High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a serious and life-threatening health condition. If left untreated, it can lead to health complications such as heart attacks, strokes, and others. But don’t fret! There are many lifestyle changes that can help you if you already have hypertension or are at risk for developing it. Making changes in your diet or adding certain foods could help lower your risk and manage your symptoms.
In this article, we’ve listed 5 of our best foods for lowering blood pressure.
1. Bananas
Bananas are a great addition to a healthy diet. It’s rich in potassium, which, according to the American Heart Association (AHA) helps control blood pressure. According to AHA, potassium lessens the effects of sodium, so it eases the tension in your blood vessels, lowering blood pressure.
2. Avocados
Avocados have always been considered a superfood, and for good reasons. Avocados are rich in nutrients such as vitamins A, K, B, E, and more. Importantly, it’s also rich in potassium, which helps lower blood pressure. It also contains oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid that reduces high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Even more, it contains folate, which is good for the heart.
3. Berries
Berries, such as blueberries and strawberries, contain anthocyanins, a type of flavonoid. Anthocyanins are known to lower systolic blood pressure and promote good heart health. According to studies, people who consume anthocyanins from strawberries and blueberries on a regular basis have 8% lower blood pressure levels than those who do not. Further studies noted that the berries that contain the highest amount of flavonoids are chokeberries, black raspberries, followed by blackcurrants, bilberries, blueberries, and blackberries.
4. Dark chocolate
If you’re looking for a sweet snack that’s good for your health, dark chocolate may be the answer. But don’t just consume any type of dark chocolate, you want to look for a variety that has at least 70% cacao content. It’s the cacao component that can help lower blood pressure and improve overall heart health because it’s rich in flavonoids. Like the flavonoids in berries, cacao is rich in nitric oxide, which eases the pressure on the blood vessels, lowering high blood pressure.
5. Beets
Although beets aren’t everyone’s favorite, a glass of beet juice can be a useful addition to a healthy diet. Beets contain a good amount of nitric oxide and potassium, which significantly lower blood pressure. According to Harvard Studies, beetroot juice contains more nitrates than cooked beets.
These are just some of the many great foods you can easily add to your diet. Don’t forget that eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is a big part of staying healthy. You can also add a cup of the best herbal tea that promotes weight loss and good health. You can also look into the best fat-burning foods that are rich in nutrients and will keep you healthy.
