Foods to Lower Blood Pressure

When we say Foods to Lower Blood Pressure, in most cases we are talking about diet changes. Chances are if you diet contributed to this problem, then your challenge is to break bad eating habits. I just made a lot of enemies, but for a good cause.

The process is simple, keep track of what your currently eating and gradually replace those foods that are causing the problem. I know it’s sometimes easier said than done, but what’s more important your health or a big fat ice cream bar?

I know this type of remedy, to lower your blood pressure , is not always easy to do. That’s why a gradual change is best. Focus on one food at a time until you made it a permanent change.

Another benefit I’ll point out is costs. Foods that will help you with blood pressure generally cost less than the junk foods.  You killing two birds with a cheaper stone.

Lets Look at Foods to Lower Blood Pressure

• Bananas: High in potassium and fiber, the banana is convenient, tasty, inexpensive, and with a little imagination can make a sinfully delicious dessert.

• Tomatoes: Another source of potassium and also of calcium. The tomato has a powerful antioxidant called lycopene that can also help prevent heart disease. Lycopene prevent LDL cholesterol from oxidizing and sticking to the blood vessels. Fresh is best. If you get your tomato through juice, make sure it’s pure and does not contain additives and salt. If you’re into pasta, try making your own sauce. It can be fun and the house will smell wonderful as you are making it.

• Blueberries and Blackberries: Both are packed with powerful antioxidants and are another source of dietary fiber.

• Garlic: Garlic is one of those miracle foods that has been used medicinally for over a thousand years. It has the capacity to thin the blood thereby making it easier for the heart to pump. It has also been suggested that garlic is a defense against certain digestive cancers including colon cancer.

• Cold Water Fish: Salmon, sardines, halibut, tuna and mackerel are great sources of Omega-3. Try to replace a red meat meal two or three time per week with one of these fish.

• Dark Chocolate and Cocoa:  Yes there is some fat and sugar in there but there is also some very powerful antioxidants. More importantly, if you are going to change your diet you still need to have some kind of reward food for sticking to it. Combine that dark chocolate with baked bananas and you have a very tasty dessert.

• Water: Okay you may not think of water as a food but it is essential not only to your blood pressure but to your entire body.  Dehydration is becoming a bigger health issue than it was before. As a rule, you should drink half your body weight in ounces daily. So if you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink 75 ounces of water or about 4 standard bottles a day.
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: High in oleic acid and polyphenols, an antioxidant.

As a notation, other foods that your looking at to lower your blood pressure should NOT be microwaved. The nutritional benefits your looking for can be nuked away in a matter of seconds when you heat foods like this.

As mentioned small changes add up to big health benefits. When going to restaurants request less salt and sauces that can aggravate your blood pressure.  This way you can enjoy dining out and still stay on the path to better health.

As long as you don’t have a real medical dysfunction (kidney, liver) then there are remedies to lower and cure your blood pressure problems.