| Answer: | You' re spoilt for choice when it comes to ways of improving your circulation. First off, exercise regularly. Your best bet is to do some that raises your heart rate at least three times a week, such as a brisk walk or swim or session at the gym. But while exercise stimulates circulation, particularly to the extremities, that' s not the whole story. Done rightly, it also helps build lean muscle mass, which means insultation. Sure, fat is good insulation too, but muscle is better. And since you want all-over insulation, don' t forget to do exercises that strengthen your upper body as well as your legs - so don' t restrict yourself just to walking or running. Psychocalisthenics is excellent.
Vitamins help too. Take 400mg of vitamin E and 50mg to 100mg of niacin (B3) a day, and you will see a difference. Vitamin E helps the body use oxygen, while niacin dilates blood vessels, so you get a real boost to your blood flow. You may also blush, possibly quite strongly for the first few days you take it. This is harmless, but you may feel hot during the flush, as your blood flow increases, and then cold afterwards.
So take niacin when you' ve got some time at home, possibly having a warm bath after the flush. One month of this and you may find your circulation is much improved, so you' ll be able to stop taking the additional niacin.
The herb ginkgo biloba - a traditional remedy renowned for its ability to improve circulation - can help too. Take 40mg a day, making sure the supplement contains 24 per cent ginkgoflavonglycosides. Ginger and cayenne are other circulation boosters, so drink fresh ginger tea (pour boiling water over the chopped or grated root) and use cayenne pepper freely in your cooking. If you are also suffering from fatigue, low libido and dry skin, your thyroid gland may well be working below par, so ask your doctor to run tests to check that out. |
