More people than ever are living sedentary lifestyles. Whether it be due to sitting on public transport for extended periods or lounging in front of the TV in our leisure time, fewer of us are spending fewer hours on our feet.

There are many dangers that come with a lack of physical activity – including poor circulatory health. Poor circulation can lead to many serious health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and varicose veins.

Along with a lack of physical activity, other lifestyle choices that also affect circulatory health include:

• Smoking cigarettes

• Regular alcohol intake

• Regular caffeine intake

With this being said, those who regularly engage in physical activity can also suffer from poor circulation. Luckily, there are some simple steps that you can integrate into everyday life which will help promote circulatory health.

Balanced Diet

The key to overall health in general always comes back to maintaining a balanced diet. Proper nutrition helps promote cell growth, boost organ function and improve circulation.

Try including as many nutrient-rich foods as possible in your diet, especially those containing antioxidants, vitamins and minerals which support optimal circulation.

These can include:

• Oranges

• Watermelon

• Garlic

• Sunflower seeds

• Salmon

• Dark chocolate

Regular Exercise

Like proper nutrition, regular exercise is an important aspect of achieving and maintaining well being – and is the best defence against circulatory disease.

Those who live an inactive lifestyle are more likely to develop blood clots, swelling and other circulatory health problems. The negative health effects of our sedentary lifestyle have been coined 'sitting disease' – so, getting active each day is highly important to promote circulatory health.

Just 30 minutes of walking daily can help improve our blood circulation, along with other moderate exercises including yoga, cycling or swimming.

Posture

It's easy to fall into a bad habit with posture when slumped over a desk all day or constantly staring at a television screen – but, proper spinal alignment is important to circulatory health.

When we slouch or develop poor postural habits, we are more likely to compress blood vessels. This means our circulatory system can't deliver essential nutrients to the body. When sitting, it is important to sit up straight with our feet placed firmly on the floor.

Kicking the Caffeine Addiction

Caffeine products, such as coffee, can disrupt our circulatory system. Caffeine increases our heart rate and raises our blood pressure, especially when consumed in excess.

Try drinking your recommended daily intake of water or herbal teas instead to help support circulatory health.

Remedial Massage

When conducted by a trained remedial therapist, massages can help stimulate healthy circulation. They are also a great stress reliever and can reduce hypertension throughout the body.

So, go ahead and treat yourself to a massage... for the benefit of your circulatory health of course!