Maintain Vein Health with This Vitamin C Packed Smoothie!

What is better than a refreshing smoothie on a hot summer day? Well, one that can also help in maintaining and boost your vein health! Vitamin C is one of the most effective vitamins that can reduce varicose veins. According to A. Vogel, Vitamin C promotes good blood circulation, reduces inflammation, and strengthens the walls of our veins. Check out this Turmeric Pina Colada Smoothie that is not only Vitamin C packed, but also contains the many health benefits that come from turmeric, a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. Try the recipe below and tell us what you think!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fresh pineapple chopped, approximate
• 1 banana
• 1 orange or 2 small (skin removed)
• 1/2 cup coconut milk or one of those cute baby tins
• Small thumb sized piece of fresh turmeric peeled (or 1/2 tsp ground turmeric)

Instructions:

1. Add everything to your blender, blend until smooth, and enjoy
2. If you don’t have a high-speed blender, finely grate the turmeric first otherwise you’ll end up with little chunky bits in your smoothie.

To learn more about this recipe, or find other healthy recipes, go to: https://quitegoodfood.co.nz/turmeric-pina-colada-smoothie/

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Essential Oils: Benefit for Veins?

Although it has not been scientifically proven, many Essential Oils have been said to help with the pain and discomfort of Spider and Varicose Veins. Essential Oils usually aid in reducing inflammation and improving circulation which is important in vein health. Some of the most recommended oils for vein health include lavender, cypress, lemongrass, geranium and sage oil. These oils work similarly in that they help soothe and increase blood flow.

Lavender oil is one of the most popular oils and has calming effects as well as works to relieve pain. According to Health Watch List, “Cypress helps relieve muscular spasms and cramps, which can be associated with varicose veins.” Lemongrass oil works well as a pain reliever to the skin when applied to the specific area. Geranium tightens skin and can lower blood pressure. Sage oil has many uses, but works well to minimize skin issues and heal wounds.

Many people apply a few drops of the right essential oil to a damp cloth and place it on the veins they want to treat for around 15 minutes. Oils can also be added to carrier oil and massaged into the affected areas or added to bath. While the Essential Oils do not make the appearance of the Varicose and Spider Veins go away, many people have felt pain and swelling relief.  For everyday use of Essential Oils, diffusers can also be used to spray a mist of a combination of oils into the room.

Delicious and Healthy Summer Salad Recipe!

It is important to keep up your fruit and vegetable intake when taking care of your veins! Many delicious summer salads allow you to get both your fruits and vegetables in, in the same meal. Try this Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing, it only takes 15 minutes to make, and invite family and friends to try it too!

INGREDIENTS:

SALAD INGREDIENTS:

• 6 cups fresh baby spinach
• 1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and diced (or you can double this to 2 avocados!)
• 4 ounces crumbled gorgonzola or blue cheese
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
• half a small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 batch poppy seed dressing (recipe below)

POPPYSEED DRESSING INGREDIENTS:

• 1/3 cup avocado oil (or any oil, such as olive oil)
• 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
• pinch of ground dry mustard (optional)
• salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS:

TO MAKE THE POPPYSEED DRESSING:

1. Whisk all ingredients together until combined.  Add a pinch of salt and pepper, or more to taste.

TO MAKE THE SALAD:

1. Toss all ingredients together with your desired amount of dressing until combined. Serve immediately.

For more details and other healthy, summer recipes go to: https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/avocado-strawberry-spinach-salad-with-poppyseed-dressing/

Tips to Improve Vein Heath

Did you know there are easy, low-impact exercises that can greatly improve vein health without surgery? Exercise keeps blood flowing to your legs and other parts of your body that are crucial for vein strength. Even if it is a short period of time each day, cut out a half hour to exercise and keep your veins in great shape! It is important to take care of existing Spider and Varicose Veins as well, and exercise is a great, surgery-free way to do so! Here are some easy exercises to try out this summer:

1. Brisk Walking

This gets the blood flowing specifically to your legs and feet. Brisk walking does not need to be extremely fast or strenuous. Try going to a park or scenic area near you, inviting a friend, and taking a quick walk for 20-30 minutes each night. It is a good excuse to get outside if you work indoors during the daytime, and a chance to enjoy nature while improving vein health.

2. Biking

Biking is another great exercise that requires leg work. Find an easy route to ride, or ride to your favorite restaurant or coffee shop in the morning. Biking if better for the environment and overall better for your health. Try biking for half an hour every day or every other day and slowly increase the time you spend on your bike. You will be amazed at how far you can go and how long you can ride!

3. Swimming

This form of exercise is great for blood flow to the veins and a perfect activity to cool down in the summer. This may not always be the most accessible form of exercise if you do not have your own pool, but try and find a public pool in your area and go for a swim with friends on weekends. Even a couple laps around the pool is great exercise without being super tiring or strenuous.

4. Yoga/Pilates

These exercises can be modified to be comfortable for different bodies and injuries. Both Pilates and yoga classes build muscle strength without being strenuous or cardio-heavy. Try signing up for a drop-in class at a local studio and ask an instructor for help regarding any injuries or pain due to Varicose Veins. Find the class that works for you and try to incorporate that into your daily, or weekly, routine!

5. In-Home Workouts

Busy schedules can make it hard to get out and exercise each day. In-home workouts are an important way to stay active when you are unable to go outside. Try short reps of jumping jacks, crunches, squats, sit-ups, and lunges in an open area of your home or yard. These exercises are easy, don’t take up too much room, and are important for maintaining vein health.

Time to Love Your Legs

February is the month of love, and we want you to love your legs! You shouldn’t have to live your life hiding because of varicose or spider veins. Good vein health can become a habit and priority in your life! It’s easy to achieve your best physical health with a few simple lifestyle changes. Here are three things you can do to help alleviate the pain and embarrassment caused by varicose veins:

1. Schedule a consultation at the Reno Vein Clinic

Dr. Merchant and the staff at the Reno Vein Clinic are experienced in healing all severities of spider and varicose veins. We offer four different treatment options to help you achieve your best legs. Read about all our treatment options here!

2. Get plenty of exercise

We know you’ve probably heard this before, but getting enough exercise, particularly gentle cardio, is one of the best ways to keep legs healthy. When you move and exercise, blood flows more quickly through the legs. When you’re stationary for long periods of time, blood can pool, worsening varicose veins. Activities like brisk walking, jogging on sand or other low-impact terrains, biking, and hiking are great for varicose veins. Swimming is also a great total-body workout that really gets blood pumping! Be sure to always consult your doctor before starting a new workout regimen.

3. Maintain a Good Diet

One of the best ways to improve leg and overall health is to eat right. When your body has extra pounds to carry, it causes a strain on your legs and veins. Losing weight can be one of the most effective ways to help reduce the appearance of varicose veins. It’s important to exercise and eat well for maximum weight loss. But don’t worry, it’s easy to eat well when you have the right recipes and can make meals that are delicious and healthy! Check out this recipe for Chicken & Quinoa Burrito Bowls! Be sure that you’re including enough water into your diet too. Hydrated veins are more supple and allow blood to flow through them more easily!

Throughout your journey to better vein health, be patient and stay positive. Remember that you’re working towards a better, healthier life!!

The Importance of Preventative Care

Have you ever heard the saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?”

When it comes to healthcare and self-care, this quote rings more true today than it ever has! Each day it is so easy to take small steps to improve your overall health and help avoid more serious health problems that may arise in the future. You and your doctor are a team when it comes to your wellness, and through routine checkups, you can ensure good overall health each day through your lifetime!

Did you know, nearly 80% of illnesses are preventable in some capacity? Preventative care focuses on establishing, maintaining, or improving your health status each and every day. This can include vaccinations and screenings, but it’s also about a consistent, nutritious diet and proper exercise. his means that you can take extra steps toward your health to save yourself trouble and pain in the future!

Here are 3 easy steps you take to be proactive about your health today:

1. Drink Water. We say this all the time, but drinking water is SO important to overall health. Your body works better when it’s hydrated.
2. Watch Your Weight. If your body is forced to carry around extra pounds, it leads to more strain on muscles, veins, and joints.
3. Schedule Regular Visits with Your Doctor. It’s important to make sure you receive frequent check-ups to ensure everything is running smoothly.

Preventative self-care is a habit you’ll want to make sooner, rather than later. Make healthy lifestyle choices and monitor your health– you’ll be happy you did! Call us today to schedule your preventative care appointment (775) 329-3100!

Source.

Live Vein-Pain Free in 2018!

It’s time to treat yourself to beautiful legs in 2018- and we are here to help! Get rid of your spider veins and varicose veins once and for all and make 2018 your year of freedom from leg pain and fatigue! Your Reno Vein Specialist, Dr. Robert Merchant, specializes in four different types of treatment options to heal varicose and spider veins.

VenaSeal™ is the newest minimally invasive vein closure system in the industry. This treatment option can help treat venous reflux by directly closing the vein segment, while significantly minimizing discomfort. Recovery time is minimal and the risk of post-operative side effects is lower than other procedure options. We often get asked if closing a vein is bad for overall circulation, and the answer is no! The blood from the closed vein will redirect itself to one of many healthy veins! Read more here!

If you think VenaSeal™ might not be the answer for you, we also specialize in ClosureFast™, also known as Radiofrequency Closure. This is an FDA-approved procedure, which creates lasting results in only about 90 minutes! Downtime is minimal, with most patients taking just one day off work following surgery. ClosureFast™ causes less pain than stripping or laser ablation.

Additionally, we offer Ambulatory Micro Phlebectomy at RVC which can be performed in combination with Radiofrequency Closure or on its own. This is the surgical removal of large varicose veins through incisions so small there is typically little to no scarring! The surgery leads to an improved appearance of the treatment area, and less long-term pain!

Lastly, we offer Sclerotherapy to treat spider veins. This safe, non-operative treatment method involves using tiny needles to micro-inject the FDA-approved solution, Sotradecol®. The solution, once injected, causes spider veins to shrink and disappear. Typically, 2-4 treatments are needed to achieve maximum results, but there is absolutely no down time!

Say goodbye to your varicose or spider veins once-and-for-all in 2018. You deserve to live free of pain and embarrassment about your legs.

Call us today at (775) 329-3100 to schedule a consultation with Reno’s vein specialist, Dr. Merchant, and let our staff help you put your best legs forward this year!