High blood pressure is serious business from a health standpoint. High blood pressure leads to strokes and heart attacks, and even death. If you have high blood pressure, or you want to decrease the risk of high blood pressure, you need to know the top 10 foods that lower blood pressure.
Start by Avoiding Certain Foods
When you have high blood pressure, there are certain foods that you absolutely need to avoid. Avoid fried foods and other foods that are high in fat and cholesterol. These foods certainly won’t help your high blood pressure, and they may, in fact, be contributing to it.
Your doctor will most likely also advise you to stop smoking, and to avoid alcohol – or excessive alcohol use at the very least. Additionally, you should make sure that you are getting plenty of sleep, and avoiding stress as much as possible.
The Best Foods for Lowering Your Blood Pressure
- Bananas – Bananas are not only a great source of potassium, but they also help to prevent cardiac disease. Try to eat at least one banana each day.
- Beans – Like bananas, beans also contain potassium, which again helps to reduce blood pressure, and to keep it in check if it isn’t already high.
- Spinach – You may not like it, but your body does. Spinach is essential for a wide range of health issues, including helping to lower blood pressure.
- Potatoes – Surprisingly, potatoes can help to lower blood pressure, if they are prepared in the right way – don’t fry them, and don’t add loads of butter or cheese!
- Soy – You should replace as many products as possible with soy products. Soy contains isoflavones which are essential for lowering blood pressure.
- Dark Chocolate – Who said that sweets couldn’t be great for you? Dark chocolate helps to lower blood pressure. Make sure that it is dark chocolate that you are consuming!
- Fish – Enjoy as much fish as you like, assuming that it is prepared in a healthy way. It contains important Omega3 Fatty Acids.
- Avocado – Avocados contain oleic acid, which is essential for lowering the cholesterol. Often, if you can lower your cholesterol, your blood pressure drops as well.
- Skim Milk – You need milk for strong bones, healthy teeth, and healthy skin, but milk can be fattening, and it can raise your blood pressure. Go with skim milk and enjoy the benefits without the added problems.
- Sunflower Seeds – Consume these as much as you like. Just make sure that you are consuming the unsalted variety.
Talk Nutrition with Your Doctor
It is essential that your doctor knows about your nutrition. He or she is not there to see you prepare or eat your meals. You need to make an appointment to discuss proper nutrition, based on your specific health conditions, so that you can be sure that you are getting the right foods into your system.
Prior to the appointment, for a couple of weeks, write down what you eat and drink each day – and don’t leave anything out (including that big slice of chocolate cake). You won’t be doing yourself any favors by omitting information from your doctor.
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