Lowering blood pressure does not require a large amount of medications or extreme measures. Lifestyle changes and home remedies are some of the best treatment options out there for keeping your blood pressure in check. Exercising and losing any excess weight can help lower blood pressure easily by promoting better circulation and less work on your heart. Another lifestyle change that you can make that will help is by changing your diet. A diet that is low in sodium and high in calcium, magnesium and potassium will help lower your blood pressure. Implementing these five foods into your diet will be a great natural treatment for any high blood pressure problems.
1.) Leafy Greens
Greens like arugula, kale, collard greens, spinach, turnip greens sensed romaine lettuce are all very high in potassium. Potassium helps give a better ration of potassium to sodium, which decreases the risk of sodium poses in your body. Improvements in this ratio can help lower blood pressure. Try using fresh or frozen greens instead of canned vegetables. Canned vegetables often have sodium added into them. Both fresh and frozen vegetables have nutrients for heart health without the added sodium.
2.) Oatmeal
Oatmeal has a lot of fiber, low-sodium and low-fat. These are three key ingredients for lowering blood pressure. Oatmeal can be pretty boring as a breakfast choice, but there are healthy ways to brighten it up. Try adding berries or honey for a natural way to sweeten things up. Berries and honey do not have fat or sodium, so they are a perfect way to make oatmeal a little more flavorful.
3.) Beans
Beans are relatively inexpensive and are also very versatile. Beans have fiber, magnesium and potassium. There are the three key nutrients that help lower blood pressure. They also improve overall heart health. You can get many different types of beans, like white, black, navy, lima, pinto and kidney beans. You can add beans to soups, salads and as a side dish to your favorite healthy dishes.
4.) Baked White Potatoes
White potatoes have a lot of magnesium and potassium, which are both vital for heart health. Potassium is important because when levels of the nutrient are low, the body will retain extra sodium, and sodium raises blood pressure. Magnesium helps promote healthy blood flow. Although potatoes are delicious with salt, do not add any to your potato. Bake it and add some fresh vegetables on the top to add flavor.
5.) Bananas
Bananas have a lot of potassium to keep the sodium levels in your body at bay. Bananas are easy to eat on-the-go or you can add it to many different types of snacks and meals. You can have one in your oatmeal in the morning for a fiber and potassium packed breakfast. You can also freeze slices of bananas and even dip pieces of them into peanut butter (unsalted of course). Bananas also strengthen the blood and relieve anemia because of the iron found in bananas. The benefits for bananas will help your whole body become healthier all while lowering blood pressure.