Traditional Chinese Medicine has the saying, "Where qi flows, blood flows; where qi stagnates, blood stasis." Therefore, herbs that invigorate blood and resolve stasis are often used in conjunction with herbs that regulate qi and promote its flow. "Blood flows when it encounters heat and congeals when it encounters cold." Thus, they are also paired with herbs that warm and unblock the meridians to enhance their effect of invigorating blood and resolving stasis. So, what are the foods that invigorate blood and resolve stasis?
1. Grapes: In 1997, the University of Wisconsin discovered that drinking three glasses of purple grape juice daily can reduce platelet aggregation by 40%, similar to the thrombolytic, anticoagulant, and fibrinolytic effects of aspirin. The flavonoids in grape skins, in particular, have a certain effect on preventing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
2. Lemons: The citric acid in lemons combines with calcium ions to form soluble compounds, which can alleviate the effect of calcium ions in promoting blood clotting, and help prevent hypertension and myocardial infarction.
3. Pineapple: Pineapple contains bromelain, which can not only dissolve blood clots but also prevent their formation early on. It reduces blood viscosity and has an anti-thrombotic effect.
4. Grapefruit: The citral in grapefruit can significantly reduce the overall oxygen consumption in mice and also improve the electrocardiogram of myocardial ischemia in animals. Citral can inhibit platelet aggregation.
5. Olives: The oleic acid abundant in olive oil can lower total cholesterol and bad cholesterol levels in the blood while increasing good cholesterol levels, thereby preventing cardiovascular diseases. In addition, its polyphenol compounds can also reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease.
6. Hawthorn: The flavonoids in hawthorn can dilate peripheral blood vessels and have a slow and lasting effect of lowering blood pressure.
7. Chinese Cabbage: The rich vitamin C in Chinese cabbage can lower human cholesterol concentration and increase blood vessel elasticity. Regular consumption can prevent atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.
8. Celery: Apigenin in celery can lower blood pressure and affect the central nervous system. Apigenin also has a certain effect of dilating peripheral blood vessels, which is closely related to its blood pressure-lowering effect.
9. Chives: Chives are rich in potassium. Regular consumption can optimize the body's potassium-sodium balance and is beneficial for patients with hypertension and heart disease.
10. Onions: Onions contain diallyl disulfide, sulfur-containing amino acids, and cysteine, which have a good lipid-lowering effect. Onion is one of the few known vegetables that contain prostaglandin A, a potent vasodilator that can reduce peripheral vascular resistance and blood viscosity, thereby lowering blood pressure.
11. Chinese Yam: The dopamine in Chinese yam has the function of dilating blood vessels and improving blood circulation.
12. Garlic: Garlic has a very positive effect on the cardiovascular system, lowering blood pressure, blood lipids, and cholesterol. Eating two cloves of garlic daily can lower blood pressure by about 12% after three months, and the reduction will be greater over time.
13. Scallions: Scallion extract can treat cardiovascular sclerosis. Scallions also enhance fibrinolytic activity and lower blood lipids.
14. Ginger: Ginger contains a substance similar to salicylic acid, which has an anti-platelet aggregation effect.
15. Sweet Potato: The mucoprotein in sweet potatoes can maintain the elasticity of blood vessel walls, prevent atherosclerosis, and promote the excretion of cholesterol.
16. Tomato: Tomatoes are high in vitamin P, which can reduce the permeability of capillaries and prevent vascular hardening.
17. Eggplant: Eggplant contains vitamin P, which can soften blood vessels, enhance their elasticity, reduce capillary permeability, and prevent capillary rupture.
18. Cauliflower: The abundant potassium in cauliflower plays an important role in heart activity and also helps prevent hypertension.
19. Shiitake Mushroom: Shiitake mushrooms contain adenine, choline, and some nucleic acid substances, which are beneficial for preventing arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.
20. Mushrooms: Mushrooms have effects of lowering blood lipids, anticoagulation, and protecting the cardiovascular system.