Good news for chocolate lovers! Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, and has been shown in some studies to reduce blood pressure. Dark chocolate has also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol, making it a heart-healthy snack.
Manage High Blood Pressure
Eating dark chocolate is a great way to incorporate more cacao into your diet, which can help to lower your high blood pressure! The flavonoids in dark chocolate have been found to produce nitric oxide, which causes blood vessels to relax and lower high blood pressure.
Dark chocolate relaxes blood vessels and improves blood circulation, which can lead to lowered blood pressure levels.
Research suggests that consuming milk may benefit your cardiovascular system. An analysis of nine studies that looked at a total of nearly 60,000 people found that consuming just a little more than two cups of milk a day was associated with lower blood pressure.
The beneficial effects of egg consumption on blood pressure in humans may be attributed to the presence of nutrients with antioxidant and antihypertensive effects in whole eggs [7•, 39]. For example, beneficial effects of egg white derived peptides on blood pressure have been shown in animal studies.
Yogurt by itself does not lower blood pressure or prevent hypertension. But a diet that includes nutrient-rich foods like low-fat yogurt instead of less healthy foods does combat high blood pressure. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) plan calls for two to three servings of low-fat dairy per day.
“Consuming sugar increases insulin levels,” study author James DiNicolantonio tells me, “which activates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to increases in heart rate and blood pressure.” It also apparently reduces the sensitivity of the receptors that regulate our blood pressure.
Eating about 30 calories a day of dark chocolate — just one tiny square — was shown to help lower blood pressure after 18 weeks without weight gain or other adverse effects, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Bananas. These are rich in potassium, a nutrient shown to help lower blood pressure, says Laffin. One medium banana provides about 375 milligrams of potassium, about 11 percent of the recommended daily intake for a man, and 16 percent for a woman.
Include foods that are high in folates like asparagus, beans, and lentils in your diet. Fruits containing folate can help increase blood pressure. Fruits good for low blood pressure patients include lime, orange, and grapefruit. Also, make sure to have your dose of green leafy vegetables.
Beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, and avocado are other potassium-rich foods that may help lower blood pressure naturally. Kiwifruit: According to one study, eating three kiwifruit daily can help dramatically lower blood pressure. Kiwi is delicious chopped up in fruit salad or sprinkled on top of plain yogurt.
Tea consumption is associated with a protective effect on blood pressure by lowering the risk of hypertensive BP by 10%. However, the protective effects vary across the type of tea consumed. Dark tea is related to lower SBP irrespective of duration and frequency of consumption.
High sodium consumption can raise blood pressure, and high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Most of the sodium we consume is in the form of salt.
Honey can lower blood pressure
But when taken in excess, it can also put you at the risk of low blood pressure or hypotension. In the long run, this can affect the functioning of your heart.
Drink more water. Fluids increase blood volume and help prevent dehydration, both of which are important in treating hypotension. Wear compression stockings. Also called support stockings, these elastic stockings are commonly used to relieve the pain and swelling of varicose veins.
Apples can also help keep your blood pressure at healthy levels. High blood pressure results in around 1,100 deaths per day in the U.S., which means keeping your blood pressure down is vital for living a healthy life. Fortunately, having an apple a day can help with just that.
Among those who reported eating at least two servings of red meat, chicken or fish each week, the risk of developing high blood pressure was: 17% higher in those who grilled, broiled, or roasted their food more than 15 times per month, compared with those who did so less than four times per month.
White rice is high in carbohydrates and low in nutrients that help control your blood pressure. Therefore, it is better to choose brown rice in place of white rice in order to maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Brown rice is higher in dietary fibre, vitamins, and minerals when compared to white rice.
You don't have to cut cheese out of your diet, but if you have high cholesterol or blood pressure, use high-fat cheeses sparingly. A 30g portion of cheese provides seven per cent of your daily calories and there can be more salt in a portion of cheddar than in a packet of crisps.