Monday 10 August 2015

11 foods that help in lowering high blood pressure

High blood pressure is also known as the silent killer. This is because the symptoms are not easily detected. Hypertension can be managed and prevented. If not, it could lead to death caused by heart attack and stroke.

1 Fish oil
Fish oil aids in bringing down hypertension because it contains omega-fatty acids that help in lowering blood pressure. If you cannot find fish oil then you might as well consume fish that has omega-fatty acids. An example of such a fish is Tilapia.

2 Banana
Banana is rich in calcium, magnesium and potassium. If you eat just one banana, you will have eaten 12% of your daily requirements for magnesium.

3 Broccoli and celery
Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable that helps in lowering hypertension. It also contains a chemical called glucosinolates that fight against cancer. Celery is also good when it comes to controlling blood pressure. Celery contains a compound called Phthalides that helps in relaxing the muscles that are found in the wall of our arteries. This makes blood to flow easily along the arteries.

4 Sweet potatoes
Like all foods that help in lowering your blood pressure, sweet potato is rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium. Potassium lessens the effect of sodium in the body thereby reducing blood pressure.

5 Pear (Avocado)
Pear is a good fruit to consider when you have hypertension. It can also be eaten as a measure to prevent hypertension.

6 Garlic
Garlic is a very famous ingredient in cuisines. It has a lot of health benefits and bringing down hypertension is one of them. Allicin is the compound in garlic that is responsible for its curative properties. If you cannot consume garlic, you can purchase Allicin capsules at a pharmacy.

7 Watermelon and watermelon seeds
When watermelon is eaten, the chemicals in it help in making you blood vessels wider. Research has shown that watermelon is rich in L-citrulline which is useful in regulating blood flow and blood pressure. Watermelon and the seeds should be eaten for best results. It is advisable to eat watermelon every morning on an empty stomach.

8 onion
Onion is able to lower your blood pressure due to the oxidants found in it. If you love eating salad, add one full sliced onion to your salad. If you love taking onion in tea, blend it, add the juice to a cup of hot water and sweeten with honey.
9 lemon juice

Lemon juice is able to bring down hypertension and prevent your risk of developing a heart attack. This is because lemon contains nutrients that help in making blood vessels soft and flexible. Lemon is also rich in vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant and therefore helps to get rid of toxins in the body. Divide lemon into 2 parts. Squeeze half into a glass of warm water and drink every morning, preferably on an empty stomach.

10 Coconut water
Although more research is still needed to prove this, some studies have shown that drinking coconut water can reduce you blood pressure.

11 Beetroot juice
A study conducted by researchers at Queen Mary University of London showed that drinking beetroot juice is able to bring down high blood pressure. The researchers found out that it was the nitrates in the beetroot that is responsible for bringing down blood pressure. You can grate beetroot and add to your salad, or juice it and take it as a drink.

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