Blood plays a very important role in our body. Basically, good blood circulation is essential for health. However, white rice and processed meats that appear on our dining tables every day can worsen blood health. Let's learn about the main foods that are toxic to blood health.

Excess nutrients make the blood sticky

The main cause of blood becoming cloudy is 'excess nutrients.' Blood collects waste products from each cell and sends them to the kidneys for excretion outside the body. When there are excessive nutrients or waste products remaining and accumulating, the blood becomes thickened. Excess nutrients are related to high-calorie diets composed of animal proteins or fats. Additionally, if there is an abnormal amount of glucose in the blood due to diabetes, the blood may also become contaminated. When the blood is cloudy or sticky and does not flow smoothly throughout the body, it can lead to the formation of blood clots (thrombi) in the vessels or atherosclerosis, where the arteries lose elasticity and narrow. Therefore, improving dietary habits is fundamentally important for vascular health.

Let's learn about three typical foods that should be consumed with caution, as processed meats and refined grains can make blood cloudy.

Foods containing trans fats

It is best to consume foods high in trans fats, such as fried foods and donuts, in minimal amounts. Trans fats are artificially created fats made by adding hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them solid. Excessive intake of trans fats increases LDL cholesterol levels and makes the blood more viscous, leading to hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. According to the Nurses' Health Study, when divided into five groups based on trans fat intake, the group with the highest intake had a 1.33 times higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared to the group with the lowest intake.

Processed meat

Processed meats use a lot of fat parts rather than lean meat, resulting in high cholesterol content. Most of them contain added sodium to preserve the food, which can also raise blood pressure. When sodium levels in the blood increase, an osmotic phenomenon occurs, causing water inside the cells to move into the bloodstream, increasing blood volume and raising blood pressure.

Refined grains=

Refined grains such as white rice and wheat flour also worsen vascular health and increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Refined grains are composed of 'simple sugars' made up of a single sugar molecule, which are absorbed quickly by the body, causing a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. Repeatedly experiencing this process can lead to diabetes, which begins to damage blood vessels, naturally increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

This 'food' you eat every day makes your blood sticky and cloudy © Provided by Health Chosun