8 Foods That Lower Blood Pressure...
Plant-based diets
and diets high in fruits and vegetables are strongly associated with
lower blood pressure -- so much so that the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) officially recommends adopting healthy eating practices as
one of the primary actions to take to prevent or lower high blood
pressure and hypertension.
DASH, which stands for "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension,"
is the eating plan recommended by the NIH. It features foods that are
low in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol, with a particular
focus on fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy. The eight foods on this
list are DASH-approved. Not only are they packed with nutrients that
support overall health, but they also help lower blood pressure. Here's
how:
(1.) Start out with celery to patients as a natural remedy for lowering blood
pressure. This recommendation isn't anything new: Doctors of
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have been prescribing celery or
celery root to patients with high blood pressure for more than a
century. Studies have shown benefit in animals as well as humans.
How it works: Celery contains phytochemicals known as
phthalides, which relax the muscle tissue in the artery walls, enabling
increased blood flow and, in turn, lowering blood pressure.
How much: Research suggests that eating four stalks of
celery per day may be helpful in lowering blood pressure. For a boost of
protein, add a tablespoon of unsalted peanut butter or almond butter;
both are high in monounsaturated fat (the heart-healthy kind).
(2.) Next, check out fish, specifically cold-water fish are
rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats, which are famous for their
cardiovascular benefits. In particular, omega-3s lower blood pressure
and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Wild (not farmed)
salmon, tuna, mackerel, cod, trout, halibut, herring, and sardines are
among the best sources.
How it works: Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty
acids: The human body can't make them, so we need to get them from the
food we eat. Omega-3s act as a natural blood thinner, making it easier
for your heart to pump blood around your body. Less viscous (thick)
blood is also less likely to form clots in veins and arteries.
How much: According to the joint guidelines from the FDA
and the EPA, two six-ounce servings per week of most cold-water fish is a
safe amount for most people, including pregnant women and nursing
mothers, to reap the health benefits with minimal risk from exposure to
toxins. If you bruise easily, have a bleeding disorder, or take
blood-thinning medication, talk to your doctor about potential
complications.
(3.) Nutritionally
speaking, broccoli is a red-carpet regular, connecting the worlds of
scientific research and natural health. This cruciferous veggie is
hailed as a super-food because of its powerful antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory properties. And when it comes lowering blood pressure,
broccoli sells itself.
How it works: Broccoli is a potent package of fiber,
potassium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C, all nutrients that help
lower blood pressure. One cup of steamed broccoli provides more than 200
percent of the vitamin C you need each day. Researchers aren't sure
how, exactly, vitamin C helps. Theories range from the vitamin promoting
the excretion of lead to calming the sympathetic nervous system to
protecting nitric oxide, a molecule that relaxes blood vessels, thereby
increasing blood flow. But the results are the same: Antioxidant vitamin
C helps normalize blood pressure.
How much: For the myriad health benefits you can reap from
regular consumption of broccoli, most people would do well to eat at
least one serving a day. For variety, eat it raw with salsa or hummus,
or steamed with olive oil and lemon. If you have a juicer, run the
stalks and leaves through for a spicy green sipper.
(4.) For more than a
century, dandelion has been used as a cure-all for countless conditions
and ailments in cultures around the world, particularly in its native
Asia and Europe. The entire plant is edible, from leaves to roots. And
in addition to lowering blood pressure, it's good for the liver, eyes,
and skin.
How it works: A natural diuretic, dandelion helps reduce
blood pressure by releasing excess sodium without the loss of potassium
(as occurs with some over-the-counter diuretics). This is doubly
important because excess sodium raises blood pressure by constricting
blood vessels, while potassium helps regulate it. Dandelion is also
loaded with magnesium, which dissolves blood clots and stimulates the
production of nitric oxide, helping to relax and dilate blood vessels
for better blood flow.
How much: Eat fresh dandelion greens in a salad, sauté
dandelion roots in a stir-fry, or drink dried dandelion in a tea.
Incorporate dandelion into your diet as often as you can; it's really
good for you, and in any form you find it (except on your lawn), chances
are that it's organic -- grown without harmful pesticides or
herbicides.
(5.) In a 12-week study
comparing whole-grain oat-based cereals to refined wheat-based cereals,
researchers reported that 73 percent of hypertensive participants in the
oats group were able to cut out their antihypertensive medications, or
reduce them by half. The remaining participants also experienced
significantly reduced blood pressure.
How they work: The fiber and magnesium found in oats both
have beneficial effects on blood pressure. In addition, oats slow
atherosclerosis, the plaque buildup that occurs in blood vessels.
How much: Aim for one serving (about three-fourths of a
cup) of whole-grain oats per day, or at least six servings per week. For
a boost of blood-pressure-lowering calcium and potassium, eat
whole-grain oatmeal topped with skim milk (or unsweetened soy milk) and
banana, or sprinkle oat bran on cereal and salads. Loose oats also make
an excellent thickener for soups and stews.
(6.) Legumes (beans) boast a
high fiber-to-protein ratio that you won't find in any other type of
food. This combination works wonders for regulating blood sugar and
lowering blood cholesterol levels, both of which are related to
maintaining normal blood pressure.
How they work: Black beans are a nutrient-dense source of
fiber and magnesium, which are essential for healthy blood pressure
levels. What puts them at a distinct advantage over other foods, though,
is the folate you'll find in these legumes. Folate, also known as folic
acid in its synthetic form, is a B-complex vitamin that appears to
lower blood pressure (especially systolic blood pressure) by relaxing
blood vessels and improving blood flow.
How much: 400 micrograms of folate is the recommended
daily allowance (RDA). Aim for that as a minimum; 800 micrograms daily
has shown significant benefit in reducing blood pressure in multiple
large-scale studies. One cup of cooked black beans provides 256
micrograms of folate. Many cereals are also fortified with folic acid.
(7.) Calorie for
calorie, berries are among the most nutritional foods on the planet when
it comes to fiber and antioxidant capacity. All berries are great for
you, but blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries are tops for their
ability to help lower blood pressure, thanks to high doses of fiber,
vitamin C, potassium, and other plant compounds.
How they work: All three berries are high in fiber, but
raspberries rank highest: Just one cup delivers more than 33 percent of
the daily value, for a mere 60 calories. A cup of strawberries offers
136 percent of the daily value for vitamin C. And blueberries contain a
compound called pterostilbene that helps prevent plaque buildup in the
arteries. Last but hardly least, berries are anti-inflammatory.
How much: Eat at least one serving (one cup) of berries per day, fresh or frozen.
(8.) In a Dutch study of hypertension in adults 55 and older, researchers
found that low-fat dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt may
help prevent hypertension.
How it works: The modest amount of fat in low-fat dairy is
important because it increases the bioavailability of calcium, making
it easier for the body to absorb. In addition, milk and dairy products
offer blood-pressure-lowering magnesium and potassium.
How much: In a 2006 study from Harvard Medical School,
researchers found that people who ate more than three servings per day
of low-fat dairy showed a systolic blood pressure reading of 2.6 points
less than those who ate less than half a serving per day. So aim to
include skim milk, cheese, and yogurt into your three daily meals, or in
between.
Plant-based diets and diets high in fruits and vegetables are strongly associated with lower blood pressure -- so much so that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) officially recommends adopting healthy eating practices as one of the primary actions to take to prevent or lower high blood pressure and hypertension.
DASH, which stands for "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension," is the eating plan recommended by the NIH. It features foods that are low in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol, with a particular focus on fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy. The eight foods on this list are DASH-approved. Not only are they packed with nutrients that support overall health, but they also help lower blood pressure. Here's how:
(1.) Start out with celery to patients as a natural remedy for lowering blood pressure. This recommendation isn't anything new: Doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have been prescribing celery or celery root to patients with high blood pressure for more than a century. Studies have shown benefit in animals as well as humans.
How it works: Celery contains phytochemicals known as phthalides, which relax the muscle tissue in the artery walls, enabling increased blood flow and, in turn, lowering blood pressure.
How it works: Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids: The human body can't make them, so we need to get them from the food we eat. Omega-3s act as a natural blood thinner, making it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. Less viscous (thick) blood is also less likely to form clots in veins and arteries.
How much: According to the joint guidelines from the FDA and the EPA, two six-ounce servings per week of most cold-water fish is a safe amount for most people, including pregnant women and nursing mothers, to reap the health benefits with minimal risk from exposure to toxins. If you bruise easily, have a bleeding disorder, or take blood-thinning medication, talk to your doctor about potential complications.
(3.) Nutritionally speaking, broccoli is a red-carpet regular, connecting the worlds of scientific research and natural health. This cruciferous veggie is hailed as a super-food because of its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. And when it comes lowering blood pressure, broccoli sells itself.
How it works: Broccoli is a potent package of fiber, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C, all nutrients that help lower blood pressure. One cup of steamed broccoli provides more than 200 percent of the vitamin C you need each day. Researchers aren't sure how, exactly, vitamin C helps. Theories range from the vitamin promoting the excretion of lead to calming the sympathetic nervous system to protecting nitric oxide, a molecule that relaxes blood vessels, thereby increasing blood flow. But the results are the same: Antioxidant vitamin C helps normalize blood pressure.
How much: For the myriad health benefits you can reap from regular consumption of broccoli, most people would do well to eat at least one serving a day. For variety, eat it raw with salsa or hummus, or steamed with olive oil and lemon. If you have a juicer, run the stalks and leaves through for a spicy green sipper.
(4.) For more than a century, dandelion has been used as a cure-all for countless conditions and ailments in cultures around the world, particularly in its native Asia and Europe. The entire plant is edible, from leaves to roots. And in addition to lowering blood pressure, it's good for the liver, eyes, and skin.
How it works: A natural diuretic, dandelion helps reduce blood pressure by releasing excess sodium without the loss of potassium (as occurs with some over-the-counter diuretics). This is doubly important because excess sodium raises blood pressure by constricting blood vessels, while potassium helps regulate it. Dandelion is also loaded with magnesium, which dissolves blood clots and stimulates the production of nitric oxide, helping to relax and dilate blood vessels for better blood flow.
How much: Eat fresh dandelion greens in a salad, sauté dandelion roots in a stir-fry, or drink dried dandelion in a tea. Incorporate dandelion into your diet as often as you can; it's really good for you, and in any form you find it (except on your lawn), chances are that it's organic -- grown without harmful pesticides or herbicides.
(5.) In a 12-week study comparing whole-grain oat-based cereals to refined wheat-based cereals, researchers reported that 73 percent of hypertensive participants in the oats group were able to cut out their antihypertensive medications, or reduce them by half. The remaining participants also experienced significantly reduced blood pressure.
How they work: The fiber and magnesium found in oats both have beneficial effects on blood pressure. In addition, oats slow atherosclerosis, the plaque buildup that occurs in blood vessels.
How much: Aim for one serving (about three-fourths of a cup) of whole-grain oats per day, or at least six servings per week. For a boost of blood-pressure-lowering calcium and potassium, eat whole-grain oatmeal topped with skim milk (or unsweetened soy milk) and banana, or sprinkle oat bran on cereal and salads. Loose oats also make an excellent thickener for soups and stews.
(6.) Legumes (beans) boast a high fiber-to-protein ratio that you won't find in any other type of food. This combination works wonders for regulating blood sugar and lowering blood cholesterol levels, both of which are related to maintaining normal blood pressure.
How they work: Black beans are a nutrient-dense source of fiber and magnesium, which are essential for healthy blood pressure levels. What puts them at a distinct advantage over other foods, though, is the folate you'll find in these legumes. Folate, also known as folic acid in its synthetic form, is a B-complex vitamin that appears to lower blood pressure (especially systolic blood pressure) by relaxing blood vessels and improving blood flow.
How much: 400 micrograms of folate is the recommended daily allowance (RDA). Aim for that as a minimum; 800 micrograms daily has shown significant benefit in reducing blood pressure in multiple large-scale studies. One cup of cooked black beans provides 256 micrograms of folate. Many cereals are also fortified with folic acid.
(7.) Calorie for calorie, berries are among the most nutritional foods on the planet when it comes to fiber and antioxidant capacity. All berries are great for you, but blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries are tops for their ability to help lower blood pressure, thanks to high doses of fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and other plant compounds.
How they work: All three berries are high in fiber, but raspberries rank highest: Just one cup delivers more than 33 percent of the daily value, for a mere 60 calories. A cup of strawberries offers 136 percent of the daily value for vitamin C. And blueberries contain a compound called pterostilbene that helps prevent plaque buildup in the arteries. Last but hardly least, berries are anti-inflammatory.
How much: Eat at least one serving (one cup) of berries per day, fresh or frozen.
(8.) In a Dutch study of hypertension in adults 55 and older, researchers found that low-fat dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt may help prevent hypertension.
How it works: The modest amount of fat in low-fat dairy is important because it increases the bioavailability of calcium, making it easier for the body to absorb. In addition, milk and dairy products offer blood-pressure-lowering magnesium and potassium.
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