Does Extra Weight Mean Extra Varicose and Spider Veins?

Posted on October 29, 2015July 24, 2018 by floridav

Does More Weight Cause More Varicose and Spider Veins?

Many that come into our Orlando vein center wonder if the extra weight they are carrying could have caused their varicose and spider veins, when, in fact, in the list of causes of varicose and spider veins, extra weight is very low on the list.

For women, hormones and genes are the two major contributing factors to varicose and spider veins. Extreme and extended surges of hormones during pregnancy seem to do the most damage to otherwise healthy veins. As the body prepares for labor and delivery, the hormone elastin increases to allow stretching of the pelvic connective tissue. Elastin is also found in the vein walls and therefore veins will get swollen and sore. Gravity causes the veins in the legs to be more affected. Multiple pregnancies produce more varicose veins then a single pregnancies, regardless of whether the pregnancy is brought to term.

Even in a non-pregnant female, monthly cycles during childbearing years can worsen varicose and spider veins. Hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills may also worsen vein size in a small way.

Genes are given by your parents and obviously cannot be changed. Therefore, if your mother, sisters, brothers, or distant relatives have had varicose or spider veins, then you are susceptible. This is usually why men get enlarged veins.

Extra body weight does not seem to have much effect on veins in my experience. Over the last 20 years, I have probably treated twice as many clients with ideal body weight to every one client with extra weight or obesity. Fat cells do hold on to estrogen which is probably the only way fat contributes to more leg veins as increased estrogen levels have a small effect on veins. Overall, this effect pales in comparison to the genetic and pregnancy risk.

If you are suffering from varicose or spider veins, please contact our Orlando vein center at 407-805-8989, or contact us online.

5 Surprising Foods That Can Help Prevent Varicose Veins

Posted on April 21, 2015 by floridav

Balanced nutrition has long been considered one of the most important factors in preventing illness and maintaining good health. Medical journals are filled with statistics about specific foods and food groups and the impact they have on organs in the human body. High vitamin contents, antioxidants, and minerals all work to help us stay healthy.

The Orlando vein center, Florida Vein Care, wants you to know when you are considering vein health, here are 5 foods that could help:

Purple and Red Grapes: This food is full of antioxidants which have been linked to promoting good heart health. Those same antioxidants are now considered an excellent dietary boost to vein health. Consuming grapes and grape juice is the best way to introduce these vitamins and antioxidants into your body, and drinking a glass of red wine will have the same impact. As with any thing in life, wine must be consumed in moderation, and it is strongly suggested that no more than one glass per day be consumed. A super flavonoid, oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) is the key here. They are found in the skins and seeds of many fruits and vegetables but are in high content in grapes. OPCs can increase the elasticity and strength of the veins.
Citrus Foods: The high Vitamin C content in all citrus fruits makes them an important dietary supplement in promoting good vein health. Rich in antioxidants and packed with flavor, consumption of citrus is known to reduce cell damage in tissues as we age.
Avocados: Also rich in Vitamin C, avocados boast a high content of Vitamin E. Vitamin E promotes good circulation, due its anticoagulant capabilities. Be careful not to overdo Vitamin E (and Vitamin K) if you take anticoagulant medication.
Buckwheat: Buckwheat is a food source most folks don’t think about, but should. It is high in another flavonoid called rutin which is an intrinsic component of vascular health. Buckwheat is also high in fiber which helps to keep the body regulated and in turn, keeps everything working well.
Rosemary: Rosemary contains a plant polyphenol called rosmarinic acid. In addition to increasing blood circulation, rosemary can protect against free radical damage. Rosemary is quite a diverse herb. In addition to being a tasty addition to so many recipes, it also contains ursolic acid which helps to strengthen the capillaries.

There are many other foods that contribute to overall vein health and good circulation. Don’t overlook the protective power of the blueberry, blackberry, apple, ginger and asparagus; the list is long and easy to work into your daily diet. Consuming a diet rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, and fiber will promote better circulation and vascular health.

Keep your legs looking and feeling great by eating well and getting regular exercise. If you do develop spider or varicose veins, Orlando vein center, Florida Vein Care, is here to help. Call us at (407) 805-8989, and allow our expert staff to guide you through the options available to restore health and vitality to your legs.

3 Reasons Why You Should Make Baths Part of Your Weekly Routine

Posted on March 25, 2014July 2, 2024 by floridav

Finding ways to relax is one of the best ways to protect your body from early aging due to stress overloads. We know about drinking tea, doing yoga, going for a walk, but did you know that one of your favorite evening activities is actually great for your body and mind?

That’s right, there are a number of benefits that come along with submerging yourself in warm, bubbly water once or twice a week. Continue reading “3 Reasons Why You Should Make Baths Part of Your Weekly Routine”

Get Your Body Spring Ready!

Posted on February 20, 2014February 21, 2014 by floridav

As much as we hate to admit it, Winter is the time of year when we get all cozied up in our jackets and sweatpants, and forget about keeping up with our bodies for a couple months. Sadly, this time of year is rapidly coming to an end. This means that soon it will be shorts and tank top season, which isn’t such good news if you aren’t proud of your body. So what can you do about this?

Florida Vein Care and Cosmetic Center has the solution to all of your winter time body problems. Continue reading “Get Your Body Spring Ready!”

5 Foods That Will Keep Your Skin Hydrated

Posted on January 29, 2014March 3, 2014 by floridav

It is widely believed that the only way to have hydrated skin is to apply a moisturizing cream or oil. This is actually a false belief. Glowing skin can be obtained in holistic method through the food that we put in our bodies.

Certain foods contain properties that boost elasticity, moisture and overall beauty of this skin. We are going to take a look at just a few. Continue reading “5 Foods That Will Keep Your Skin Hydrated”

How to Wake up With Glowing Skin

Posted on January 27, 2014March 3, 2014 by floridav

Do you wake up looking rough? Not the “hair going every which way” type of rough, but the puffy eyes, irritated skin type of rough. There are actually ways to improve the way your skin looks in morning and throughout the day. If you are ready for the days of waking up with glowing skin, then keep reading! Continue reading “How to Wake up With Glowing Skin”

Fooducation: Diet and Nutrition App

Posted on February 7, 2012February 4, 2020 by floridav

It can be fairly difficult to keep on top of a healthy lifestyle, but the advent of digital technology has come a long way in assisting us in this regard. One such helpful tool is called Fooducate, and it is about to become the healthy man and woman’s best friend.

WHAT IS FOODUCATE?

Fooducate is an app, and is available on the iTunes App Marketplace. The function of this particular app is to help health-conscious shoppers make better, healthier decisions pertaining to their purchases at their local market. But, how does this work?

HOW DOES FOODUCATE WORK?

Fooducate is absolutely stuffed with helpful features designed to help keep you in step with your diet. Some of the features that make Fooducate so invaluable include:

Barcode Scanner: Assuming your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch comes equipped with a camera, you can scan the barcode of a particular food item. This allows Fooducate to display the pros and cons of each item, its rating as defined by a strict guideline created by dieticians, and more. You can even search for healthier alternatives, allowing you to compare and contrast one brand/item from another. (If your apple product does not have a camera, you can simply enter the UPC by hand.)
Thorough Analysis: The information that Fooducate gleans upon reading a barcode is more than what you’ll find on the package. Not only will it inform you as to the health value of an item or brand, but it will also tell you all of the “hidden information” producers leave out from the printed nutritional value charts. Hidden information includes: Excessive sugar, tricky trans fats, additives and preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, controversial food colorings, and so on.
Professional Development: Fooducate has been designed by dieticians and concerned parents, all of whom have dedicated their lives to learning the ins and outs of nutrition. As such, you can use Fooducate without any fear of receiving bad data.

HOW MUCH DOES FOODUCATE COST?

The cost of the Fooducate App depends upon which version you wish to download. There are both a Fooducate Free (free to download, obviously), as well as a Fooducate Plus ($3.99). The features are identical, but Fooducate Plus operates ad-free. If you can tolerate pop-up ads, go for the free version. In the end, regardless of your choice, you’ll still receive this vital information pertaining to over 200,000 unique products/brands.

2012’s Top 10 Ways To Stay Svelte

Posted on December 9, 2011 by floridav

Pretty soon we’ll be leaving 2011 behind. 2012 is on its way, and most of us would like to ring in the New Year in as best shape as possible. Whether you are planning ahead for 2013, or you’d simply like to remain thin and healthy for the upcoming year, we’ve got a list of the Top 10 Ways to Stay Svelte in 2012!

10) CARDIO, CARDIO, CARDIO!

As most any one can tell you, Cardio is some of the best exercise our bodies can receive. Whether you’re planning on riding your bike instead of driving, walking around the neighborhood after dinner, or simply running for a few minutes on a treadmill, Cardio is the quickest means of keeping your weight in check.

09) HAVE POOL, WILL SHED POUNDS

Swimming pools aren’t just for kids in the summer time. If you want to find a great workout, look no further than your own back yard (or Recreation Center). Swimming pools provide for a myriad of ways to work out our bodies, from exercising the muscles in our arms and legs to providing one of the most intense cardiovascular work-outs around. Better yet, swimming is fun — what better way to inspire weight loss?

08) FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

If you are looking for a way to get the whole family whipped into shape, look no further than… video games? While it might sound unrealistic, many video games are being developed that make fitness fun. Perhaps you won’t lose weight strictly by playing the copious games out there, you will have fun while training yourself to engage in more physical activities. With titles like Zumba, Wii Fit, and Dance Central families with any video game console can learn fun, addictive exercises for the whole family.

07) DIET

So you’re already exercising pretty regularly, but you don’t notice any changes? More than likely you should look to what you’re eating. Part of weight management is reconciling how much of something you eat, but many people often forget that what you eat matters most. The key to a healthy diet is to balance your diet, and to moderate your habits before they get out of control. You don’t have to stop eating Cupcakes altogether — just eat fewer, and less often.

06) ABSTAIN FROM SODA

Sodas are some of the worst things you can put into your body. Never mind what the sugar and carbonation do to our teeth, sodas are also the largest culprit when it comes to contributing to our empty fats and sugars. As the fat in sodas serves no health benefit it gets left in our stomachs — one of the most complained about problem areas. If you have a spare tire you are desperate to get rid of, put down the soda and have some water instead.

05) DEVELOP PATIENCE: NIX FAST FOOD

This is so well known I shouldn’t even have to mention it, but excuses always nullify this common-sense tip. I know most of us have jobs that make it difficult — or near impossible — to prepare healthy meals throughout the day. I doubt that this will change in 2012, so let’s start making a difference ourselves. Pre-prepare meals before heading off to work. This can be done each night before bed, and can consist of simple meals using simple ingredients.

4) PRACTICE PERSISTENCE

Weight loss relies on persistence. You won’t get into shape over night, so stop expecting too much too soon. If you’re not seeing results as quickly as you’d like, don’t give up. Maybe even step up your routine slightly, and see if that makes any difference. Whatever you do, stay persistent.

3) JOIN A PROGRAM AT A GYM

Some of the best results are being achieved by people who join classes at their local gyms, or recreation centers. Programs such as Yoga, Zumba, and even dance classes are sweeping the nation in 2011. Given their popularity, as well as their results, expect this trend to grow in 2012.

2) DEVELOP A REGULAR ROUTINE

Many of us exercise, but only when we can find the time. As hectic as life can be, it would do us well to create a regular exercise routine that we can stick with. Even if it’s something as simple as doing crunches while watching your favorite television show — whatever it is, stick with it.

1) VISIT SVELTE MD TODAY

We’re #1? Of course we are! At Svelte, our specialists will actually go so far as to help you stay on top of your weight. We do this by providing personally developed diet plans, exercise routines, as well as give you the necessary diet medications and encouragement necessary to stay in shape. We have programs for adults and teens, and we do what most other Weight Management Specialists don’t: We provide results.

Make an appoint to meet with us today. All you have to do is follow the instructions on our homepage, and you, too, can start of 2012 with promising results.

Weight Capsules: Do They REALLY Help You Lose Weight?

Posted on November 22, 2011 by floridav

It’s almost time for Thanksgiving, which means most of us will be facing the pressure of keeping the pounds off while still enjoying our country’s second-most important holiday. If you’re like many of the patients we treat, your first reaction is probably to scramble to the nearest supplement retailer to invest in some diet pills. But, do these pills actually help people lose weight?

KEEPING THE POUNDS OFF

The most important question to ask is not whether diet pills will provide results; of course most do. The question should instead be: What happens once you stop taking the pills?

When it comes to losing weight, there’s more to it than simply burning through your fat using some pill. Keeping the weight off is much more important, and is a lot more difficult. You see, many diet pills do little more than diminish your appetite while speeding up your metabolism. While this does yield results it also causes your body to kick into overdrive once you stop taking the weight capsules. Your appetite will return with a vengeance, and your metabolism will normalize long before you know. This will result in expedited weight gain, and you’ll find yourself back at square one.

WHAT TO TURN TO INSTEAD

Let’s not beat around the bush: There is practically nothing that a pill can do for you that you cannot do better yourself. To achieve lasting, healthy weight loss it is important to remember that the responsibility rests squarely on your shoulders. To keep a desired build you have to exercise, watch what you eat (and how much of it), and beat the psychological barriers that want to stop you from succeeding.

At Svelte MD, we are specialized in helping our patients with every facet of maintaining weight loss. Our levels of success are due in part to the fact that we know what to look for in our patients, as well as how to counter any issues they might have.

WHY IS SVELTE MD THE RIGHT CHOICE?

Our weight control specialists do more for our patients than dish out pills. While weight loss medication is a part of our program, we go several steps further by tackling the bigger issues behind your weight problem. We take regular BMI (Body Mass Index) measurements, around which we build a regimen that is basically unique to each patient we see. We prescribe the aforementioned medication, as well as diet plans that fit each situation we face.

Better than anything else we provide, we also offer solid, medically sound advice on changing the poor lifestyle choices that lead to the issue of weight gain from the very start.

If you’re thinking of resorting to pills to stave off weight gain, reconsider. Navigate to our homepage and register for your first consultation at Svelte MD today.

Trimming the Fat on Weight Management Doctors

Posted on October 28, 2011October 31, 2011 by floridav

Weight Management Doctors come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and specialties. For every pitfall that comes with losing weight there is a specialist who can help you overcome them. While they all sit under the same umbrella, their roles and techniques can be as varied as their patients.

Bariatric Doctors

These specialists focus on solving high to severe obesity. They make up the surgical branch of the weight management field, and as such do not often perform procedures on patients who only suffer from low to moderate obesity.

Their services are mostly geared towards helping patients who are so obese that their condition actually gets in the way of their day-to-day lives. Patients of bariatric doctors are also more likely to be considered to be at high risk for extremely dangerous health disorders, such as Heart Disease or even Cancer. Surgery is often their only option before they are in good enough shape to start taking advantage of another method of weight management.

Nutritionists and Dietitians

These two specialists focus on the most basic elements of weight management. They specialize in educating patients on following nutritional diets that will promote weight loss in a safe, healthy manner. They tend to provide guidance to their patients, helping steer them towards making healthy lifestyle choices — acting almost like a coach, rather than a doctor.

Nutritionists and Dietitians do not provide any surgical help for their patients, unlike Bariatric Doctors. The extent of their medical interference can include the prescription of diet pills, vitamins, and other weight management medications. Their main appeal lies in their prescribing diet plans, exercise regimens, and providing behavioral counseling to help create and maintain healthy lifestyle habits.

Patients struggling with only light to moderate obesity should look into these two specialists when looking for professional weight management services.