (sticking to the side of the blood vessels)
Inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation (the division of cells in the muscle around blood vessels)
Regulates programmed cell death (apoptosis)
Maintains endothelial cell barrier function (keeps the integrity of the blood vessel wall strong).

Needless to say this is an important molecule that plays a HUGE role in blood flow and circulation.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide production increases as the rate of the oxidative metabolism is increased. When energy production is increased via increased mitochondrial respiration more water, ATP, and CO2 are produced as a result.

CO2 then gets dissipated into the smooth muscle cells of the blood vessels and allows for more vasodilation to take place.

So more CO2 means more vasodilation.

One of the primary results of this is increased cerebral blood flow, which is something that can be very beneficial when wanting to ensure our brain is working at full capacity.

Physiology Of The Cardiovascular System

Role of the Heart

The heart's main function is to propel blood throughout the body. Whenever we have high amounts of vasoconstriction present it puts more stress on the heart, making it work harder to pump blood through the system.

Role of the Liver

The liver is known as the chemical factory of the body. With over 500 different functions this organ is extremely important.

Within the context of the cardiovascular system, the liver acts like a “filter.” It takes out different toxins and chemicals from the blood and gets them out of the body through the digestive system and urinary system.

Role of the Lungs

The lung’s main purpose within the context of the circulatory system is to deliver oxygen to the blood and export CO2 from the system.

How Do Hormones Play a Role In Blood Flow?

Hormones play a part in every single thing we do on a daily basis, and there is no exception when it comes to the circulatory system.

Knowing which hormones are good for blood flow and which ones are not is beneficial in helping you achieve success in overcoming your challenges with blood flow and increasing the health of your circulatory system.

Cortisol

Cortisol is a hormone that is secreted from the adrenals during times of stress.

Cortisol is the key stress hormone in the body and leads to vasoconstriction.

This is why when you are in a state of stress your fingers and toes become cold.

Cortisol and adrenaline are redirecting the blood away from the extremities, and shuttling blood to the muscles and brain.

This allows you to react and either fight the challenge to come or flee and escape the situation.

This is also known as the fight or flight response or the sympathetic state.

Estrogen

Estrogen, contrary to popular belief, is a stress hormone.

Estrogen is necessary for the proper functioning of the body for both genders, but only in moderation.

Progesterone is THE female hormone produced at 1000 times the amount estrogen is produced inside the female body.

That was not a typo.

There is 1000 times more progesterone than estrogen when looking at the hormonal status of most healthy women.

Estrogen, when it comes to the cardiovascular system, leads to vascular permeability.

This is why women, during the menstruation period, bleed in excess and can even experience nose bleeds.

Estrogen is one of the hormones that are responsible for excessive water retention within the cells.

This tends to lead to premature cellular division and a whole host of other nasty things.

When excessive estrogen is in the bloodstream we see increased retention of water in the endothelial cells (the cells that make up the walls of the blood vessels).

This swelling of the endothelial cells leads to less diameter in the blood vessel.

Less diameter in the blood vessel equals a smaller area for blood to flow through.

A smaller area for blood to flow through increases blood pressure and puts more stress on the heart.

When it comes to the health of the heart there are things that are inotropic (increase the power of contraction of the heart) and things that are lusitropic (things that promote relaxation of the heart).

Estrogen has a negative relationship with both of these.

Meaning that it is a negative inotropic and a negative lusitropic hormone.

Estrogen interferes with optimal functioning of the heart whenever it is in excess in the body.

Progesterone

Progesterone is also known as the hormone of youth.

Whenever you see a woman who has recently become pregnant she will more than likely have the “pregnancy glow.”

She might even look as if she has aged backward by about five years.

This is due to the increased amount of progesterone that is being produced because of the pregnancy.

Progesterone is protective to the human body in an almost countless amount of ways.

Progesterone and testosterone work together to antagonize (fight against) the action of excessive estrogen.

This is gender apathetic (works the same for both men and women).

By decreasing vascular permeability and mitigating endothelial cell fluid retention, progesterone allows for blood to flow through the body with ease.

Progesterone also acts by increasing the flexibility of red blood cells, allowing them to more easily pass through capillaries.

Progesterone and testosterone both have a positive inotropic and lusitropic function, increasing the health and function of the heart so it can work at its highest possible capability

Thyroid Hormone

Thyroid hormone is the main energy regulating hormone that is present within the human body.

Without a sufficient amount of active thyroid hormone (t3) being produced, the energy production in the body goes down, leading to an energy deficit.

Energy creates order, and allows for more complex and abstract functions to take place in the organism. When the production of energy is hindered, it leads to disorder within the organism.

In the presence of less thyroid hormone production and conversion, the body goes into a state of energy deprivation.

During this time of energy deprivation, the body is more susceptible to the influences of stress hormones - most commonly estrogen, cortisol, and adrenaline.

By increasing the production and conversion of thyroid hormone, you will increase the amount of energy within the system. Allowing for higher order functions to take place. All while down regulating stress hormones and mitigating their detrimental effects.

How to Optimize Your Blood Flow

How to optimize blood flow through lifestyle

Now it’s time to get into the section where you can begin to take action TODAY.

Everything from here on is going to be an actionable step that you can start implementing right now to increase vasodilation, lower stress hormones, and boost your blood flow.

I recommend implementing these slowly over time. Adding 1-2 things at a time is going to allow the habit formation to be much more sustainable in the long run.

Meditation for Increasing Blood Flow

Meditation has been proven time and time again in clinical studies to have the ability to lower blood pressure effectively.

The psychological component of high blood pressure and poor circulation is overlooked by most people who struggle with this problem.

Due to the tremendous complexity of the human psyche and the relationship that it has to our physiology, stress has a major impact on our body.

Psychological stress manifests itself on the physical level in the body.

It does this by increasing the various stress hormones that we have talked about.

Meditation, when utilized correctly, can decrease the impact that negative thought patterns have on the body.

Allowing stressful circumstances to not have an impact on the amount of stress hormones produced in the body.

Research has shown that subjects who focused on taking six deep breaths were able to significantly decrease blood pressure and promote vasodilation.

Some good areas of meditation are:

Transcendental meditation
Mindfulness meditation
Focus meditation

Experiment with different types and find out which one is best for you.

Action Item:

Spend around 10 minutes at the beginning of each day meditating in some way.

Breathing for Increasing Blood Flow

Breathing is another surefire way to ensure that you are effectively lowering the amount of stress hormones in the body.

It also ensures you are exchanging gases properly in order to increase vasodilation.

Most people are completely unaware of the way that they are breathing.

They go throughout their day mildly hyperventilating.

This hyperventilation is relaying to the body that it is in a stressful situation promoting stress hormones.

By focusing on your breath and correcting your breathing patterns you begin to allow your respiratory system to function the way that it is meant to.

This allows for the proper exchange of gas between the lungs and the blood.

Your body begins to tell itself it is not in a state of stress, allowing for optimal circulatory health and contributing to optimal health in general.

Some good tactics to begin working on your breathing patterns are:

Box breathing (breathing in for 7 seconds, holding the breath for 7 seconds, and letting the breath out for 7 seconds)
Equal breathing (sama vritti - breathing in for the same amount of time you breathe out)

Action Items:

As you go throughout your day be intentional about your breathing patterns. Imagine yourself pushing out your belly button with the air you are breathing in.
Every time you find yourself a little anxious or tense, stop where you are, take six deep breaths, and continue your day.

Sociability for Increasing Blood Flow

Sociability decreases amount of stress hormones that are present in the body much like meditation.

This then decreases vascular resistance and promotes vasodilation, playing a beneficial role to improved blood flow.

However, for the introverts who might be freaking out reading this, have no fear.

You don't have to go out and be the center of attention, but finding even one person who you enjoy being around and being present with has been shown to have a massive impact on stress and blood pressure.

Actions Item:

Spend ten minutes a day talking to someone you enjoy spending time with. Whether it is in person or a ten minute phone call, this will make a significant impact on your day.

Exercise for Increasing Blood Flow

Everyone knows that exercise is beneficial for your health; however, most people think that the wrong type of exercise is most beneficial in the scope of cardiovascular health.

Resistance training is one of the most beneficial things that anyone can do to increase all areas of his or her health.

Resistance training slows down the aging process and allows for a more friendly internal environment in the long term, even though that exercise itself is a stressor.

Resistance training is extremely beneficial for increasing the strength and resiliency of the heart.

On the other end of the spectrum, there is endurance training, which has been shown to increase stress hormones and over stress the heart, leading to a weakened heart in the long term.

This is one of the reasons that endurance athletes have such a slow resting heartbeat.

Resistance training decreases the bodys susceptibility to injury allowing it to be more resilient against trauma and other forms of shock.

So if you have the decision to go run a few miles or do some pull-ups and push-ups I would opt for the latter.

If you are interested in checking out the perfect resistance training program for you make sure to take a look at UMZU Fit!

Action Items:

Find a good workout program. Whether it's bodyweight workouts you can do at home or a powerlifting routine, finding a good workout program is the first step.
Workout every day. It doesn't have to be a lifting session every day but even stretching on a daily basis is good to keep the body moving and functioning properly.

Walking for Increasing Blood Flow

Walking is the most beneficial form of movement that anyone can do, especially if you have the ability to walk out in nature.

Walking has a significant impact on the hormonal status of the body.

It allows for more protective and youth associated hormones to be produced and reduces the amount of stress hormones in the body.

Walking also regulates many different functions throughout the body. One of the most significant systems that is regulated by walking is the digestive system.

Walking for around 45-60 minutes a day allows for proper peristaltic contraction of the intestine, helping to move waste through the system and promoting proper digestion.

Walking promotes proper circulation to the lower half of the body, helping to get unoxygenated blood back to the heart and lungs to be replenished with nutrients.

If you have the ability to walk outside in an unknown place this, also becomes very beneficial for increasing brain function and helping to promote creativity through different neural patterns being integrated.

Action Item:

Walk for 20-60 minutes a day with a step goal of 10,000 steps.

A good tip I have utilized is listening to an audio book or podcast when I walk. This helps pass the time easily and allows me to get in more books. I highly recommend The Thermo Diet Podcast!

Nutrition for Increasing Blood Flow

Nutrition plays a foundational role in the health of the circulatory system, as well as all other areas of health.

Providing the body with the material that it needs in order to support proper hormonal status and a high functioning metabolism is extremely important, and is why we have created an entire course dedicated to this topic called the Thermo Diet.

The Thermo Diet is built upon the metabolic theory of health and is designed in a way that allows you to eat to support proper hormonal status within the body and alleviate micronutrient deficiencies.

The best thing about eating in this way besides the phenomenal health benefits that you experience is the fact that it is absolutely delicious.

Cutting out foods and other things that block the flow of energy through the body and adding in things that will enhance it is the most ideal approach.

At the fundamental level of this way of eating you should:

Eat plenty of nutrient rich carbohydrates (fruits and roots)
Get in just the right amount of protein from the right sources (animal sources)
Eat adequate amounts of the right types of fats to support hormonal production and cellular repair.

The biggest thing that you can do right now in terms of nutrition for blood flow is eliminate polyunsaturated fatty acids.

There are numerous adverse effects with these type of fats as they are extremely unstable, breaking down and forming free radicals in the body, and can even lead to metabolic degradation.

To take an in-depth look at this way of eating check out The Thermo Diet Course inside UMZU Fit.

Action Items:

Start cooking your food.
Go to the grocery store and buy whole foods that are rich in nutrients.
Use better oil (saturated fats are best).

Conclusion

All of these are extremely easy to implement and can have a massive impact on your blood flow and will get your body into a healthy state.

If you want to improve your blood flow even more I recommend looking into UMZU's all natural circulatory support supplement Redwood.

Redwood uses a strategic formulation of vitamins, herbs, and peptides based on clinical research shown to improve blood flow and support optimal circulation.

I hope you enjoyed this post and see an improvement in your blood flow after implementing these.

If there is something that you think I missed or something that would like to see on this list feel free to reach out to me in our facebook groups (The Thermo Diet Community Group, The UMZU Community Group) or even on our awesome platform UMZUfit.

To better blood flow

Cheers my friends, Jayton

READ MORE:

How to Increase Blood Flow and Improve Circulation with These 7 Tips https://t.co/ooXF3aClym pic.twitter.com/wBZNHk5MaH
— Life Advancer (@LifeAdvancer) January 22, 2019

The Lifestyle Guide To Boosting Blood Flow Naturally

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