Foods to Help With Hypertension

Foods to Help With Hypertension

Hypertension is better known as high blood pressure. There are often no symptoms of hypertension or high blood pressure. However, it can greatly increase your risk of heart attacks and strokes if it is not treated. One of the things that you can do to control your blood pressure is to follow a healthy diet. In addition to avoiding trigger foods for hypertension, there are many foods that you will need to incorporate in your diet:

1. Leafy greens
Experts recommend that you follow the DASH diet. The DASH diet is rich in fruits and vegetables and low in salt. Leafy greens should be included in your diet because they are high in potassium. This is a nutrient that helps your body get rid of excess sodium. It is best for you to eat fresh vegetables. Canned vegetables are typically high in sodium. However, if you are looking for vegetables that you can store for a while, then you will need to buy the frozen ones.

2. Berries
Berries are high in flavonoids. These are antioxidants that can help you lower your blood pressure. There are several ways that you can incorporate berries into your diet. For example, you can put them in your salad or cereal.

3. Bananas
Bananas are another food that is high in potassium. You can put bananas in your oatmeal or smoothie. You can also have them for a snack.

4. Salmon
Salmon is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids. The omega 3 fatty acids can lower your blood pressure and reduce inflammation. It is alone of the few food sources of vitamin D. Vitamin D can also lower blood pressure. One of the many benefits that come along with cooking salmon is that it is easy to season. You can season the salmon with olive oil, herbs and lemon.

5. Seeds
Seeds can lower your blood pressure. However, it is important for you to choose the unsalted kind. Unsalted seeds are a great source of potassium and magnesium. You can also lower your blood pressure by eating more magnesium. It lowers your blood pressure by encouraging the blood vessels to relax.

6. Dark chocolate
You may have been told that sweets are one of the foods that you should avoid if you are trying to lower your blood pressure. However, you can have dark chocolate because it can help lower your blood pressure. Studies have shown that dark chocolate can help lower the risk of heart disease.

Keep in mind that dark chocolate is made up of 60 percent cocoa. It also has less sugar than regular chocolate. You can add chocolate to your yogurt and smoothies. You can eat up to 100 mg of dark chocolate per day.