ANTI-HYPERTENSION FOODS
· High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition where the arterial blood pressure increases.
· It may be caused due to obesity, too much stress, high intake of salt, diabetes etc.
· It increases risk of diseases such as strokes, heart attack, kidney disorders, heart failure etc.
· However, there are foods that can lower the blood pressure.
1. Spinach
· It contains magnesium, folate, iron, and vitamin C.
· Include this vegetable in your diet even if you don’t favour it.
2. Banana
· It is rich in potassium which lowers the high blood pressure.
· A banana a day keeps the high blood pressure away.
3. Kiwi
· Rich in potassium and Vitamin C, it helps lower the BP.
· Kiwis are also rich in an antioxidant called lutein.
4. Skimmed milk
· It contains plenty of calcium and vitamin D.
· The two nutrients team up to bring down blood pressure.
5. Garlic
· A single clove of garlic can easily fight the damage caused due to high BP.
· It has several properties which help prevent clotting and thickening of blood vessels.
6. Beans
· Kidney, pinto, lima
· Beans are rich in magnesium and potassium, capable of decreasing the high blood pressure.
7. Broccoli
· Rich with potassium, it also contains chromium to fight against cardiovascular diseases.
· It also controls the blood sugar and insulin levels.
8. Celery
· It contains phthalide which rests the muscles of the vessels to smoothen the flow of blood.
· It also has a very calming effect and is highly recommended if you are prone to stress.
9. Tomatoes
· It contains an antioxidant, lycopene, which significantly reduces the high blood pressure.
· They are also rich in calcium, potassium, vitamins A, C and E, all of which curb high BP.
10. Others
· Sunflower seeds, olive oil, avocadoes and papaya also help in bringing BP levels to normal.
· It is advisable to eat vegetables and fruits rich in potassium and calcium.
· Intake of salt (which contains sodium) should be minimized.
· Avoid eating fried stuff.