Top 5 foods that help lower blood pressure





Statistics of a silent killer

• High blood pressure usually has no warning signs or symptoms, so many people are unaware they live with the condition.
• In America, 1 out of every 3 adults has high blood pressure (that’s about 70 million people)
• Only about half these people have their condition under control
• Annually, this health problem costs the nation roughly $46 billion
• In 2013, over 360,000 American deaths were caused by high blood pressure (that’s almost 1,000 deaths per day)
• Having high blood pressure puts you at a greater risk for heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and kidney disease.

Unfortunately, increasing numbers of people world-wide are being diagnosed with the disease and there are no symptoms – hence the term “Silent Killer”. But thanks to modern-day medicine, there is effective treatment available. Even if you do not have high blood pressure at the moment, it’s important to keep it on the low side. The higher the pressure, the more at risk you are for health problems.

A blood pressure of say, 135 over 85 may be ”normal,” but someone with this reading is twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke than someone reading, say, 115 over 75. By living a healthy lifestyle, you’re doing the best you can for your body as a whole, including keeping blood pressure stable.

Regularly monitoring your blood pressure is the only way you can check for any problems. Ensure that your blood pressure is taken every time you visit your doctor, or at least once a year in a general physical check-up.

When it comes to the human body, every action you take can aid or worsen a condition. One form of maintaining a healthy blood pressure is through the foods that we eat. (I bet you didn’t know a lot of these.)

1–Spinach

Popeye (the sailor man) must have had amazing blood pressure readings. Then again, he was a pretty hyperactive, intense individual. He seems like he would have really high blood pressure. So maybe all that spinach levelled him out? Who knows, but he did drill into us how great these leafy greens are for muscle building. Apart from that, these guys are low in calories and high in fibre. They fill you up and are packed with heart-healthy nutrients like folate, magnesium and potassium – all key ingredients for lowering your blood pressure levels.

2–Sunflower seeds

Produced by one of the most beautiful flowers and packed with essential magnesium and Vitamin E. These tiny seeds carry a delightful nutty taste and can be added generously to salads, oatmeal or had as handful for a healthy snack. Be sure to buy them mostly unsalted to reduce your sodium intake.

3–Beans

Beans beans are good for the heart, the more you eat the more you.. LOWER your blood pressure. (What were you thinking, you immature bunch 🙂 Seriously though, beans including pinto, lima, soy, kidney white, navy and black are great for the gut and everything else. Brimming with soluble fibre, potassium, and magnesium – it’s time to start adding more to your diet!

4–Bananas!

The fruit famous for it’s potassium levels is the most versatile food out there. (There’s good reasons why the Minions are obsessed with them.) Bananas are easy-access, zero preparation, a happy colour, can be added in countless ways to all sorts of meals, great for smoothies, great for your kids and your gran and yourself and even your dog! A banana should certainly be one of your 5-a-day choices and even better if you can get them organic.

5.) Dark chocolate… OoOooOh Yes!

Now we’re talking. I buy this 92% organic dark chocolate sweetened with coconut sugar from my local health shop and it’s just divine! According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) eating just one tiny square of dark chocolate has shown to help lower blood pressure – as long as it’s over 70% cocoa powder.