Eat Your Way To Reduced Blood Pressure
13 Jun 2009
In the US today high blood pressure has reached epidemic levels with over 65 million people suffering from high blood pressure and another 45 million showing a condition known as pre-hypertension. High blood pressure is a symptomless disease which increases your risk of heart attack and stroke and you could very easily have it without any knowledge of it until it is too late.
Of course there are medications on the market that can help to lower blood pressure, but some of these have accompanying side effects and, even though some people might have to take medication at least in the short term to lower their blood pressure, a far better solution is to seek out some natural remedies for high blood pressure if you are able to.
For the majority of us high blood pressure is linked to diet and weight and this is a major problem today when two thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. In addition, most Americans get too much salt in their diet and not enough of the many other beneficial minerals and vitamins that can actually lower blood pressure. In a word, it is possible to eat your way to a normal blood pressure, if you know how to do it.
In truth, it is sometimes possible to reduce your blood pressure fairly fast if you change your diet and begin to take some exercise. Having said this, if you’ve been sedentary for a long period of time you shouldn’t suddenly start exercising vigorously and it is always sensible to talk to your doctor before you begin any exercise program.
First of all though let us look at a few things that you should avoid and top of the list comes salt. Salt (or sodium) is one of the chief offenders in today’s high blood pressure epidemic. An excess of dietary fat is also a culprit because it encourages arteriosclerosis, weight gain, and other difficulties which lead to high blood pressure. So, two things which you should avoid in your diet are salt and excess fat, chiefly saturated or trans fats.
So, what types of food should you include in your diet in order to help you to lower your blood pressure? Potassium is one of the chief substances that is lacking in today’s American diet and which is extremely beneficial to blood pressure. Potassium help to reduce blood pressure just as sodium helps raise your blood pressure and so getting sufficient potassium in your diet can help to even out blood pressure.
It is very easy to get enough potassium into your diet by simply loading up on frozen or fresh fruits and vegetables, as long as they have no added salt or sugar. Although this might seem bland to some people, it’s an excellent way to ensure that you regularize your blood pressure. Naturally of course, at the same time you also have to cut down on the salt to the daily sodium intake recommended of roughly 2400 mg each day. An excellent way to achieve this is not to add any salt to your diet at all because natural unprocessed foods contain sufficient salt and, if you want to add flavor to your food then simply try using spices and herbs.
Calcium and magnesium are two further minerals which can help to lower blood pressure. These two minerals are considered calming minerals and the majority of Americans do not get enough of either in their diets. Low-fat dairy products are a good source of calcium as are nuts, legumes, and dark and leafy green vegetables. You ought to try to get a balance of about two parts of magnesium to three parts of calcium. Foods like sesame seeds, white beans and soybeans not only have a lot of magnesium and calcium but they are also excellent sources of potassium.
Finally, make sure that you drink sufficient water and get sufficient fiber in your diet. Fiber is important because it helps to speed toxins and unhealthy substances out of your body and it can help you feel full so that you do not overeat.
