For years, doctors have warned people that hypertension or high blood pressure is a major risk factor in stroke and heart disease. The reason for this is because it’s been linked to various diseases of the cardiovascular system such as coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease and congestive heart failure. While there are many factors that contribute to hypertension including stress, lack of exercise and poor diet, there are certain foods and dietary habits people can follow to address this health issue.
One of the best ways to treat hypertension is through a healthy diet that includes natural remedies for high blood pressure such as garlic, ginger, celery and cayenne pepper. Here’s a closer look at the best foods for high blood pressure.
Garlic is one of the most potent medicinal foods in nature and has been used for thousands of years as an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, cancer fighter and blood thinner. It’s also considered a natural remedy to lower cholesterol levels and prevent atherosclerosis which is the hardening of arteries due to a buildup of plaque. Garlic contains two active ingredients that help to regulate blood pressure levels: allicin and selenium. Allicin has been found to lower high cholesterol, reduce inflammation, thin the blood and fight cancer cells while selenium has been shown to reduce the risk of stroke by 10 percent.
Celery is one of the few vegetables that contain a special compound called phthalides which have been shown to improve blood flow. In fact, it’s believed that eating this food with any meal can help you reduce your blood pressure by up to 8 percent within 30 minutes. Phthalides also helps prevent atherosclerosis and high cholesterol levels due to its ability to improve the way the body uses insulin which in turn reduces blood pressure levels even further.
Another popular food used as a natural remedy for high blood pressure is ginger. Not only can it help treat nausea, relieve inflammation and promote healthy digestion but studies have shown that it’s a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the heart from various cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack, stroke and poor circulation. It also helps to lower LDL or bad cholesterol levels while increasing HDL or good cholesterol levels due to its ability to regulate blood pressure.
If you have high blood pressure, it’s important that you drink a lot more water than usual since it can help reduce the swelling of blood vessels. In addition, you should try to eat foods that are rich in potassium such as carrots and pumpkins since they help maintain normal blood pressure levels.
The bottom line is that high blood pressure can be managed through diet alone which means it’s never too late to start watching what you eat.
