Foods that lower blood pressure - lowering your blood pressure through eating a heart healthy diet is
one of the simplest, yet affordable health supplements. A list of 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.
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 and one of the specific foods that lower high blood pressure. 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 Chocolate – 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.
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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.
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.