Summer Heat and Your Health -- Promoting Healthy Blood Circulation

I'd like to reflect on how summer relates to health and how we can prepare for the upcoming autumn season . In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), summer relates to the fire element. In terms of our physiology, summer relates to the heart and to circulation. Having healthy blood circulation is beneficial for enjoying longer days and more physical activity.

The circulatory system is among the most vital components of overall health, as it connects all of your blood vessels, nourishes the various parts of your body, and collects waste material for removal. Poor circulation creates a condition of stagnation. Stagnant blood also generates heat in the form of inflammation—the hallmark of a wide variety of chronic illnesses, including heart disease, Alzheimer's, and cancer. Thus, reducing this inflammation and boosting healthy blood flow is absolutely critical to health and longevity. These are important components of circulatory and heart diseases that reach well beyond elevated cholesterol, and it's important to address conditions such as hyperviscosity and inflammation.

Hyperviscosity is thickness of the blood. This condition is sometimes due to genetic tendency (approximately 25 percent of the population exhibits one or more “defects”—such as elevated Lp(a), PAI-1, or homocysteine), but hyperviscosity can also be caused by lifestyle, dietary habits, and infections or traumas. When inflammation and hyperviscosity come together, they affect every system in the body. A healthy immune system requires proper inflammatory response. If we have no inflammatory response at all, our immune system can’t respond properly. If the response is inappropriate, on the other hand, we can develop allergies, autoimmune diseases (the body’s immune system attacking itself), and other degenerative changes. Strong immunity requires balance, with inflammation responses presenting only at necessary times and with necessary force.

A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, unprocessed whole grains, and essential fatty acids (like you’ll find in nuts and fish) is crucial to a strong, healthy circulatory and immune system. The antioxidants, fiber, and omega-3s that such a diet provides serve to minimize the damaging effects of free radicals, inhibit the build-up of plaque in the arteries, and soothe inflammation.

Since these conditions, like so many others, are complicated and multi-symptomatic in nature, it's best to embrace a protocol that demonstrates balance and whole-body wellness. You can learn more about my formula for healthy blood circulation here.