The Missing Link Between Blood Flow and Soft Tissues Health
Soft tissues, just like muscles, are our musculoskeletal system's unsung heroes. They hold the body together, enable movement, and contribute to our overall well-being.
Despite their crucial role, the importance of maintaining soft tissue health is often underestimated, and the vital link between blood flow and the well-being of these tissues is rarely explored and addressed by wellness and health professionals.
By overlooking this connection, we might be missing a significant piece of the puzzle to optimal health and quicker recovery from physical activity and injury.
Blood Flow and Nutrient Delivery
Blood Flow - Nourishment Of Soft Tissues.
Nutritional Cornerstones - What To Eat For Better Blood Flow
1. Blood Flow and Nutrient Delivery
You already may know that arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to various parts of the body, including soft tissues.
However, smaller vessels called arterioles further distribute blood to the capillary beds in these tissues. Regardless if it is for energy or recovery, here are some of the most essential nutrients and substances that blood delivers to soft tissues underneath the skin:
Oxygen - required for cellular respiration, which provides energy for cellular functions.
Glucose - a primary source of energy for every cell.
Amino Acids - the building blocks of proteins necessary for tissue health and repair.
Fatty Acids - used as an energy source when glucose levels are low.
Vitamins and Minerals- essential for all biochemical processes.
As earlier mentioned, capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in the body and serve as the primary site of exchange between the blood and tissues, beyond tendons and ligaments.
Capillaries also play a role in waste removal. Metabolic byproducts like carbon dioxide and lactic acid are picked up by the blood for elimination from the body, which is critical for effective recovery.
Capillaries are equipped with precapillary sphincters, which are small rings of smooth muscle that control blood flow into individual capillaries. These sphincters can contract or relax in response to various signals, such as:
Chemical Signals: Local tissue conditions, like low oxygen or high levels of waste products, can trigger vasodilation, allowing more blood to flow through the capillaries.
Neural Signals: The nervous system can also regulate capillary blood flow via vasoconstrictive or vasodilative neurotransmitters.
Hormonal Signals: Hormones like adrenaline can affect capillary blood flow as part of the body's overall stress response
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Filtration and Reabsorption
Capillaries also specialize in filtering blood and reabsorbing essential substances in specific organs like the kidneys. The kidney's glomerular capillaries filter blood to create urine, while peritubular capillaries reabsorb valuable substances back into the blood.
Capillaries also play a role in immune function. Their walls are permeable enough to allow the passage of immune cells, such as white blood cells, into tissues where they are needed to combat infection or heal wounds.
Blood flow through capillaries near the skin's surface is also essential for body temperature regulation. By adjusting the amount of blood flowing through these surface capillaries, the body can either conserve or dissipate heat as needed.
In summary, capillaries are vital in regulating blood flow, facilitating nutrient and waste exchange, and maintaining proper function - essential for the well-being of virtually all bodily tissues.
2.Blood Flow - Nourishment Of Soft Tissues.
Adequate blood flow is crucial for the health and repair of soft tissues. When blood flow is compromised, as in cases of injury or inflammation, the affected tissues may not get the nutrients they need, leading to symptoms like cramps, pain, and stiffness, or can result in conditions like ischemia, where the blood supply to tissues is insufficient, causing a lack of oxygen and nutrients. This can lead to tissue damage and can be particularly severe in vital organs like the heart and brain.
Blood flow isn't just about pumping blood through veins and arteries. It is essential for delivering vital nutrients and oxygen to every cell, organ, muscle, and soft tissue.
As you already know, efficient blood flow can significantly speed up recovery from injuries and surgeries, decrease muscle soreness, and enhance overall soft tissue functionality. When your cardiovascular health is compromised, it directly affects your body's ability to feed these soft tissues, possibly leading to a slower recovery and healing process.
Nitric Oxide Key To Blood Flow
On the molecular level, nitric oxide is the hero of this story. As a vasodilator, it expands blood vessels, efficiently transporting nutrients and oxygen to where they are most needed. Nitric oxide is critical in various physiological processes, including but not limited to neurotransmission and cellular function. Without adequate nitric oxide levels, your soft tissues may not receive the nutrition they need for optimal functioning, exacerbating existing conditions and making you more prone to new injuries.
Good cardiovascular health and optimal levels of nitric oxide work synergistically to maintain efficient blood flow. While cardiovascular health ensures that the physical infrastructure for blood circulation is sound, nitric oxide ensures that this infrastructure can adapt dynamically to the body's needs. This synergistic relationship is crucial for maintaining balance and promoting overall health, whether during intense physical activity when soft tissues require more oxygen and nutrients or during periods of rest and repair.
Drink Resync to ensure you recover from any exercise regularly to keep your cardiovascular system in top shape.
Pay attention to your diet. Check our blogs on how to increase nitric oxide with diet.
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Therapeutic Approaches To Support Blood Flow
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has long been considered a solution for various health conditions, from carbon monoxide poisoning, and PSTD to chronic wounds.
However, its potential benefits in enhancing blood flow and subsequently improving soft tissue health are only now coming into focus. By increasing oxygen levels in the blood, HBOT can improve the delivery of nutrients to soft tissues, making it a valuable therapeutic tool for anyone looking to accelerate the healing process or enhance soft tissue health and functionality.
Mindful, slow-movement practices such as tai chi or fascial movement with Core Boot can also be a powerful ally in optimizing the blood flow to soft tissues, starting with your feet. These forms of exercise encourage mindful breathing, which boosts oxygen levels in the blood necessary for soft tissue health.
Consult a healthcare provider about HBOT's suitability for your specific condition.
Incorporate mindful movement practices like tai chi or fascial movement with the Core Boot into your daily or weekly routine.
Practice gentle, slow, and deep breathing mixed with humming to increase blood flow and calm your nervous system.asta
3: Nutritional Cornerstones - What To Eat For Better Blood Flow
Food plays a more significant role in blood circulation than you might think.
A diet rich in reds like red spinach, Aronia, red beets, and leafy greens like arugula can significantly improve vascular health. Potassium, Omega-3 fatty acids, are also critical in blood flow support.Potassium helps balance the effects of sodium, which can otherwise cause blood vessels to constrict, leading to high blood pressure and compromised blood flow. Omega-3s help reduce inflammation, thus improving blood circulation to the soft tissues.
List Of Nutrients That Boost Blood Flow:
B-vitamins (B2, B3, B6, B12 in particular)
Flavonoids & Catechin Polyphenols
Capsaicin (spicy peppers)
Gingerols & Shogaols (ginger)Allicin (garlic)Cinnamic Acid (cinnamon)
Fundamental Heart-Healthy Foods To Boost Blood Flow:
Curcuminoids (Red Spinach)
Best Nitric Oxide Reds For Blood Flow
Red Spinach (Amaranthus tricolor)
Red spinach is taking the sports supplement industry by storm as the world's most concentrated source of natural nitrates.
Recent research shows that red spinach can produce substantial gains compared to beetroot extract at a fraction of the dose. Red spinach extract is standardized to a very high nitrate content, contains no sugar or other unwanted nutrients.
Red spinach extract also has vitamin E, is a good source of potassium and is loaded with inflammation-fighting antioxidants to support your health.
Fun Fact: Resync was the first supplement company in the US to use red spinach for supporting nitric oxide and recovery from physical activity.
Chokeberry (aka Aronia)
Aronia berries are a remarkable source of unique antioxidants, plus they support nitric oxide production.
The nitrate level in aronia berries make ruby-red beets pale to a paltry pink.
If you want to learn the true power of Aronia, read our recent blog on that powerful berry.
Fun Fact: Resync was the first supplement company in the US to use aronia with red spinach for supporting nitric oxide and recovery from physical activity.
Red Beetroot (Beta vulgaris)
Red beetroot has been the industry standard for raising nitric oxide levels for decades. Beet powder may have been popular, but research evolves, and the newest science says there are even better sources of natural nitrates.
There's nothing wrong with drinking beet juice: it's cheap and easy to get, but there's a catch.
Nitrate levels from one beet juice to the next can be off by a factor of ten, and, frankly, the nitrate levels in red beets punch like a lightweight compared to the heavy-hitting doses in other plants like red spinach.
You can try beet juice, but you may have the same problem: it doesn't always deliver. Check out our table comparing nitrate doses from many different sources. Plus, the extra sugar in most beet juices is not what you want for a healthy heart, soft tissue and weight.
Fun Fact: Resync was the first supplement company in the US to use aronia with red spinach for supporting nitric oxide and recovery from physical activity.
Turmeric (Curcumin longa)
Turmeric doesn't have any nitrates in it. However, it is one of the most potent anti-inflammatory agents known to humankind, and it can help boost nitrate-making processes in healthy adults.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Ginger, the spicy botanical, helps promote a healthy heart via a different mechanism than nitric oxide. In addition to its anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fatigue effects, there's no reason not to challenge your palate with this pungent spice and add additional value to your soft tissue health.
Mango (Mangifera indica)
Besides being delicious, mango may provide circulation benefits by increasing nitric oxide genes and promoting microcirculation — incredibly important for getting nutrients to where they need to go.
Fun Fact: Resync was the first supplement company in the US to use red spinach, Aronia, red beets, turmeric, ginger, and mango for supporting nitric oxide and recovery from physical activity.
Aim to eat foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids like salmon or walnuts.
Ensure your diet includes reds promoting nitric oxide, like red spinach, Aronia, red beets, mango, turmeric, and ginger.
Blood Flow & Soft Tissue Co-Create Healthy Body
More Energy- Blood transports oxygen and essential nutrients to soft tissues to support your muscles' structure and function. It also supports hormones that help regulate your body's energy levels.
Multilayer Support- Every layer of your body needs blood flow to function and stay healthy. This multi-layered support allows for greater resilience and adaptability, making it possible to respond to high-intensity stress and activity.
Unconditional Connection- Soft tissues cannot function optimally without healthy blood flow. Low blood volume can dry your tissues, slow recovery from physical activity, and delay injury healing. Low blood volume can make muscles function inefficiently, predisposing you to injury.
Strength & Balance- Healthy blood flow is essential for delivering the oxygen and nutrients muscles and soft tissues require for strength and balance. When well-nourished, these tissues can generate more force and contract more efficiently, contributing to overall strength and better balance.
Healthy Attitude- A healthy circulation improves your heart, brain function, and energy levels. These are crucial to your overall mental health.
Full Body Recovery- Blood flow is crucial to every layer of our bodies' recovery. Optimizing blood flow helps to recover quicker from travel, exercise, and busy, stressful days.
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