Blood-thinning effects occur naturally in these pantry-friendly ingredients…
1. Ginger
Ginger is more than just a tasty cold remedy.
This spice contains a natural ingredient called salicylate, which is an acid linked to anticoagulant properties. In fact, a synthetic version of salicylate is used to create aspirin!
More research is needed to fully understand ginger’s potential role in circulatory health, but so far, its future looks bright (1). And luckily, it’s pretty easy to add more ginger to your diet. Stock up on fresh ginger root on your next shopping run, and bring it to life in tea, juice, soup, or tasty dinner recipes.
2. Turmeric
As if the taste of this golden spice wasn’t rewarding enough, research suggests that turmeric has blood-thinning properties, too (2).
That’s thanks to turmeric’s high quantities of curcumin, the natural compound responsible for creating the spice’s bright orange color. Curcumin plays a role in anticoagulation and fibrinolysis, two processes that help prevent or slow down clotting, and a 2012 study found that taking turmeric daily could help maintain its anticoagulant effects in the body (3, 4).
When it comes to turmeric recipes, the possibilities are endless. You can use turmeric in soups, chicken recipes, elevated golden milk lattes, or even with a supplement.
3. Vitamin E
Certain forms of vitamin E have been shown to have anti-clotting properties (4, 5).
Vitamin E exists both in supplement form and naturally in certain foods. If you can, opt for natural vitamin E by eating almonds, pine nuts, avocado, fatty fish, or red bell peppers.
4. Cassia Cinnamon
There are two main types of cinnamon that you’ll encounter at the store or in your kitchen: Ceylon cinnamon and Cassia cinnamon. Each has its own unique properties.
While Ceylon cinnamon is more coveted in the culinary world, Cassia cinnamon has a high concentration of a blood-thinning ingredient called coumarin. (One of the most popular synthetic blood thinners, Warfarin, is derived from this ingredient!)
Cassia cinnamon is powerful, so it’s important to tread lightly with dosage and savor its epic capabilities in small bits. Excessive amounts of coumarin on a long-term basis can damage your liver. Sprinkle some cinnamon into your coffee or desserts every now and then, but choose other natural blood thinners as the central part of your routine (6).
5. Grape Seed Extract
This grape derivative may boost your heart health and help manage certain blood conditions. It may also offer naturally blood-thinning properties (7, 8).
While grape seed extract does come from grapes, eating grapes on their own won’t provide you with a source of it. Instead, you can stock up on grape seed oil in supplement form.
6. Dong Quai
Based on animal studies, this traditional Chinese herb was found to potentially reduce the risk of clotting and bleeding. Dong Quai does this by increasing how long it takes for your blood to clot (9, 10).
These effects are suspected to be due to dong quai’s high levels of coumarin, the same ingredient that makes Cassia cinnamon a natural anticoagulant.
7. Cayenne Peppers
Among their many health benefits, cayenne peppers are high in clot-preventing salicylates, just like ginger (11). They’re also packed with capsaicin, an ingredient known to promote vascular health (12).
Of course, cayenne pepper has a pretty hefty kick. (There’s a reason some people start their morning with it!)
If cayenne’s kick is too strong for your taste, enjoy it in small pinches here in there, or as part of a juice or wellness shot.
You can find cayenne pepper in capsule form, but you can also get it fresh or in powdered spice form.
8. Garlic
Garlic is one of the world’s most loved cooking ingredients, and it’s garnering even more attention as a supplement. Among its many health benefits, garlic powder has been shown to have antithrombotic tendencies, which means that it reduces the formation of blood clots (13).
Studies indicate that garlic’s blood-thinning effects may be mild and short-acting, but it may provide a very temporary boost (14) to your circulatory health.
9. Feverfew
This medicinal herb comes from a flower in the same plant family as a daisy, but it’s for more than just a pretty bouquet. Feverfew is sometimes taken for ailments like migraines, fevers, or digestive issues.
According to research, feverfew may also act as a blood thinner by blocking platelet activity and preventing clotting (15, 16). You can get feverfew in capsule form.
10. Ginkgo Biloba
Chances are you’ve had ginkgo biloba, also called maidenhair, plenty of times before—it’s a staple in the world of natural remedies.
In fact, the leaves from this iconic Chinese tree have been found to potentially help with cognition and fatigue, among other issues (17, 18).
Ginkgo biloba may also work as a blood thinner and has similar traits to streptokinase, a synthetic blood thinner. The research that determined this was conducted in a lab—not on animals or people—so more research is needed, but ginkgo's impact appears to be promising.
11. Bromelain
This enzyme is extracted from pineapples and may help manage heart issues and high blood pressure (19).
Eating pineapple on its own or drinking pineapple juice won’t offer the direct benefits of bromelain—though it will taste amazing and offer plenty of antioxidants (20)!
If you’re looking for blood-thinning benefits, supplement with bromelain in capsule form between those juicy pineapple snacks.
