Cayenne pepper
Capsaicin is the active ingredient that gives cayenne pepper its heat. “There is some evidence that this compound can affect blood pressure and improve blood flow,” says Ginger Hultin, RDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and owner of ChampagneNutrition, based in Seattle. Other types of peppers that contain capsaicin include green and red chilies, jalapeño peppers, and tabasco peppers. She suggests stirring cayenne into eggs, sauces, and salad dressings and using it to flavor seafood and chicken. “You can even use it to spice up treats like brownies, muffins, cookies, and cakes,” she says. One caution: “Capsaicin is known to mildly thin the blood, so it shouldn’t be used with other blood-thinning medications or supplements.”
Radishes
It’s easy to pass by radishes when you’re shopping for veggies: Some people think they taste a bit bitter, and they’re often thought of as only a topping. But if you’ve been wondering how to improve circulation, give these bright red vegetables another look. “Radishes are rich in minerals, including potassium, that help normalize blood pressure and increase blood circulation,” says dietitian Jackie Arnett Elnahar, RD, co-founder and CEO of TelaDietitian, based in Syosset, New York. Each half cup of sliced radishes contains 135 mg of blood pressure-lowering potassium. If poor circulation is making you cold, here’s how to warm up cold hands and feet.
