Eight Foods that Lower Blood Pressure – A Natural Remedy for Hypertension
Foods that lower blood pressure is
one of the simplest, yet affordable health supplements. Here are eight
specific foods to enjoy for more ideal blood pressure numbers.
High blood pressure, also referred to as hypertension, can be a serious problem. The definition of hypertension is when your heart pumps blood at a higher than ideal pressure. This is serious since it causes your heart to work harder than it was designed.
Although high blood pressure is a concern, there are many natural remedies for hypertension. Some of these are eating healthy foods, drinking clean water, using vitamin supplements, taking good care of your heart by eating low cholesterol foods and even seeking the advice of an alternative health practitioner for natural hypertension treatment. However, the old trite but true adage, “You are what you eat,” holds true for lowering blood pressure. A diet high in those foods that lower blood pressure will have you seeing some positive results.
There are many reasons for high blood pressure. Some of the causes of high blood pressure can be avoided, other risk factors cannot. However, as individuals, we each have the choice to either consistently eat the foods that lower blood pressure while giving up those foods that are unhealthy— or not. Eating right is only one, but may be the most important, of the natural ways to lower blood pressure.
Eight Specific Foods That Will Lower Hypertension or High Blood Pressure
Celery – This humble vegetable is probably the most effective food you can eat to lower high blood pressure. Celery is a natural diuretic and it also contains an oil that actually relaxes the muscles that regulate blood pressure and generally improves blood flow throughout the body. Enjoy about four raw stalks daily or drink it in juice form.Bananas - Bananas are rich in potassium. Potassium is a valuable mineral supplement that helps to regulate blood pressure by encouraging your body to flush out excess sodium. As your potassium levels increase, you body gets rid of sodium. When you lack potassium, your body retains sodium. If you enjoy bananas, eat as many as five daily. I heard of a study which showed that eating five bananas daily reduced high blood pressure as efficiently as prescription medicine.
Potatoes– Either white or sweet, both are rich in potassium. Boil or bake them and eat the skins for the most nutrition. Your body cannot store potassium, so you need to eat potassium-rich foods daily.
Beans– All types of legumes are high in fiber, which is a key element of achieving and maintaining an ideal blood pressure. Beans are also high in magnesium— another important mineral for healthy blood pressure. Some varies of beans such as white beans, soybeans, lentils and split peas are high in potassium.
Brazil Nuts– Brazil nuts are very high in magnesium. Another delicious source of magnesium is pumpkin seeds. Also try hemp seeds for a whole body enriching treat. Just make sure that your seeds and nuts are the unsalted variety!
Spinach– Spinach and all other leafy greens are low in calories and high in potassium and magnesium.
Dark Chocloate
– Along with this being a wonderful antioxidant,enjoying ½ ounce daily
will help to both lower and maintain healthier blood pressure without
weight gain.
Garlic– According to PubMed a pilot study seems to show that that the active part of garlic called allicin may effectively lower blood pressure.
Generally, any food high in potassium and/or magnesium and fiber is good for you, but specifically, to maintain an ideal blood pressure. Another of the natural ways to lower blood pressure is to use spices or herbs to lower blood pressure: Saffron, fennel basil, and tarragon to name a few.
Foods to Avoid with High Blood Pressure
If you only add the right foods but forget to remove those foods that cause problems, you're making very little progress to achieve an ideal blood pressure. Just as important to eat the foods that lower blood pressure it is also very important to eliminate those foods that cause health problems, especially high blood pressure. Here is a partial list of foods to remove from your lifestyle if you are serious about lowering your blood pressure.- Fast food
- Hot dogs
- Cold cuts
- Microwavable foods
- Bacon
- Pork products
- Smoked fish
- Condiments
- Cheese
- Salty snacks
- Buttermilk
- Canned soup (Even the low sodium varieties!)
- Any foods with monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- Pickled foods
- Sugar
- Soy foods
As you have probably concluded, most of the above foods are laden with salt. Salt is almost always restricted when attempting to lower blood pressure. The “odd one” on the list is everyone’s favorite— sugar. Common table sugar raises blood pressure. If you're serious about using diet as one of the natural ways to lower blood pressure, eliminate both salty and sugary foods from your diet.
DASH Diet Information
The knowledge about certain foods that lower
blood pressure gave rise to an healthy eating plan commonly known as
the DASH Diet. DASH is an acronym that stands for Dietary Approaches to
Stop Hypertension. The DASH Diet is a proven way to lower high blood
pressure. Participants using the DASH Diet were able to significantly
reduce their systolic blood pressure reading according to a study
reported in the
New England Journal of Medicine January 2001.
Eating right is just one of the natural ways to lower blood pressure,but
it may be the single most important. Eating the foods that lower blood
pressure promotes not only ideal blood pressure numbers, but has many
other healthful benefits.
Check out these cookbooks full of recipes that are both blood pressure friendly and delicious.
Go From Foods that Lower Blood Pressure to HOME of Wellness With Natural Health Supplements
