5 Vitamins and Minerals to Help Prevent Varicose Veins

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is about more than just staying on top of our current health issues. It’s also about preventing such issues from happening in the first place. With a wealth of science, resources, and options at our fingertips, it’s never been easier to prioritize your health — including the health of your circulatory system.

Whether you already experience varicose veins and want to stop more from forming, or haven’t dealt with this issue and never want to, there are preventative actions you can take. One of the simplest steps is to incorporate certain nutrients into your diet. 

While there isn’t enough scientific evidence to prove vitamins and minerals have a significant effect on varicose veins, each of the vitamins and minerals discussed below helps your body in ways that may prevent varicose veins or help manage preexisting symptoms. They’re also all beneficial in more ways than one, so you really can’t go wrong. 

5 Supplements for Healthy Veins

Integrating more nutrients into your diet — whether through supplements or natural foods — will only contribute to an all-around healthy lifestyle. Read on to find out how to prevent varicose veins with vitamins and minerals, and which foods to add to your grocery list. 

1. Vitamin C

Vitamin C helps promote healthy blood circulation and reduces inflammation. It also assists in the production of collagen — which is the building block for bones, skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It also helps every blood vessel maintain a sturdy structure. 

For all of these reasons, vitamin C plays an important role in strengthening vein walls and preventing the kind of damage that leads to varicose veins. 

There are plenty of vitamin C-packed fruits and vegetables to choose from:

• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Citrus fruits
• Peppers
• Potatoes
• Strawberries

There are also plenty of supplements that contain vitamin C. 

2. Vitamin E

Vitamin E refers to a group of vitamins with distinct antioxidant properties. 

Prolonged vitamin E deficiency is linked to the development of varicose veins. Although a lack of vitamin E doesn’t itself cause varicose veins, the condition makes veins more sensitive to blood stasis and to venous hypertension, which in turn makes veins more susceptible to damage through risk factors like constipation or pregnancy. 

Some foods that contain vitamin E include:

• Broccoli
• Hazelnuts and peanuts
• Mango
• Sunflower seeds
• Spinach
• Tomato

In addition to these natural sources, vitamin E is also added to some foods and is available as a dietary supplement. 

3. Vitamin B

There are eight different B vitamins, all of which help various enzymes do their jobs. These roles range from releasing energy from carbohydrates to moving oxygen and nutrients throughout your body. The eight B vitamins are:

• B1 or thiamin
• B2 or riboflavin
• B3 or niacin
• B5 or pantothenic acid
• B6 or pyridoxine
• B7 or biotin
• B9 or folate or folic acid
• B12 or cyanocobalamin

Taking this vitamin is proven to lower homocysteine levels. High levels of this amino acid are linked to hardened and damaged arteries and poor blood circulation. Therefore, increasing your vitamin B intake may help contribute to healthy homocysteine metabolism. 

Foods that contain various B vitamins include: 

• Beans and leafy greens
• Eggs
• Milk
• Nuts
• Seafood, pork, and poultry
• Whole grains

Many B vitamins are also added to certain foods and are widely available as supplements. 

4. Vitamin K

Vitamin K is a group of vitamins that is essential for making the various proteins that help with blood clotting and wound healing. 

Studies show that increasing your vitamin K levels may help prevent the formation of varicose veins. According to one report, inadequate vitamin K intake might decrease the activity of the protein known as MGP, which is crucial to the health of your vascular systems and the arterial vessel wall. 

Natural sources of vitamin K include:

• Broccoli
• Cabbage and lettuce
• Eggs
• Kale and spinach
• Pork and liver
• Soybeans

In addition to these natural sources, vitamin K is also added to foods and is a healthy veins supplement. 

5. Copper

Copper is a trace mineral that is essential for building and repairing the cells that line blood vessels. Copper helps bring collagen and elastin together, which both play a role in protecting blood vessels from small tears that can cause blood clots and plaque buildup in your veins. 

Here are some foods containing copper:

• Avocados
• Dark chocolate
• Salmon and oysters
• Sesame seeds, cashews, and chickpeas
• Shiitake mushrooms and firm tofu
• Sweet potatoes

In addition to these natural sources, copper is available as a dietary supplement. 

When to Seek a Vein Health Consultation 

Healthy veins supplements filled with vitamins and minerals may help with the prevention of varicose veins, but they shouldn’t be viewed as a cure. When natural treatment for varicose veins doesn’t prove successful, you may want to look into getting medical treatment from a vein specialist. 

With My Vein Treatment’s physician locator tool, you can find a vein specialist near you and learn more about treatment for varicose veins in legs and other related problems.