Clotting in the blood is a necessary feature in the body to prevent excessive bleeding.
However, clots that do not dissolve naturally themselves are a potential danger.
This is because they can break away and travel to vital organs in the body, blocking blood supply to them.
In some cases they can cause heart attacks, strokes and pulmonary embolisms – all life-threatening emergencies.
Luckily there are ways to minimise the likelihood of developing a clot.
Like many medical conditions, diet is one such way.
Dietitian and chief science officer at Field Doctor, Sasha Watkins, spoke with Express.co.uk about how diet can be used to lower your risk for blood clots.
“It’s important to acknowledge that while there are some foods you can eat more of, as well as others you can avoid, to reduce your risk of developing a blood clot, there are several other risk factors that can increase your risk of developing a blood clot, which outweigh any changes implemented to your diet,” she said.
“We know there is a link between inflammation and clotting – as inflammation decreases the activity of natural anticoagulant mechanisms – so foods that reduce inflammation should be at the front of your mind when considering our diet.
“When looking at our diet specifically, it is clear there needs to be more research into the connection between different foods and inflammation, however, studies have shown that following a Mediterranean diet can protect against conditions linked to inflammation.
“The Mediterranean diet consists of a wide variety of foods, mostly of fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, whole grains, and fish.
“So, if you fall into the category of being at high risk for blood clots, it’s a simple diet to follow.
“For those who are at a greater risk of developing a blood clot, eating foods that contain flavonoids can also be beneficial in reducing the risk of a clot – as they decrease inflammation.”
She specifically recommended eating more of three types of food – “all of which are commonly found in a Mediterranean diet” – for this reason:
Examples of whole grains in food include:
- Quinoa
- Whole grain pasta
- Whole grain bread
- Whole oats or oatmeal
- Whole grain brown or wild rice.
She also recommended losing weight if you are considered overweight to lower your risk for blood clots.
“It’s well researched that being overweight can put you at an increased risk of clotting, so following a diet which encourages weight loss and lowering your BMI can help reduce your risk,” Sasha said.
She added: “Some other risk factors which can increase people’s risk of clotting include physical inactivity, pregnancy, certain medication such as birth control pills, or genetics – so it’s important to keep in mind that diet alone can not lower or raise the risk of blood clots.”
According to the NHS, symptoms of a blood clot can include:
- Throbbing or cramping pain, swelling, redness and warmth in a leg or arm
- Sudden breathlessness, sharp chest pain (may be worse when you breathe in)
- A cough or coughing up blood.
If you experience any of these symptoms you should call 111.
However, if you’re struggling to breathe or someone has passed out you should call 999.
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