Doctors prescribe blood thinning agents or anticoagulant drugs for a host of heart related conditions to help prevent the formation of blood clots, which can cause a stroke and heart attack. Several natural substances also possess potent blood thinning effects, including some common foods and nutritional supplements.
Here’s a list of certain foods and natural remedies for blood thinning and keeping the heart pumping optimally.
List Of Natural Blood Thinners & How To Use Them?
- Garlic: Garlic helps hinder platelet clumping and aggregation which is a preliminary step in blood clot formation. Studies and clinical research state that garlic has powerful blood thinning benefits when taken in substantial quantities and / or with an anticoagulant medication. You could have 5 to 7 flakes of garlic in a day or confer with your health care provider and start a supplement.
- Ginger: Ginger has frequently been touted as an all-natural blood thinner which effectively wards off heart attacks, strokes and other coronary diseases. Gingerol found in ginger is a naturally occurring chemical which prevents blood cells and platelets from clumping. Talk to your health care provider about using ginger as a blood thinning agent.He will recommend a suitable dose of a ginger supplement. You could also have a glass of ginger tea every day.
- Fish and fish oil: Fish contains omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA which have wonderful blood thinning effects. EPA and DHA inhibit the formation of substances which encourage blood clotting. Fish oil supplements are available in capsule and liquid forms, and dosages vary by manufacturer. Natural sources of EPA and DHA are – fatty fish, such as salmon, cod, sardine, tuna and mackerel. The American Heart Association states that you need to consume 0.5 to 1.8 g of combined EPA and DHA every day to reduce your risk of coronary heart disease i.e. about two servings of fish per week.
- Vitamin E: Vitamin E hampers and prevents the formation of blood clots through a variety of mechanisms. This blood thinning effect of vitamin E is dose dependent, i.e. the effect is not noteworthy in low potencies. Vitamin E is found in – wheat germ oil, whole cereals, almond oil, sunflower oil, seeds and nuts. You could also discuss with your doctor and start a supplement.
- Coumarin containing herbs: The commonly prescribed blood thinning drug warfarin (Coumadin) is actually derived from a naturally occurring plant substance coumarin. Research has shown that naturally occurring coumarins have certain amount of blood-thinning benefits; however, precise data is still required.
Benefit Of Natural Blood Thinners
There are several possible side effects that have been linked to anticoagulants; the major being bleeding. People who take warfarin or acenocoumarol must have regular blood tests to assess how quickly the blood clots.
Also, these medicines are known to react with other medicines that you may take. Hence, confer with your doctor before starting anticoagulants and tell him about other medicines that you are taking. Consequently, it is definitely safer to consume home remedies and natural remedies to manage heart conditions.
On the other hand, though many natural remedies have blood thinning and clot prevention properties, research is required to understand the most effective form of administering the remedy and the most optimal dose, and only then can standardized health recommendations for natural blood thinners be made.