15 natural ways to lower your blood pressure
15 natural ways to
lower your blood pressure
High blood pressure is a dangerous condition that can damage
your heart. If left uncontrolled, it raises your risk of heart disease and stroke
Today you learn 15 natural ways to
lower your blood pressure without medications
these are 15 natural
ways to fight high blood pressure.
1. REGULAR EXERCISE AND WALK
It is one of the best
things you can do to lower high blood pressure.
Regular exercise helps
make your heart stronger and more efficient at pumping blood, which lowers the
pressure in your arteries.
In fact, 120 minutes
of moderate exercise, such as walking running, per week can help lower blood
pressure and improve your heart health.
Walking just 30 minutes a day can help lower
your blood pressure. More exercise helps reduce it even further.
2. Reduce Your Sodium Intake
Salt intake is high around
the world. In large part,
In many studies, salt
has been linked to high blood pressure and heart events, like stroke However,
more recent research indicates that the relationship between sodium and high
blood pressure is less clear
One reason for this
may be genetic differences in how people process sodium. About half of people
with high blood pressure and a quarter of people with normal levels seem to
have sensitivity to salt
If you already have
high blood pressure, it's worth cutting back your sodium intake to see if it
makes a difference. Swap out processed foods with fresh ones and try seasoning
with herbs and spices, rather than salt.
3. Drink Less Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can
raise blood pressure. In fact, alcohol is linked to 16% of high blood pressure
cases around the world,
Drinking alcohol in
any quantity may raise your blood pressure. Limit your drinking to no more than
one drink a day for women, two for men.
It helps your body get
rid of sodium and ease pressure on your blood vessels.
To get a better
balance of potassium to sodium in your diet, focus on eating fewer processed
foods and more fresh, whole foods.
Foods that are
particularly high in potassium include:
·
Vegetables, especially
leafy greens, tomatoes, potatoes and sweet potatoes
·
Dairy, such as milk
and yogurt
·
Tuna and salmon
·
Nuts and seeds
·
Beans
5. Cut Back on Caffeine
If you've ever downed
a cup of coffee before you've had your blood pressure taken,
you'll know that caffeine causes an instant boost.
However, there's not a
lot of evidence to suggest that drinking caffeine regularly can cause a lasting
increase
In fact, people who
drink caffeinated coffee and tea tend to have a lower risk of heart disease,
including high blood pressure, than those who don't. Caffeine may have a
stronger effect on people who don't consume it regularly, If you suspect you're
caffeine-sensitive, cut back to see if it lowers your blood pressure
6. Learn to Manage Stress
Stress is a key driver of high blood pressure.
When you're stressed,
your body is in a constant fight mode. On a physical level, that means a faster
heart rate and constricted blood vessels.
When you experience
stress, you might also be more likely to engage in other behaviors, such as
drinking alcohol or eating unhealthy food that can negatively affect blood
pressure.
·
Listen
to soothing music: Calming music can
help relax your nervous; it's an effective complement to other blood pressure
therapies Work less: Working a lot, and stressful work situations in
general, are linked to high blood pressure.
7. Eat Dark Chocolate or
Cocoa
Here's a piece of
advice you can really get behind.
While eating massive
amounts of chocolate probably won't help your heart, small amounts may.
That's because dark
chocolate and cocoa powder are rich in flavonoids, plant compounds that cause
blood vessels to dilate.
8. Lose Weight
If you're overweight,
losing weight can make a big difference for your heart health.
According to a 2016
study, losing 5% of your body mass could significantly lower high blood
pressure.
9. Quit Smoking
Every puff of
cigarette smoke causes a slight, temporary increase in blood pressure. The
chemicals in tobacco are also known to damage blood vessels.
Still, since both
smoking and high blood pressure raise the risk of heart disease, quitting
smoking can help reverse that risk.
10. Cut Added Sugar and
Refined Carbs
In the Framingham
Women's Health Study, women who drank even one soda per day had higher levels than
those who drank less than one soda per day
Some studies have
shown that low-carb diets may also help reduce blood pressure.
One study on people
undergoing statin therapy found that those who went on a six-week,
carb-restricted diet saw a greater improvement in blood pressure and other
heart disease markers than people not on a diet.
11. Eat Berries
Berries are full of
more than just juicy flavor.
They're also packed
with polyphenols, natural plant compounds that are good for your heart.
12. Try Meditation or Deep Breathing
While these two
behaviors could also fall under "stress reduction techniques,"
meditation and deep breathing deserve specific mention.
Both meditation and
deep breathing are thought to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This
system is engaged when the body relaxes, slowing the heart rate and lowering
blood pressure.
There's quite a bit of
research in this area, with studies showing that different styles of meditation
appear to have benefits for lowering blood pressure
Deep breathing
techniques can also be quite effective.
13. Eat Calcium-Rich Foods
People with low calcium intake
often have high blood pressure.
While calcium
supplements haven't been conclusively shown to lower blood pressure,
calcium-rich diets do seem linked to healthy
14. Take Natural Supplements
Some natural
supplements may also help lower blood pressure
·
Whey
protein: A 2016 study found
that whey protein improved blood pressure and blood vessel function in 38
participants. Fish oil: Long credited with improving heart health, fish oil may benefit people with high blood
pressure the most.
·
Hibiscus: Hibiscus flowers make a tasty tea. They're
rich in anthocyanins and polyphenols that are good for your heart and may lower
blood pressure
15. Eat Foods Rich in Magnesium
Magnesium is an important mineral that helps blood vessels relax.
While magnesium
deficiency is pretty rare, many people don't get enough.
Some studies have
suggested that getting too little magnesium is linked with high blood pressure,
but evidence from clinical studies has been less clear Still, eating a
magnesium-rich diet is a recommended way to ward off high blood pressure. You
can incorporate magnesium into your diet with vegetables, dairy products,
legumes, chicken, meat and whole grains.
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