We don’t often think about our blood circulation -unless our legs fall asleep and we start getting that tingly feeling. Having an improved blood flow is key for maintaining optimal health. It ensures that blood and oxygen continuously flow throughout the body, allowing each and every organ to function properly. Anything that improves your blood flow can have a positive impact on things like hair loss, ED, hypertension, and many others.
There are various foods to consider when eating for improved circulation, Beetroot, Pomegranate, Cayenne, Turmeric, Ginger, and citrus fruits to name a few.
Here are a couple of meal recipes that will get your blood flowing:
Simple Blood Flow Salad
Simple yet delicious & packed with all the nutrients you need for a healthy blood flow, this zesty salad is surely a crowd pleaser!
Ingredients
- 4 medium cooked beets – use vacuum packed shop bought but not in vinegar
- 1 orange
- 1/2 a red onion sliced
- 3 tbsp pomegranate seeds
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Method
- Cut beetroot into wedges.
- Slice the orange and add to beetroots.
- Finely slice the red onion and add to the beetroot and oranges together with the. pomegranate seeds and olive oil.
- Stir gently to combine and coat everything in the juice and oil mixture.
- Salad keeps well in the fridge for 1-2 days.
Parsley and pomegranate salad
If you are not using pomegranate seeds and/or pomegranate molasses in your salads, you’re missing out. You can start with trying this nutrient-packed salad.
Ingredients
● Large bunch flat-leaf parsley, leaves picked
● 90g rocket
● 1 long shallot, peeled and thinly sliced into rings
● 50g pomegranate seeds
Dressing
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp pomegranate molasses
- 1 lemon, juiced
Method
- Make the dressing by whisking together the oil, molasses, and lemon juice with a little seasoning.
- Fill a large bowl with iced water and add the parsley leaves, rocket, and shallot rings. This will make them fresh, vibrant and crunchy. Leave for 10 minutes, then drain well.
- Tip the drained salad into a bowl and toss with the dressing, then tip onto a serving plate and scatter with the pomegranate seeds to serve.
Roast chicken with pomegranate and mint
A chicken roast for dinner is always a good idea – and a super healthy one. This juicy bird will take you 10 minutes to prep and 20 minutes to cook only!
Ingredients
- 6 skin-on chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 clove garlic or more if you are like me and love garlic
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 2 tbsp tahini
- 150ml natural yogurt
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 4 tbsp pomegranate seeds
- a small bunch mint, leaves picked
Method
- Preheat the oven to 200 C.
- Put the chicken breasts skin-side up on a baking tray & drizzle with pomegranate molasses & olive oil & season well.
- Wrap the garlic clove in tin foil and add to the tray.
- Roast for 20 minutes until the chicken is golden and cooked through then rest under foil for 20 minutes
- Pop the garlic clove out of its skin and mash to a paste with a little salt. Mix it with the lemon juice, tahini, yogurt, turmeric and 2-3 tbsp of water to make a drizzle-able dressing, then season.
- Thickly slice the chicken and put on a platter. Scatter over the pomegranate seeds and mint, and drizzle with the dressing.
These recipes won’t just make your tummy happy, but it will get your blood pumping as well. Bon appetit!