5 Blood thinning foods you need to know

Blood clotting is indeed an important process, but if it is excessive, it will certainly have an impact on your health, including heart attacks and strokes. In order for this not to cause fatal effects, there are several natural ingredients that you can use as blood thinning foods.

Types of foods that can be blood thinners

1. Turmeric

One of the natural foods that are believed to be blood thinners is turmeric. This yellow herb contains curcumin which acts as an anticoagulant.

This was proven through a study in 2012 regarding the anticoagulant activity of turmeric which is used for curry. Curcumin can prevent blood clots by inhibiting blood clotting factors.

2. Garlic

Apart from turmeric, garlic is a blood thinning food that has natural antibiotic and antimicrobial properties. One clove of garlic contains alisin, an active compound believed to act as an anticoagulant.

A study of odorless garlic powder proved this. The study showed that this type of garlic exhibits antithrombotic activity.

Anti-thrombotic compounds are substances that can reduce blood clots. That is why, garlic is believed to thin the blood even though the effect is only brief.

If you want to use these ingredients so that blood clots can be prevented, try to consult your doctor first.

3. Pineapple

Did you know that pineapple contains bromelain compounds which can actually help prevent blood clots?

A study in 2012 discussed the use of bromelain as an anti-clotting agent in the body.

Bromelain is known to inhibit the production of fibrin in the body, a protein that causes blood to clot.

The investigators concluded that bromelain acts as a fairly effective fibrinolytic agent for lowering fibrin. Apart from that, this pineapple enzyme is also anti-inflammatory.

4. Almonds

Not only pineapple, almonds are also believed to be blood thinning foods. This is because vitamin E in almonds can be categorized as a mild anticoagulant.

The anticoagulant effect on vitamin E actually depends on how many doses a person takes.

There are no studies that really explain how much vitamin E should be taken as a blood thinner safely.

Therefore, try to consult with your doctor first so that you know the right dosage for your body.

5. Vitamin E

As previously discussed, almonds are included in the category of blood thinning foods because they contain vitamin E.

Vitamin E is believed to reduce the activity of blood formation, although the effect is very dependent on the condition of a person's body. In addition, there are no trials that confirm the safe limit for consuming vitamin E to thin the blood.

Therefore, it is safer to eat foods that contain vitamin E so that they can help thin your blood, such as:

• Whole grains
• Wheat seed oil
• Sunflower seed
• Sunflower oil

6. Ginger

Another spice that is also referred to as a blood thinning food is ginger. Ginger contains acetylsalicylic acid aka aspirin. Acetylsalicylic acid is a salicylic acid derivative which is believed to be a fairly strong blood thinner.

You can get this natural anticoagulant effect in various ways, such as consuming raw ginger, ginger water or using it as a food spice.

However, ginger is not as effective as blood thinners because the effect of ginger on blood clotting is not clear.

Some of the types of foods that can reduce the risk of blood clots above may not have been properly tested clinically. In addition, the effect cannot be compared with a special drug to prevent blood clots.

Too much consumption of foods that can thin the blood can put you at risk for bleeding. That is why, consult your doctor first before eating foods that are believed to be blood thinners.