The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the National Institutes of Health, recommends moderate exercise for expectant mothers, including prenatal yoga, walking, aqua aerobics or classes specifically designed for pregnant women. These activities help promote healthy weight gain, improve mood and prepare the body for labor.

Exercise before conception as well as the early stages of pregnancy may also help by driving the production of two proteins that boost blood vessel health, according to researchers from the University of Oregon and the University of Minnesota. The team experimented on two groups of rats that were later impregnated: one had aerobic exercise before and after conception, while the other didn't. In the former group, mothers had higher levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and heat shock proteins (HSPs). VEGF stimulates the growth of new blood vessels and promotes heart health, while HSPs support optimal circulation and blood pressure.

"There have been many studies about exercise and pregnancy, but not at the molecular level," said study author Jeffrey Gilbert. Further research is needed to verify these health effects in humans.

Researchers in Sweden enrolled more than 33,000 women into a study to test the effects of chocolate on their health. After the subjects filled out questionnaires characterizing how much chocolate they consumed on a regular basis, the scientists kept track of their health for about 10 years.

A decade later, women who ate the most chocolate, which averaged out to be about 67 grams per week, experienced fewer problems related to their blood circulation.

Chocolate contains healthy compounds known as flavanols, which are also found in tea, wine and certain fruits and vegetables, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This type of candy contains a combination of cocoa butter and cocoa solids, the latter of which is thought to have most of the healthy compounds, the NIH said. Dark chocolate has more cocoa solids than milk chocolate, making the darker variety the healthier option of the two.

Most of the chocolate in Sweden is 30 percent cocoa solids by volume, according to the researchers.

American consumers should remember that most candy made with chocolate also contain high amounts of fat, and more research is needed before medical professionals start recommending that people eat chocolate, the NIH said. 

Studies have shown that bone marrow contains different types of stem cells, which mature to form various kinds of tissue. While one group gives rise to the different varieties of blood cells, another group, known as mesenchymal stem cells, generates cartilage, bone and fat cells, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Researchers at McMaster University in Ontario demonstrated that exercise can induce mesenchymal stem cells to turn into bone rather than fat, which could improve blood circulation, as reported in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

The scientists examined two groups of mice: one had routine exercise on a treadmill while the other remained sedentary. The marrow space in the mice of the latter group contained more fat cells, while the active mice had more bone. Too many fat cells can impede the formation of blood cells and lead to conditions such as anemia, the scientists said. In contrast, blood cell production is more likely to occur in areas where mesenchymal stem cells form bone instead of fat.

More blood cells can benefit the immune system and oxygen uptake, according to the researchers, who ultimately hope that studies like this can lead to non-pharmaceutical treatments for blood disorders.

According to a recent article published by WomenCitizen.com, aloe vera may help promote healthy blood pressure levels through oxygenation and protecting the body against oxidative stress. The plant increases blood circulation by supporting clear, healthy arteries for smooth blood flow, which may also help enhance a person's heart health.

Some people who have joint and muscle discomfort experience impaired mobility that affects their quality of life. However, the news provider reported that aloe vera contains anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that promote cell growth and help repair damaged tissue, which may improve joint health and comfort.

Finally, aloe vera may be used for detoxification, the news source explained. Some people drink aloe vera juice to naturally cleanse their digestive systems and increase their bodies' ability to absorb essential nutrients.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the plant for use as a natural food flavoring.

A recent article published in the Lakewood Observer highlighted massages as one way to boost the efficacy of your digestive cleanse.

According to the news provider, the therapeutic treatments increase the circulation of blood and lymph throughout the body. This helps encourage cells to secrete higher amounts of toxins so that they can absorb nutrients delivered by the blood, as well as increase the availability of oxygen to these molecules.

Moreover, a faster rate of lymph circulation has been associated with decreased systemic inflammation, the news source reported.

This entire process promote the transport of toxins to the liver, where they are then processed and disposed of through the digestive tract.

According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, as many as 70 million Americans experience digestive diseases, some of which may be a result of excess toxins in the body.

The researchers said they believe that higher levels of vitamin D may improve the flexibility of blood vessels and reverse artery stiffness.

Lead investigator Ibhar Al Mheid described the beneficial mechanisms of the organic compounds.

"It could be strengthening endothelial cells and the muscles surrounding the blood vessels. It could also be reducing the level of angiotensin, a hormone that drives increased blood pressure, or regulating inflammation," he said.

Patients were given routine blood pressure tests using air pump and cuff devices to evaluate how well their vessels allowed blood to flow. The results showed that the subjects who were vitamin deficient had vascular dysfunction similar to that which has been shown among diabetics or individuals with hypertension.

However, the findings indicated that increasing vitamin D intake through sunlight exposure or dietary supplements over the course of the study lowered participants' blood pressure by an average of 4.6 millimeters of mercury.

However, several natural remedies recommended by Good Morning America may be able to provide relief from headaches.

The news source reports that certain foods may initiate bouts of discomfort because they contain ingredients that cause blood vessels in the head to constrict. Amines found in chocolate, as well as in some cheese and pea varieties may tighten these arteries. Nitrate-containing foods such as hot dogs and bacon may also have similar effects.

If an individual is not able to cut these food products out of their diet, the news organization explained that eating ginger can help prevent blood vessel dilation and support blood flow.

Along with foods to avoid, Good Morning America recommended the use of fish oil to help thwart migraines. The article cited a University of Cincinnati study, which showed that participants who consumed high amounts of fish or took supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids experienced fewer headaches.

Herta works with clients who suffer from a number of ailments, but some of the most common include sore muscles, weakness, pain or swelling, many of which are caused by sports injuries. However, many others visit her clinic due to worker's compensation injuries, car accidents and pregnancies.

"An average chiropractic treatment runs two to three visits for basic pain relief," she told the news provider. "But it really depends on how severe and chronic the pain is."

The news source reports that although massage therapy costs around 50 dollars, it is covered by a number of insurance providers.

Herta claims that one of the benefits of her technique that every client will experience is the relaxation of muscles and an improved blood flow, as well as lymph circulation.

The New York Times recently cited a study that found that those who underwent a deep-tissue masage were found to have significantly lower levels of cortisol, a hormone which creates stress and an increase in the number of white blood cells, which are integral to the immune system.

I often get questions from worried patients and readers with heart concerns and I’ve made it my mission to spread the word that this doesn’t have to happen to you… even if you have a long history of heart-related concerns and bad cholesterol in your family. You simply don’t have to be stuck with the bad genetic hand you’ve been dealt.

Readers often ask, what causes the plaque and toxins to deposit on the walls of the blood vessels? A typical Western diet, stress, prescription drugs, excess weight, cigarette smoke and environmental toxins are all to blame.

Now you might be saying to yourself… many of these things are simply beyond my control. And you’d be right. But please keep reading because I want to tell you about a safe and simple amino acid that can promote healthy circulation and help sweep your arteries clear so you never again have to worry about poor circulation.

For more than 50 years, scientific studies have proven this amazing and safe amino acid can help reduce toxin deposits… promote healthy blood flow… and help support strong and supple arteries. Simply known as EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid), this amino acid attaches itself to harmful toxins. Since your body recognizes EDTA as a foreign substance, it is quickly eliminated from the body—carrying with it the heavy metals and toxic deposits.

As toxins and gunk are flushed away, healthy blood flow can once again nourish the heart, brain, muscles and every organ in the body. And then, with healthy circulation, full of oxygen-rich blood, you can help reduce scores of annoying health problems and experience genuine improvements to your health.

Here are several health benefits many users report experiencing once improved blood flow is restored…

• Healthy cholesterol, homocysteine and blood pressure levels
• Less swelling in your legs and ankles
• Easier breathing
• Warmer hands and feet
• Renewed energy—enough to keep you going all day and night
• A stronger immune system
• Renewed sexual potency—to perform and enjoy a healthy love life again
• Healthy vision
• Improved memory and mental powers—razor-sharp thinking at any age
• Fewer wrinkles—and a healthy, radiant glow to your skin
• Better hearing

EDTA can be delivered intravenously (I.V.) or orally in the form of a dietary supplement. However, expect I.V. chelation to be time consuming… require the supervision of a medical professional… to involve needles… and come at a high cost requiring repeat procedures.

Thankfully EDTA is also available in a safe oral supplement providing many of the same benefits over time without the high costs, needles or doctor’s visits.

If you are more than 40 years old—and especially if you have a family history of heart problems—I recommend you consider adding oral EDTA to your daily regimen to help promote healthy cholesterol, blood pressure, smooth circulation and to help reduce your toxic exposure.

Yours for healthy living,

Dr. Michael Cutler
Medical Advisor, True Health™

By reducing the amount of dietary salt, as well as eating foods that limit bad cholesterol levels, Dr. Matthew Fink says that adults can reduce the likelihood of developing conditions that can lead to a stroke.

Other choices that may help include stopping smoking, because of its damage to blood cells and the increased chance of developing blood clots, as well as exercising to lose weight that may be causing the circulatory system to work harder, according to Fink, chief of the Division of Stroke and Critical Care Neurology at Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Some supplements may also limit the risks of developing a stroke, such as omega-3 fatty acids and other antioxidants.

Omega-3s, which are also found in several kinds of fatty fish, may help to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as blood clotting according to the Mayo Clinic, many of the risk factors that are also connected to strokes.