✅ Safer Ways to Support Circulation After 50
If you’re concerned about blood flow — especially in legs and feet — focus on what works best:
✅ Walk daily
Builds collateral circulation in legs
✅ Elevate legs when resting
Reduces swelling and pooling
✅ Wear compression socks
Improves venous return
✅ Quit smoking
Smoking damages blood vessels
✅ Manage blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol
Key for vascular health
✅ Eat a heart-healthy diet
Rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and omega-3s
🥦 Food sources of B3: Include chicken, tuna, peanuts, and fortified cereals.
❌ Debunking the Myths
❌ “Take niacin to open clogged arteries”
False — it doesn’t dissolve plaque; only affects cholesterol and dilation
❌ “All B3 supplements are the same”
No — forms differ; only nicotinic acid causes flushing and lipid changes
❌ “Natural niacin is safer”
Not true — the active ingredient is identical whether natural or synthetic
❌ “Everyone over 50 should take niacin”
Dangerous myth — only indicated for certain conditions under care
🚨 When to See a Doctor
Talk to your healthcare provider if you experience:
Leg pain when walking that goes away with rest (possible PAD)
Cold, pale, or numb extremities
Swelling in feet and ankles
History of heart disease or stroke
🩺 A simple ankle-brachial index (ABI) test can check for poor circulation.
