The force exerted by blood against the arterial walls is known as blood pressure. Hypertension, or BP, is measured in two parts: the systolic and diastolic readings. The top figure, known as systolic BP, indicates the pressure the heart creates when pumping blood to the body, and the bottom number, known as diastolic BP, shows the tension in the blood vessels in between heartbeats. Hypertension describes a state that occurs when both the systolic and diastolic BP are consistently in the unhealthy ranges. One of the most concerning aspects of hypertension is its lack of overt manifestations. The good news is that hypertension can be managed with the right combination of medicine, physical activity, and a low-sodium, low-fat diet. In addition to medicine, there are some foods and beverages that may aid in the control of hypertension.
Hypertension, or the compel of the blood against the artery walls, can be significantly influenced by a person’s diet. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, directly impacts over half of all adult Americans. Long-term hypertension is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. In instance, the sodium content of diet can raise blood pressure. Consuming salt causes the body to retain more water, which in turn increases blood volume and blood pressure. Foods heavy in sugar and trans fats have been linked to an increase in blood pressure. On the flip side, a heart-healthy lifestyle can aid in achieving and maintaining a normal blood pressure.
Which foods are best for lowering hypertension?
Many studies have shown that eating specific meals can help reduce high blood pressure. In this article, we take a look at several diet-related issues and the foods that may aid. Studies have shown that consuming foods rich in minerals like potassium and magnesium can aid in blood pressure reduction and keep it there.
Some foods and minerals have been linked to reduced blood pressure. Researchers have found that hypertensive patients benefit from potassium supplementation because it reduces blood pressure by offsetting the effects of sodium. Beetroot and pomegranate juice are two examples of nitrate-rich foods that can help lower blood pressure. Besides antioxidants and fibre, these meals also include additional nutrients that are good for your heart. If you eat canned or processed foods, choose those that have less sodium, none, or no added salt.
For those who suffer from hypertension, we provide the healthiest foods you can eat.
Fruits with a citric acid content
Papaya, oranges, and lemonade are just few of the citrus fruits that may have a significant impact on blood pressure. Many of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, may be mitigated by consuming these foods more often because of the abundance of nutrients, enzymes, and plant chemicals they contain. The citric and flavonoid concentrations of lemons were credited by researchers in a 5-month study of 101 Japanese women as the likely cause of the observed reductions in SBP. Drinking citrus juices like orange and grapefruit may also help lower blood pressure, according to research. However, common high pressure-lowering drugs might interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice; therefore, you should check with your doctor before including this item to your routine.
Fatty fish like salmon
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in abundance in fatty fish, have been linked to numerous health advantages, including reduced risk of heart disease. By lowering inflammation and oxylipin levels, which constrict blood vessels, these lipids may be useful in lowering blood pressure. Consuming more fish rich in omega-3s has been related to reduce blood pressure. Two thousand and thirty-six healthy persons were studied, and those with the higher blood concentrations of omega-3 fats were found to have significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The risk of developing hypertension drops in tandem with increasing omega-3 consumption.
Swiss Chard
Several minerals, including potassium and magnesium, found in Swiss chard help keep blood pressure in a healthy range. Chard provides 17% of your regular potassium and 30% of your regular magnesium needs in just one cup (145 grammes) once cooked. An increase of 0.6 g/day in dietary potassium is related with a 1.0 mm Hg decrease in systolic blood pressure and a 0.52 mm Hg decrease in diastolic blood pressure in individuals with hypertension. In only one cup of Swiss chard (around 145 grammes), you’ll get 792 milligrammes of this vital mineral.
In addition to its many other health benefits, magnesium plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy blood pressure. One of the ways it does this is by blocking calcium’s entry into heart and arterial cells (a biological calcium blocker), which in turn relaxes the blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.
Pumpkin seeds
Although pumpkin seeds are rather small, their nutritional value is significant. They include high levels of minerals like mg, potassium, and arginine, a polyamines necessary for the formation of nitric oxide (which relaxes blood vessels and lowers blood pressure).
Oil extracted from pumpkin seeds has also been demonstrated to be effective in treating hypertension. Supplementation with 3 grammes of pumpkin seed oil daily for 6 weeks resulted in significant decreases in SBP contrasted with a placebo group, according to a study involving 23 women.
Pomegranates
Antioxidants and other components in this fruit have been proposed as a means of warding off atherosclerosis and hypertension. It has been suggested that consuming 1 cup of this fruit juice everyday for 28 days will temporarily reduce high blood pressure, according to an older study published in 2012. Pomegranate juice consistently reduced blood pressure, according to a 2017 meta-analysis of eight human trials. Pomegranates are delicious both on their own and in juice form. Make sure there’s no added sugar in the pomegranate juice you’re planning to buy in a store-bought bottle.
Carrots
Many individuals rely on carrots as a regular part of their diet because of their crunchiness, sweetness, and health benefits. Carrots include phenolic chemicals such chlorogenic, p-coumaric, and caffeic acids, which relaxes muscles blood vessels and decrease inflammation and may aid lower blood pressure.
Carrots are tasty whether cooked or raw, but some research suggests that the raw kind may be especially helpful in lowering blood pressure. A trial that included 2,195 participants ages 40–59 indicated that raw carrot eating was strongly connected with reduced blood pressure readings. SBP but not DBP were reduced in a short research including 17 persons who drank 16 ounces (473 mL) of raw carrot juice everyday for three months.
Vegetables and food items containing tomatoes
In addition to being high in potassium and the carotenoid pigment lycopene, tomatoes and tomato products are a good source of many other nutrients. Consuming foods rich in lycopene, such as tomatoes, may aid in lowering cardiovascular disease risk factors such as hypertension due to the nutrient’s positive associations with heart health. Twenty-one studies were reviewed, and the results suggested that eating tomatoes and tomato products lowered blood pressure and decreased the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease or dying from it. Systolic blood pressure was shown to be significantly reduced in both hypertensive and normotensive individuals after supplementation with tomato extract, according to a review conducted in 2021. Adding tomatoes in your routine, however, did not have the same effect. Other studies have shown that systolic blood pressure can be lowered by taking lycopene, but only at very high dosages.
Broccoli
The health of your blood circulation is only one of the many areas in which broccoli has been shown to be advantageous. For instance, it has been suggested that including this cruciferous vegetable in one’s diet could help lower blood pressure. High amounts of nitric oxide and improved blood vessel function are two mechanisms by which the flavonoid antioxidants found in broccoli may aid reduce blood pressure.
Persons who ate four or more servings of broccoli per week were shown to have a decreased risk of developing hypertension than those who ate broccoli once a month or less in a trial featuring data from 187,453 people.
Chia seeds and flaxseed
Tiny seeds like chia and flax are loaded with minerals like potassium, magnesium, and fiber which are crucial for maintaining normal blood pressure. Augmenting with 35 grams of chiaseed flour each day resulted in blood pressure decreases in both treated and severely depressed participants, comparing with a placebo group, in short, 12-week research involving 26 adults with high blood pressure. In addition, a meta-analysis of 11 research found that consuming flax seeds, particularly in their whole seed form for at least 12 weeks, may help reduce blood pressure.
Watermelon
The amino acid citrulline can be found in watermelons. Citrulline is converted to arginine, which in turn aids in the production of nitric oxide, a gas that helps relax blood vessels and promotes flexibility in arteries. These benefits improve blood circulation, which in turn can help reduce hypertension. Watermelon extract with 6 grammes (g) of L-citrulline/L-arginine was used in a previous investigation on adults who were overweight and had mild or prehypertension. A decrease in ankle and brachial artery blood pressure was observed after 6 weeks of treatment. In the upper arm, the brachial artery is the most important artery. Twenty-seven people took part in a 2019 study where they drank watermelon juice or a placebo before working out. While men saw an increase in blood pressure following exercising, women who drank freshly squeezed juice saw no such effect.
Spinach
The nitrate content of spinach is similar to that of beets. Flavonoids, K, Ca, and Mg are abundant in it, making it a healthy option for those with hypertension. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased more in the group that had 16.9 ounces (500 mL) of high nitrate spinach soup every day for seven days than in the group that drank low nitrate asparagus soup. In addition to lowering blood pressure and improving heart function, spinach soup lowered arterial stiffness.
Kiwis
A 2015 research suggests that eating one kiwi fruit per day can aid in the control of moderate hypertension. Blood pressure was lower in those who consumed three kiwis daily for eight weeks compared to those who consumed one apple each day for the same time period. The researchers speculate that this is because of the bioactive compounds found in kiwis. Similarly to oranges, kiwis contain a lot of vitamin C. Blood pressure was shown to be significantly reduced in a previous study when participants took 500 milligrammes of vitamin C daily for roughly 8 weeks. Adding kiwis to your lunch or a smoothie is simple. A single serving of kiwi consists of one cup, or around two and a half kiwifruits.
The Bottom Line
Adopting a nutritious diet, in addition to other lifestyle changes, can greatly reduce blood pressure and help minimise the risk of heart disease. The addition of fruits and vegetables like veggies, strawberries, legumes, lentils, seeds, fish with fat, lemons, and carrots to your regular food intake and snacks may assist you in achieving and maintain healthy blood pressure, according to studies. Adding a few of the foods discussed in this post to your diet may help lower or keep healthy blood pressure. Choices in diet can have a significant impact on blood pressure. There are health benefits to eating a plant-based diet rich in whole foods. Instead, hypertension may be exacerbated by consuming a diet high in salt, liquor, or refined carbohydrates. Hypertension can be controlled and the chance of developing heart disease and other medical conditions reduced by following a plan developed in consultation with a doctor.
Sirisha B