The Best Natural Blood Thinning Foods and Recipes

19. Sardines

Canned sardines are usually left on the grocery store shelves because no one is interested in adding them to their diet. But on learning that they’re great for keeping the blood thin, here are the best ways to select sardines the next time you’re at the store. You can choose to buy them packed in oil or water, or you can get them fresh from the meat market. You can plop them straight on the grill, add them to a Greek salad, or make a delicious curry.

18. Tart Cherry Juice

Tart cherries can take some getting used to, but they can provide a wide range of benefits for your health. They can reduce muscle soreness, help you to sleep better at night, improve your brain and immune system health, and reduce blood pressure. It naturally thins the blood, so you’re at a decreased risk for clots and strokes. You can enjoy them dried, frozen, or juiced, but beware of buying pre-made juices at the grocery store because they tend to add a lot of sugar. If you can, choose an unsweetened variety, so you’re not ingesting too many empty calories.

17. Avocado

Besides being a natural blood thinner, avocados provide a range of other health benefits. It is rich with antioxidants that help protect against cancer, can reduce the risk of depression, and can aid digestion. Magnesium and potassium are also essential for your health, as well as the same omega-3 fatty acids that you’d usually find in fish. Avocados are so good for your heart’s health that they can protect against chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease. They’re easy to add to any main dish or made as guacamole for an easy snack that can be smeared on toast or crackers.

16. Sunflower Seeds

Sunflowers are a fan favorite during summer and early fall. But did you know that their seeds make for a great healthy snack? They have many antioxidants that are important for protection against cancer and are also beneficial for your heart. For those with diabetes, sunflower seeds can also help stabilize blood sugar, reducing blood sugar spikes throughout the day. However, remember that they’re also high in calories, so you shouldn’t indulge in them too much for every snack. Just a handful should be enough to help you take care of your health.

15. Asparagus

Did you know that asparagus is actually a member of the lily family? It comes in a wide variety of colors too, including white and purple. It can be eaten on its own, added to stir-fries, or roasted in the oven as a delicious side dish. As stated earlier, asparagus is excellent at thinning the blood so that there’s less pressure on your heart in the long run. But it also has very few calories, so you’ll actually spend more calories digesting it than actually eating it. The high fiber content also keeps your digestion flowing in the right direction by keeping you regular.

14. Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba is mostly known for taking care of your memory, but did you know it’s also a natural blood thinner? It is so unique that this natural blood thinner is in its own class of plants with no known close relatives. It’s not the leaves used in traditional dishes and for health purposes, but the seeds. They’re ground up into a fine powder and can be taken in pill form. Although studies on improving memory are conflicting, there is scientific proof that it works well as an anticoagulant, so care should be exercised when adding this supplement to your diet.

13. Grape Seed Extract

Studies with grapeseed extract show that it’s quite effective at treating heart disease. It is rich with antioxidants that protect blood vessels, reduce blood pressure, work as a blood thinner, and decrease lipid levels in the blood, so there’s less cholesterol. Other benefits of grapeseed extract include improving night vision, protecting your teeth from tooth decay, strengthening your bones, and reducing edema, just to name a few. However, grapeseed extract does come with some side effects, so it’s crucial that you speak to your doctor first before you start including it in your diet.

12. Ginger

Ginger is excellent at helping with digestion issues, especially if you’re feeling nauseous. But it does have some side effects that you should be aware of. It has to be taken in large doses for these to occur, but they’re still something you should be aware of beforehand. The most common side effects include diarrhea, heartburn, and bloating. If you suffer from gallstones, ulcers, or IBS, then you should avoid large amounts of fresh ginger as it can aggravate your symptoms. You should especially avoid overeating ginger if you also suffer from a bleeding disorder since it works as a natural anticoagulant.

11. Kelp

Kelp is a stringy form of seaweed that is slowly gaining traction among people who want to live healthier lives. As mentioned before, it works well as a natural anticoagulant, but it is also considered a superfood because of its packed nutrients. It’s low in calories but rich in vitamin K, folate, magnesium, iron, and calcium, just to name a few. It’s also a rich source of iodine, essential in the regular operation of the thyroid gland, the primary gland in control of your growth and metabolism.

10. Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea is popular for a variety of reasons. First, it’s so mild that you can even give it to babies to help them sleep. Secondly, it’s a great tea if you’re trying to avoid caffeine. This natural blood thinner is rich in antioxidants, preventing cancer and heart disease. Plus, it has tons of flavones known to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, allowing the blood vessels to open up and keep the blood thin. Chamomile tea is also known to boost the immune system, improve skin health, and relieve anxiety and depression.

9. Ginseng

Ginseng root is a powerful antioxidant that is also a great anti-inflammatory. It can help improve brain function for better mood and memory and boost the immune system, so you’re less likely to get sick in the future. It also works wonderfully at lowering blood sugar levels, which is great for those who have diabetes. In addition, ginseng can prevent clotting, which is vital for those with a clotting disorder or who are prone to strokes. One of the easiest ways to add ginseng to your diet is to stew it in water and make tea.

8. Pineapple

Pineapples are tropical fruit rich in enzymes that help keep your body healthy. Other than being a natural blood thinner, it helps you to build strong bones and can actually aid in digestion. In addition, they’re low in sodium, as well as fat- and cholesterol-free so that you can indulge in a few pieces as a healthy snack throughout the day. The added fiber also helps keep you regular and feel full for much longer so that you can resist snacking on less healthy foods.

7. Garlic

Are you taking pills for high blood pressure? You may want to start switching to adding more garlic into your diet. This natural blood thinner is great at preventing other cardiovascular diseases, as well as serving as an antibacterial and antifungal. You can choose to eat a clove of garlic raw or just add a few spoons of minced garlic to your recipes to help add flavor to whatever you’re making. Of course, there is the smell to contend with. But luckily, eating garlic also makes you less attractive to mosquitoes. You win some, you lose some!

6. Almonds

Almonds can serve as a healthy snack throughout the day. Just a handful is all you need, but there are other ways to incorporate it into your diet. You can add almond slivers to your salads or make your own almond butter at home to spread on toast or fruit. Eating almonds daily can also provide you with a good amount of vitamin E, which reduces the free radicals in your body responsible for causing cancer. Look for more natural almonds instead of salted or seasoned, especially if you’re also trying to reduce your sodium intake.

5. Salmon

Salmon, similar to chicken, is a healthier option when it comes to choosing a protein for your meals. You can prepare it in a wide variety of ways. By adding salmon to your diet, you’re not only improving your blood flow throughout your body, but you’re also adding omega-3 fatty acids that are good for your joints. You can buy raw salmon steaks at the store and prepare them yourself, or you can use canned salmon to create a delicious salad that reduces prep and cleanup time.

4. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is an excellent spice that most people pair with sugar when creating desserts. But you can use cinnamon with savory dishes, and for good reason! Cinnamon is a natural blood thinner that can help prevent blood clots from forming inside the body. However, cinnamon does have some adverse side effects if taken in large doses, such as shortness of breath, increased heart rate, and increased accumulation of toxins within the body. Exercise care when using cinnamon for seasoning your meals to avoid overdosing. You generally shouldn’t have more than one teaspoon of cinnamon per day.

3. Red Wine

Red wine is known for being heart-healthy, but did you know it also works as a natural anticoagulant? This is due to the flavonoids present in red wine, which prevent blood clots from forming. It typically takes about one serving of wine to achieve blood-thinning effects, but exercise caution if you’re on other medication as well. You should also keep a careful eye on how much red wine you have every day; it can be easy to develop an alcohol addiction if you’re not careful. Discuss your concerns with your doctor beforehand to ensure the safety of your health.

2. Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a great way to season food with the right amount of spice. You can add as much or as little as you like to have a flavored meal that’s exactly to your taste. As well as thinning your blood, it is also a powerful antioxidant that keeps free radicals out of the body and promotes proper brain function. This natural blood thinner also has high levels of betacarotene (vitamin A) and can prevent allergies by breaking up the mucus that causes congestion when feeling sneezy. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce nerve and joint pain, such as the kind you can experience in rheumatoid arthritis.

1. Turmeric

Turmeric, as stated before, thins the blood, tastes delicious, and is the essential ingredient in any good curry. But this natural blood thinner can reduce inflammation throughout the body. Plus, turmeric helps improve overall memory and lowers the risk of heart disease. Add it to a savory dish to season meat or a mug of hot water to drink as tea. There’s no wrong way to consume turmeric. Too much, however, can cause headaches, diarrhea, upset stomach, and increased risk for the formation of kidney stones. However, you have to consume turmeric in large doses for this to occur.