Leafy Greens
The highest sources include parsley, kale and Swiss chard. One cup of raw parsley contains 984 micrograms of vitamin K; a cup of raw kale contains 472 micrograms; and 1 cup of raw Swiss chard contains 299 micrograms.
Vitamin K helps to make various proteins that are needed for blood clotting and the building of bones. Prothrombin is a vitamin K-dependent protein directly involved with blood clotting.
Dried fruit provides significant amounts of iron, with each cup of dried apricots containing 7.5 milligrams and a cup of prunes containing 4.7 milligrams. Cooked green leafy vegetables are also good sources of iron, with each cup of boiled spinach containing 6.3 milligrams.
Drinking caffeine-filled beverages can lead to “sticky blood,” and an increased risk of a blood clot according to a leading Consultant in the UK. The likes of coffee and other caffeine favourites can dehydrate the body, making the blood become a thicker consistency - leading to slower blood flow.
Water helps to thin the blood, which in turn makes it less likely to form clots, explains Jackie Chan, Dr. P.H., the lead study author. But don't chug your extra H2O all at once. "You need to drink water throughout the day to keep your blood thin, starting with a glass or two in the morning," adds Dr.
Natural Aids in Thinning Blood
Meanwhile there are fruits that can aid in blood thinning. These include blueberries, cherries, cranberries, grapes, oranges, prunes, raisins, strawberries and tangerines. There are several fish species that can aid in anti-clotting objectives.
British Heart Foundation: Understanding blood clots
Typically risk factors for blood clotting include surgery, cancer, and pregnancy. The findings from one small study, however, imply that a nutrient found in eggs and meat may also increase the risk of blood clotting.
Dense with nutrients, broccoli is a healthy addition to any balanced diet. However, if you have a condition that requires you to take blood-thinning medication, you might want to be cautious. Broccoli doesn't thin your blood, but the vitamin K in broccoli can inhibit your anticoagulant medication.
Fluid retention caused by excessive salt consumption can lead to increased pressure on the blood vessel walls](http://www.livestrong.com/article/429361-why-does-sodium-increase-blood-pressure/). The pressure causes the blood vessel walls to thicken and narrow and the heart begins to pump harder to move fluid around.
The increase in blood cells makes the blood thicker. Thick blood can lead to strokes or tissue and organ damage. Symptoms include lack of energy (fatigue) or weakness, headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, visual disturbances, nose bleeds, bleeding gums, heavy menstrual periods, and bruising.
Green leafy vegetables like kale and spinach are high in vitamin K, as well as Brussels sprouts and broccoli.
Bleeding disorders: Magnesium seem to slow blood clotting. In theory, taking magnesium might increase the risk of bleeding or bruising in people with bleeding disorders.
Anticoagulants, such as heparin or warfarin (also called Coumadin), slow down your body's process of making clots. Antiplatelets, such as aspirin and clopidogrel, prevent blood cells called platelets from clumping together to form a clot. Antiplatelets are mainly taken by people who have had a heart attack or stroke.
Exercise builds plasma. Just one vigorous workout expands plasma 10 percent by the next day. This thins blood in a healthy way. Exercise daily and the plasma pool stays high, giving you the fluid blood of an athlete.
Both these concepts are myths. Lemon juice or slices in hot water will neither thin your blood, not make you lose weight. Lemons will contribute a bit of vit C to your diet.
When you're dehydrated, you lose blood volume, which causes your blood to get thicker. That makes it harder for your heart to supply that blood to your muscles. As your heart works harder to pump that blood, your heart rate increases.
In short, yes. High cholesterol — combined with other factors — can contribute to the formation of blood clots in your legs. High cholesterol can also increase your risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD). This occurs when plaque builds up on the walls of your arteries, narrowing them and limiting blood flow.
Let's flesh out the story a bit. There is a growing body of science that confirms that dark chocolate does indeed provide health benefits. Dark chocolate thins the blood and performs the same anti-clotting activity as aspirin. Many doctors recommend baby aspirin to reduce our risk of heart attack or stroke.
Black tea contains caffeine. Caffeine might slow blood clotting. Taking black tea along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Other compounds in green tea may slow blood clotting and therefore increase the blood-thinning effect of these medications. You should not mix green tea and aspirin because they both prevent blood from clotting.
A small plate of mozzarella cheese. Vitamin K, calcium and zinc are all necessary for the reactions in your body that cause blood to thicken and clot, so eating foods rich in these nutrients may be beneficial for thickening your blood.