How to Improve Circulation Through Exercise

One of the best ways to improve circulation is through exercise. This is because:

1. Exercise is good for you anyway - it helps every bodily function.
2. You will live longer if you exercise - there is a clear connection between exercise and heart and artery disease
3. Exercise is cheap - it can even be free!
4. Exercise can be sociable - and we all could do with more friends!
5. Exercise reduces stress. Stress is a big factor in disease. Particularly when exercising to improve the arterial system - one of the top reasons to exercise - reducing stress is a big help.

So - what sort of exercise will really help blood circulation?

Basically, any exercise is better than none. (And worry: walking round the house really does not qualify as exercise, if that's your reasoning!) However, some types of exercise are better than others.

Exercise can be split into three categories;

• Aerobic exercise
• Weight training exercise, and
• General exercise

All these types of exercise are good. But the exercise to use to improve blood circulation is aerobic exercise.

What is Aerobic Exercise?

"Aerobic" means "with oxygen". Aerobic exercise is exercise which involves the breakdown of sugar with the use of oxygen. The sugar is derived either from the liver's glycogen stores (a form of sugar), and then when these are used up, from fats.

When the body starts using fats, this is a slower process; and this swap-over causes a temporary slowing of the body's energy, which sports people call "hitting the wall".

Weight training, on the other hand, is a form of "anaerobic" exercise, in which sugar is broken down for energy without the use of oxygen. This is vital to maintain muscles bulk as well as certain hormones in the blood - eg testosterone for men. However, it does not benefit the arteries and heart as much as aerobic exercise.

Why Use Aerobic Exercise?

The reason to use aerobic exercise to improve blood circulation is that aerobic exercise is known to strengthen and enlarge the heart muscle, which improves the efficiency with which it pumps. This alone, carried out regularly, will increase circulation.

There are other advantages of using aerobic exercise to improve blood circulation:

• By improving blood circulation, it tends to lower blood pressure
• It tones the muscles throughout the body
• It strengthens the lungs, which means that more life-giving oxygen can be absorbed
• The number and quality of red blood cells are increased - the cells which carry oxygen to our body tissues
• The brain receives more oxygen - maintaining and improving memory and thought processes
• continue

[Continued on page 2 - The best aerobic exercises to improve circulation]

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Some herbs to help blood circulation:

1. Cayenne Pepper.

Cayenne is a wonderful herb which improves circulation wonderfully. Cayenne has an affinity with the circulation, the heart and the blood. Cayenne does what is needed; if you need safely to increase the circulation, it helps. (But see the caution below.)

Eg - varicose veins; try taking 1 Cayenne Capsule 3 times a day.

2. Ginkgo Capsules or Drops

Ginkgo is well known for helping to improve the circulation. It is mainly known for its effect on the brain - especially with regard to memory. However, Ginkgo does improve circulation for the whole body.

3. Garlic Capsules

Garlic has been used for many years to help the circulation and arteries. It can be used in cooking; but many people prefer to use low odour garlic - which is more sociable (your breath does not smell!) This is available as Garlic Capsules. 1-3 capsules a day is the usual amount taken.

4. Hawthorn Berry

Hawthorn Berry is a well known, safe, herb for improving heart function and helping to improve blood circulation. It is favoured by many herbalists. If you search around it can be found to buy on the Internet. One good type of hawthorn to buy is as Hawthorn Drops.

5. Circulation Herbal Formulas

Proprietary formulations are available to help circulation. These are combinations of herbs which help to improve blood circulation.