As a personal fitness trainer, I spend a lot of time studying and researching the science behind how the human body works and responds to physical activity and diet.
And one of the most interesting areas I have researched is how blood flow has been directly linked to fat stores. What surprised me the most is that it influences the body in a completely different way from what I expected.
The research I did into scientific studies has also helped me refine how I approach a weight loss program for clients.
Here’s what I found.
Quick Summary
- Blood flow, no matter the rate doesn't burn calories, but instead workouts that increase the blood flow rate directly influence the amount of calories you burn.
- The main causes of restrictive blood flow are high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, anemia, and blood clots.
- Exercising and eating healthy meals are the best ways of burning calories.
Does Blood Flow Affect Weight?
Yes, overall blood flow can have an impact on weight.
And it’s very interesting when you look at scientific research that has shown how blood flow and weight are linked in a positive feedback loop [1].
Here’s what I mean. Obesity and diabetes can have a significant impact on how much blood flow you get to the brain [2]. This is due to a restrictive effect on blood vessels.
These studies then also concluded that it’s not just an issue for cardiovascular health, but the reduced circulation can also limit your ability to think clearly.
And that can then result in making poor diet choices and not finding the energy and motivation to do regular exercise.
Ultimately, this then leads to a further increase in belly fat, which can cause even more fat-related circulation issues.
But it’s important to understand that more blood flow doesn’t directly burn more fat.
Read Also: Ideal Fat-Burning Heart Rate
What Affects Your Blood Circulation?
The main causes of restricted blood flow are obesity, anemia, diabetes, blood clots, and high blood pressure [3].
You shouldn’t research exercise physiology and rely on your own findings to come up with solutions; instead, you will need professional medical support to deal with such health issues.
What the above research has shown is that combining obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure all have a huge impact on blood circulation and overall health.
On the other hand, exercise and regular physical activity can help with increasing blood flow and mitigate at least some of the negative effects.
Losing weight will also come down to your food and calorie intake [4]. And if your low-calorie and low-fat diet consists of healthy fats and complex carbs, then you could further improve your circulation [5].
And that’s why cardiovascular disease prevention should be a priority for everyone.
Monitoring Blood Circulation And Blood Pressure
First, let me point out the important differences.
Blood circulation is how much blood flows through arteries, veins, and capillaries.
And blood pressure is a measure of how much force that blood flow exerts on the walls of the blood vessels [6].
The only effective and reliable way to measure blood circulation is through ultrasound, and typically this is only necessary when there is suspicion of some form of restriction or blockage [7].
“Blood pressure is the force that blood exerts on blood vessels as it circulates. High blood pressure (hypertension) and low blood pressure (hypotension) can each lead to a variety of health issues.”
- Michael Hull, Writer at examine.com
On the other hand, you can measure blood pressure at home and make this part of your daily or weekly routine.
You can buy a blood pressure cuff in drug stores, and they are easy to use. Having that data will allow you to monitor improvement as you lose weight and lower body fat.
FAQs
Does Blood Flow Burn Calories?
No, blood flow doesn’t directly burn calories. While increased blood flow can be the result of physical exercise, it’s not the faster circulation that causes the burning of calories but rather the muscle contractions [8].
Can Poor Circulation Cause Weight Loss?
No, poor circulation doesn’t cause weight loss. It is more likely to be related to diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure, which are more likely to cause an increase in lower body fat.
Take Actions To Improve Your Blood Circulation
Taking care of your heart health should be a high priority for you, and the best way to start doing that immediately is to have a low-carb and low-fat diet and become more physically active.
This should then gradually help you shed body fat to reduce some of those circulation issues.
And if you want to target more belly fat cells and lose weight faster, then consider adding fat burner supplements. You can check our articles where we are trying to find the best one.
These can boost your metabolic rate enough to burn off some extra calories to get you to your ideal weight that bit faster.
References
- https://www.healthinaging.org/blog/for-older-adults-with-diabetes-losing-weight-through-diet-and-exercise-can-improve-blood-circulation-in-the-brain/
- https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/obesity-linked-to-reduced-blood-flow-to-the-brain-348496
- https://www.henryford.com/blog/2020/10/how-to-boost-circulation
- https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/diets-weight-loss-carbohydrate-protein-fat/
- https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2891-10-8
- https://training.seer.cancer.gov/anatomy/cardiovascular/blood/physiology.html
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/vascular-studies
- https://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article%20folder/caloricexp.html
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