🍽️ Why Nutrition Matters for Vascular Ulcers
Vascular ulcers (especially venous or arterial ulcers) struggle to heal because of:
Poor blood flow
Chronic inflammation
Infection risk
Poor tissue regeneration
And guess what fuels blood, immunity, and new tissue?
✨ Nutrition.
Without the right nutrients, the body simply doesn’t have the tools to repair itself.
🥩 Protein: The Building Blocks of Healing
Think of protein as the cement and bricks of wound healing.
Without enough protein:
Wounds stay open
Skin breaks down faster
Infections are more likely
Best protein choices:
Eggs 🥚
Fish (especially sardines, mackerel, tuna) 🐟
Chicken, turkey
Beans, lentils, soy
Milk, yoghurt, kefir
💡 If protein intake is low, even the best wound dressing won’t work.
🥝 Vitamin C: The Skin Repair Superstar
Vitamin C helps:
Form collagen (new skin!)
Strengthen blood vessels
Improve iron absorption
Get it from:
Oranges, pineapple, pawpaw
Guava (a hidden superstar!)
Bell peppers
Tomatoes
🍊 No vitamin C = weak, fragile healing.
🧲 Iron & Zinc: Tiny Minerals, Big Impact
🩸 Iron
Poor circulation + low iron = oxygen-starved wounds.
Iron-rich foods:
Liver, lean red meat
Beans, kontomire
Fortified cereals
🛡️ Zinc
Zinc helps with:
Immune defence
Tissue repair
Infection control
Zinc sources:
Nuts and seeds
Eggs
Whole grains
Seafood
🥑 Healthy Fats: Fight Inflammation, Improve Blood Flow
Not all fats are enemies!
Healthy fats help reduce inflammation and support circulation.
Choose:
Avocado 🥑
Olive oil
Groundnuts
Fatty fish
🚫 Limit fried foods, pastries, and trans fats — they worsen inflammation and slow healing.
💧 Hydration: The Forgotten Healing Tool
Dehydrated skin cracks.
Dehydrated tissue heals slowly.
Aim for:
Water throughout the day
Light soups, herbal teas
🚫 Too much alcohol or sugary drinks? That’s a healing setback.
🧂 Salt & Sugar: The Silent Saboteurs
Too much salt → worsens swelling and venous congestion
Too much sugar → feeds inflammation and infection (especially in diabetes)
Healing-friendly swaps:
Natural herbs and spices
Whole foods instead of ultra-processed snacks
🧠 The Big Picture: Food + Care = Healing
Nutrition works best when combined with:
Proper wound care
Blood sugar control (if diabetic)
Compression therapy (for venous ulcers)
Good circulation and mobility
🩹 Food doesn’t replace treatment — it makes treatment work better.
🌟 Final Takeaway
If a vascular ulcer is not healing, the body may be saying:
“I don’t have the nutrients I need.”
Feed the wound.
Fuel the blood.
Support the skin.
Because every bite can either slow healing… or support it 💚