Food

The Best Natural Blood Thinning Foods and Recipes

42. Sardine Toast with Tomato and Sweet Onion Another great recipe to try for sardines is sardine toast with tomatoes and onions. Just like avocado toast,… Trista - June 29, 2022

Ryan Liebe / The New York Times / Barret Washburne

42. Sardine Toast with Tomato and Sweet Onion

Another great recipe to try for sardines is sardine toast with tomatoes and onions. Just like avocado toast, you can slap these ingredients together for a leisurely breakfast that pairs well with a cup of coffee. As we mentioned earlier, onions are also great at preventing blood clots, so adding them to some sardines doubles up on that benefit. Make sure that you use thick bread so that it can soak up all that rich buttery goodness of the sardines, so you’re not losing out on that essential fatty oil.

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41. Sardine with Chili, Garlic, and Lemon Recipe

Want a more enriching recipe that provides something more filling? Then try out this simple recipe for sardines covered in chili pepper, garlic, and lemon. You could pair it with rice or roasted summer potatoes to take some heat off this dish from the chili. It has a bright citrus-y flavor, and the prep is as easy as cutting a few slits on the sides of the anchovies, rubbing the other ingredients in, and searing it in a pan. Thankfully, the lemon will remove some of the potent smell the fish might leave in your home, but if it still bothers you, you might want to prepare this dish with the windows open.

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40. Simmered Shredded Kelp

Not many people think of kelp as something they should put on their plates for a meal. After all, it’s just something that brushes against your leg when you go to the beach. But did you know that kelp can actually be quite good for your heart? It’s rich in essential fatty acids that are thought to reduce thrombosis and atherosclerosis, which both contribute to heart disease. If you want to start adding it to your diet, you could try making simmered shredded kelp. It’s a Japanese-style dish. Just rehydrate it with some water, and simmer it in some oil with shredded carrots and some diced fish, and you have everything you need for the day.

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39. Kelp Salad

Kelp salad is also a great way to add some healthy greens to your diet. It’s a very light salad with many flavors, so you get the benefits of a tasty meal with the health benefits of adding kelp to your diet. Kelp is so good for the heart because it contains a specific carbohydrate called fucans, which are known to prevent blood from clotting. In fact, it’s just as effective at preventing blood clotting as an anti-clotting drug.

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38. Ginger Lime Hummus

Ginger is an interesting root that more and more people have been adding to their savory dishes. It has an intricate “spice” to it that can round out the other flavors of your meal, allowing the other spices to shine through. Ginger is considered one of those superfoods that are pretty good for your health, and one of those benefits is preventing blood clotting. That’s because it contains salicylate, which is similar to the ingredient that’s in aspirin. This recipe for ginger-lime hummus provides you with this great benefit as well as a delicious, low-fat snack that you can enjoy in the middle of the day when you don’t want to make lunch.

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37. Carrot Ginger Soup

Carrot ginger soup is also a great way to keep your blood thin so your heart can stay healthy. As stated earlier, carrots are pretty good for your heart since they are rich in antioxidants and beta carotene that support heart health. This carrot ginger soup’s rich and warm flavor can be made during the winter when you want something substantial to keep you warm. Alternatively, you can enjoy this natural blood thinning food in the summer when you want a light meal that’s also pretty healthy. Add a dash of sour cream for extra thickness, or pair it with some crackers for a light lunch.

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36. Ginger Chicken

Are you looking for a more Asian-inspired meal? Ginger chicken could be the way to go, with a healthy serving as broccoli. What’s great about this recipe is that everything cooks in one pan, so there’s minimal cleanup later, and there are no complicated instructions to get your chicken appropriately seasoned. Just cook the chicken in the oil with some garlic until cooked throughout, then add some sauce to coat everything. This recipe makes several servings, so you can stretch things out over the week and have less meal prep.

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35. Chicken Stewed in Paprika and Cayenne Pepper Sauce

Different people have different tolerances for spices. Some people can handle really spicy food, while others can’t bear anything spicier than ketchup. But if you knew that cayenne peppers worked well at thinning your blood, would you start adding them to more of your meals? Cayenne peppers are known for having high levels of salicylates, which prevent blood clots, increase circulation, and lower blood pressure. Chicken stewed in paprika and cayenne pepper sauce is a great way to add that kick to any meal, reap the benefits, and have a tasty dish you’ll want to keep returning to. Pair it with some starchy rice or potatoes, and you’ll be set.

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34. Fettuccine with Sweet Pepper-Cayenne Sauce

Pasta is also a great carb that works well with spicy foods, so this recipe for fettuccine with sweet pepper cayenne sauce makes for a rich and creamy meal that can be paired with any protein. You can add or reduce the amount of cayenne pepper, too, so the flavor isn’t too overpowering. You can even make an excess sauce and save it for later so that you can mix it into your future pasta dishes when you want to save time on making meals. Add some diced chicken or shredded pork, and you’re all set.

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33. Cayenne Pepper Sauce

Instead of buying hot sauce at the store, did you know that you can make your own cayenne pepper sauce at home? With store-bought sauce, you’re at the whim of how much spice is added, and there’s no way to change it. But if you make it yourself, you have absolute control over how spicy your sauce is going to be. You’re also free to be a little creative and add other spices too to make a unique sauce with your own brand of flair in the flavor. Be sure you have some empty bottles on hand to pour your sauce into.

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32. Almond Pear Tart

Having a delicious dessert that’s also healthy for you is the best of both worlds. So why not try out this almond pear tart? This blood thinning recipe is so great because both almonds and pears are good for preventing blood clots from forming. Almonds are rich in vitamin E, preventing blood platelets from clumping together, and pears are rich in vitamin K, which is good for fighting inflammation and reducing high blood pressure. Just don’t tell yourself that eating this tart for every meal will keep you healthy, though; there’s still a lot of sugar and butter in the crust.

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31. Tomato Dip

Tomatoes are pretty versatile when it comes to adding flavor to any meal. In fact, people will straight up juice tomatoes and just drink them whole. And for very good reasons: science has shown that drinking tomato juice for three weeks has a blood-thinning effect, reducing the blood’s ability to clot. Making this delicious tomato dip for yourself is a great way to reap those benefits and still have something to snack on when feeling a bit peckish. To satisfy your craving, you can enjoy this dip guilt-free, too, with just tomatoes, almonds, and some seasonings.

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30. Almond Butter

As stated before, almonds are pretty good at preventing clotting from happening in the blood. But you can do more than just snacking on them between meals; you could make almond butter! It’s just as tasty as peanut butter but much healthier because it has less fat than peanuts. You can add a few more ingredients like vanilla and cinnamon to create an almond butter you’ll love to eat. The best part? You’ll be saving a lot of money! A jar of almond butter at the store is much more expensive than buying almonds in the wholesale section and simply making it yourself at home.

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29. Fresh Turmeric Tea

Turmeric is one of those spices that stick with you for a long time. It has the harmful side effect of staining your skin and teeth when consumed, but it also sticks around internally too. Turmeric is known for having a long-lasting impact on your heart health by working as a blood thinner. It’s also an anti-inflammatory. So consider brewing up a lovely mug of turmeric tea to have with your meals to help your digestion and keep your heart happy too. You can choose to boil the root or add powdered turmeric to a pot of boiling water to make your tea.

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28. Healthy Turmeric Chicken Stew

Turmeric also makes a delicious seasoning for any meal and is an essential element of any curry. Turmeric chicken stew can warm you up and fill you up, too, with added vegetables to aid digestion. The chicken will be wonderfully seasoned after cooking it in turmeric. It’s also a yummy contrast to the sweet potatoes, creating a salty-sweet combination you’ll want to eat again and again. And you’re only improving your health by doing so! Change things up a little bit and substitute ingredients to find a unique dish you’ll want to make time and time again.

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27. Asparagus Soup

What people mostly know asparagus for is that it gives you stinky urine. That’s because of the strong smell that comes from it when you cut it, but asparagus can make a delicious side to any dish, and you should definitely start incorporating it. That’s because asparagus is rich in vitamin K, which works as a natural blood thinner for the body. This creamy asparagus soup is a great way to add more asparagus to your diet. Plus, the fact that it’s cooked down into a broth could reduce that stinky smell you’re trying to avoid.

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26. Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus

If you don’t have time to reduce asparagus into a soup, you could make a simple side of garlic roasted asparagus instead. The recipe? Drizzle your asparagus in oil, sprinkle it with salt and pepper, then toss it all onto a tray with some garlic and shredded cheese on top. What could be simpler? Just a few minutes in the oven, you have a great side dish that everyone at the table will be fighting over. That’s a great way to get in your vegetables without having to do a lot of work or a lot of cleanup afterward.

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25. Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa

We talked about avocados being good for your heart earlier, but salmon also plays a good role in maintaining and reducing the formation of clots in the blood. The fish oil in salmon is a natural anticoagulant, so it should be eaten in moderate amounts. This recipe for salmon with avocado salsa is a perfect combination to maintain your heart health, as well as create a tasty meal that will keep you full all day. Salmon is a healthier meat than, say, beef since it is rich in good fats and has very few bad fats.

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24. Healthy Lemon Garlic Salmon

Want a salmon recipe that is a lot simpler to put together? Why not give this lemon garlic salmon recipe a try? You can have a great meal prepared in under fifteen minutes, using very few ingredients, and it’s great for you. The best way to keep the salmon moist when cooking it is to shoot for the internal temperature to be around 130 degrees; any higher, your fish will dry out. Pair it with some green beans or roasted squash, and you have the perfect dinner for summer.

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23. Lemon Garlic Ginger Drink Recipe

Lemons, ginger, and garlic should be at the top of everyone’s list regarding getting sick. These three ingredients are rich in nourishing vitamins and minerals that boost your immune system, reduce inflammation, and keep your blood in optimal condition while battling any illness. Having a lemon garlic ginger drink at least once a day will provide you with the cleanse and detox needed to stay healthy and happy. Add a little honey to this drink to sweeten it a little bit, as well as provide you with some added antioxidant effects.

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22. Garlic and Honey

Since garlic also falls into the onion family, it still has all of the significant clotting preventative powers as its cousin, the onion. Many people shy away from garlic because of the smell, but you honestly don’t need a lot to reap the rewards of garlic’s blood healing powers (okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration). The added honey helps to improve the taste… or you could try making your own garlic honey. Just fermenting the garlic in a jar of honey can infuse the latter with garlic’s healing properties, and you have a nice spread for your toast the next day too.

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21. Pickled Garlic Recipe

Want to try a different way to enjoy garlic? Why not go the route of everyone’s favorite preservation method: pickling! Pickles, eggs, you name it. If it’s been pickled, people will love it. Just one garlic clove a day is enough to provide you with all you need when taking care of the quality of your blood. The pickling process can be quite fun because you can try out different flavors of pickling so that your garlic cloves can actually be quite tasty. Dill seeds are recommended in this recipe, but you can definitely experiment with other seasonings.

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20. Onion

Now we’re going to get down to how these natural blood thinners work. These foods keep your blood and heart-healthy, and we’re going to start with onions. Onions are rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and phytochemicals. Flavonoids, such as quercetin, are potent antioxidants that can help your body get rid of the free radicals responsible for cancer. Phytochemicals trigger healthy reactions in the human body, allowing the body to function at its best. What’s excellent about onions is that you can still reap these rewards, whether raw or cooked, since the cuisine process doesn’t break down the nutrients too much.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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