Today's Health Tips

Best Foods to Lower Blood Pressure

What is blood pressure, and why do you need to worry about it? Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood pushing against the sides of your arteries as it is pumped by the heart. Unhealthy lifestyle and genetics sometimes cause people to have high blood pressure. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can lead to heart attack, stroke, heart disease, and more health problems, so it’s important to do everything you can to reduce it.

 

Best Foods to Lower Blood Pressure

Many people with high blood pressure have to go on medication to lower and regulate their blood pressure level. Another way that has been scientifically proven to lower blood pressure is to eat certain healthy foods. Try this high blood pressure diet menu to see results fast.

Here are some of the best foods to lower blood pressure.

• Law-fat and non-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese—Calcium has been proven to help regulate blood pressure, and most Americans don’t get enough calcium in their diet. It’s important that these diary are low- or nonfat, however, because a high fat intake contributes to blood pressure. Dairy foods are often fatty, so be sure to read the labels when at the grocery store!
• Lots of fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits, bananas, melon, spinach, strawberries, and tomatoes. What you really want from your fruit and vegetables when lowering blood pressure is potassium. Potassium is essential to lowering blood pressure, and can be found in high quantities in fruits and vegetables.
• Whole grain rice, bread, pasta, and oatmeal.
• Nuts and seeds that are rich in magnesium—Like potassium and calcium, a diet rich in magnesium is one of the best ways to lower blood pressure. Look to almonds, soybeans, kidney beans, and lentils as sources of magnesium.

Another key to lowering blood pressure is reducing your salt and sodium intake. Look for foods that are labeled as “low sodium,” and resist adding salt to your meals, since Americans already tend to get enough sodium without adding extra!

 

Other Ways to Lower Blood Pressure

There are other controllable actions that contribute to high blood pressure. If you fall into any of these categories, it’s important to speak to your doctor to figure out how to improve your heath in these areas. Diet is important, but it’s not everything!

Factors that contribute to high blood pressure and put you at risk for heart disease:

• Tobacco use
• Obesity
• High cholesterol
• Lack of exercise

Age, diabetes, and family history of high blood pressure can contribute as well, but unfortunately these are impossible to change.