Ten Diet Tips to Help Lower Blood Pressure

While conventional treatment of high blood pressure focuses on treating the symptoms, dietary changes and maximizing nutrition focuses on treating the underlying cause. Some cases of hypertension, in its earliest stages, can be reversed without the use of drugs if dietary guidelines are taken seriously and used on a daily basis. High blood pressure patients and their caregivers alike will find the following dietary guidelines helpful.

1) Think Low Fat, High Fiber – Adopting things such as oat bran, pectin fruits like apples, bananas and melons as well as vegetables such as carrots, prunes, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, peas and beets in to your daily diet can be extremely beneficial.

2) No Salt – high quantities of salt ingested into the body promotes the retention of fluids, thereby increasing blood pressure. If salt intake is reduced significantly, it can help alleviate or prevent the onset of hypertension. It is important to note that labels on food products must be read carefully as many foods contain salt. Look for the words “na” or “sodium” to indicate that salt is present. In addition, another variation called monosodium glutamate is also used in products such as canned vegetables and soups, soy sauce, softened water, diet sodas and even some ibuprofen medications.

3) No Sweets – White sugar has been shown to not only promote the body’s retention of sodium, but also causes an increase in adrenaline whereby creating blood vessel constriction.

4) No Blowing Smoke – Studies show that smoking can cause high blood pressure, but not only that, all things smoke are bad for you. Apparently, studies show that even smoked or aged cheeses and meats are bad news right along with animal fats, gravies, broths, processed foods and CHOCOLATE!

5) Stalk Up on Celery – Research has it that celery stalks have beneficial effects on lowering high blood pressure if eaten (or juiced) on a regular basis. Its said that celery oil and celery seeds have been used for generations by folk healers and Chinese physicians in the treatment of high blood pressure.

6) Watch Those Oils – It goes without saying that hydrogenated fats or margarines are definitely bad news. However, not all oils are bad. Olive oil, flaxseed oil and fish oils are known to have highly beneficial properties in aiding the ailing body.

7) Red Meat Bad – although we love to partake in a delectable burger or a juicy steak, it is very important that these delicious treats be limited to a once a month regimen. Lean white meats and coldwater fish are excellent in fighting the battle of high blood pressure.
Invest in Breath Mints – Studies show that garlic is effective in not only lowering high blood pressure, but in decreasing cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. However, since most people don’t eat enough garlic in their diets for it to be effective enough, odorless capsules are recommended. Onions also have some of the same benefits as garlic.

9) Go Green – The word is that vegetarians have considerably lower blood pressure readings than their meat-eating counterparts. Consider becoming a vegetarian! Most people with hypertension can lower their blood pressure by eating less meat and more vegetables. In fact, the most effective way to lower blood pressure safely, rapidly, and permanently, is an entirely vegetarian diet.

10) Try the Dash Diet – This diet is a formulated plan specifically designed for those with high blood pressure and is highly recommended as the first course of treatment by physicians. The medical community recognizes that high blood pressure is not only dangerous to the body but can affect the functionality of other life giving organs as well. It is for this reason that the Dash Diet is endorsed by such organizations as The American Heart Association, The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the U.S. Guidelines for the Treatment of High Blood pressure.