Exercise helps the heart use oxygen more efficiently, so it doesn't work as hard to pump blood. Get a vigorous cardio workout of at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. Pump those arms (all the way up to your ears!) Try increasing speed or distance and tackle some hills to give your heart a better workout. Plug in some energizing music to help motivate you!
(Helps to minimize muscle cramps, too). Potassium is an important part of any blood pressure-lowering program. Aim for potassium levels of 2,000 to 4,000 mg a day. Top sources of potassium-rich produce include sweet potatoes, tomatoes, orange juice, potatoes, bananas, kidney beans, peas, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and dried fruits such as prunes and raisins.
The phytochemicals in Matcha Green Tea and other flower teas such as hibiscus are responsible for the large reduction in high blood pressure. Many herbal teas contain hibiscus; look for blends that list it near the top of the chart of ingredients.
Putting in more than 41 hours per week at the office raises your risk of hypertension by 15%. Overtime makes it hard to exercise and eat healthily. Try to leave at a decent hour so you can go to the gym or cook a healthy meal as often as possible. Also, stop working 2 hours before bedtime. Rest your mind and your optic nerves.
The right tunes can help, according to researchers at the University of Florence in Italy. They asked 28 adults who were already taking hypertension pills to listen to soothing classical, Celtic, or Indian music for 30 minutes daily while breathing slowly. After a week, the listeners had lowered their average systolic reading by 3.2 points; a month later, readings were down 4.4 points. Find a good Enya or Classical Music Pandora station and play in the background when winding down.
Blood pressure often increases as weight increases. Losing just 10 pounds can help reduce your blood pressure. In general, the more weight you lose, the lower your blood pressure. Losing weight also makes any blood pressure medications you're taking more effective.
Even a small reduction in the sodium in your diet can reduce blood pressure by 2 to 8 mm Hg.
a. The recommendations for reducing sodium are: Limit sodium to 2,300 milligrams (mg) a day or less.
b. Track how much salt is in your diet. Keep a food diary to estimate how much sodium is in what you eat and drink each day.
c. Read food labels. If possible, choose low-sodium alternatives to the foods and beverages you normally buy.
d. Eat fewer processed foods. Potato chips, frozen dinners, bacon, and processed lunch meats are high in sodium.
Stress or anxiety can temporarily increase blood pressure. Take some time to think about what causes you to feel stressed, such as work, family, finances or illness. Once you know what's causing your stress, consider how you can eliminate or reduce stress. Engage in a hobby, on-going social events, meditation, and body movement to keep the negative stress at bay.
One of the herbs's already known benefits concerns its abilities to significantly decrease inflammation throughout the body, which is a primary cause of high cholesterol and even high blood pressure. This is one of the most powerful herbs used by Ayurveda practitioners all over the world. By actively reducing inflammation, turmeric helps improve cardiovascular function and maintain healthy blood flow.
Fatty fish is high in essential omega-3 fats, and these fats have been shown to reduce the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular events in multiple studies.
Very detoxing, sweet and in season, beets are beneficial for lowering blood pressure is that the content of inorganic nitrate in certain vegetables and fruits provides a physiologic substrate for reduction to nitrite, nitric oxide, and other metabolic products that produce vasodilation, decrease blood pressure and support cardiovascular function.
Not only does garlic have anti-viral and anti-vampire properties, garlic has the ability to lower your blood pressure by causing your blood vessels to relax and dilate.
Dark chocolate varieties contain flavanols that make blood vessels more elastic. In one study, 18% of patients who ate it every day saw blood pressure decrease. Have 1/2 ounce daily (make sure it contains at least 70% cocoa).
A study from Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association found for the first time that replacing some of the refined carbohydrates in your diet with foods high in soy or milk protein, such as low-fat dairy, can bring down systolic blood pressure if you have hypertension or prehypertension. Choose non-GMO, of course.
Caffeine can raise blood pressure by tightening blood vessels and by magnifying the effects of stress. When you're under stress, your heart starts pumping a lot more blood, boosting blood pressure, and caffeine exaggerates that effect.
Loud, incessant snores are one of the main symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Many sleep apnea sufferers also had high levels of aldosterone, a hormone that can boost blood pressure. This also effects partners of those who snore as well.
American Heart Association says that eating three kiwis a day is linked with decreased blood pressure. Kiwis are in season in spring, so eat up!
Helps to lower your blood pressure. Extract of basil has been shown to lower blood pressure, although only briefly. Adding fresh basil to your diet is easy and certainly can’t hurt. Try Basil Seeds in your favorite drink.
Hawthorn is an herbal remedy for high blood pressure that has been used in traditional Chinese medicines for thousands of years. Decoctions of hawthorn seem to have a whole host of benefits on cardiovascular health, including reduction of blood pressure, the prevention of clot formation, and an increase in blood circulation.
Cinnamon can bring your blood pressure numbers down. Consuming cinnamon every day has been shown to lower blood pressure in people with diabetes as well.
Capsaicin, the spicy ingredient in chili peppers can help to lower blood pressure in people with hypertension.
Eating just a handful of truly raw almonds every day can make a significant difference in keeping your blood pressure levels in check. Raw almonds are rich in monounsaturated fats, which have been scientifically proven to help lower blood cholesterol levels, reduce arterial inflammation, and ultimately lower blood pressure levels.
Rich in potassium, electrolytes, and other important nutrients, coconut water has been shown to help significantly lower blood pressure levels in most of the people that drink it.
Rich in flavonoids and other anti-inflammatory nutrients, raw cacao is another food-based weapon against hypertension that you will want to keep readily stocked in your health arsenal. Cacao flavonoids demonstrably reduce blood pressure levels upon consumption. Cacao flavonoids also help protect the body against stroke and heart disease, which are commonly linked to high blood pressure.
