High blood pressure (hypertension) is not a condition that you must live with for the rest of your life. You can use food as medicine to lower your blood pressure effectively.
Hypertension means that the force of the blood against the artery walls is elevated. Usually there are no symptoms until there is a serious complication, such as heart disease, stroke, or kidney failure.
Anti-hypertensive medications do not address the root cause of the problem, and they carry significant side effects. You will pay a high price for using pharmaceuticals as a substitute for a healthy diet and lifestyle. Fortunately, it is possible to reverse high blood pressure naturally.
Take the following three steps and experience changes comparable to those seen with anti-hypertensive drugs.
1. Lower your salt intake
The number one cause of hypertension is salt (sodium) intake. Reduce your sodium intake to less than 1500 mg per day and your blood pressure will readily improve. Cook without salt and start reading food labels. Bread is a surprising source of sodium that wreaks havoc on your blood pressure. Avoid items for which the sodium content (mg) exceeds the calories
2. Eat greens with every meal
Leafy greens are rich in nitrate, a compound that converts to nitric oxide in your body. Nitric oxide dilates the blood vessels and safely lowers your blood pressure.Greens come in many varieties, such as arugula, lettuce, mesclun greens, basil, beet greens, Swiss chard, bok choy, kale, collards, mustard greens, turnip greens, Napa cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cilantro, parsley, spinach, and asparagus.Greens repair your blood vessels and the only side effects are good ones.
3. Eat ground flaxseeds
Ground flaxseeds have been proven to lower the blood pressure of hypertensive individuals. Flaxseeds are a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid, (an omega-3 fatty acid) and fiber. Both of these elements lower your cholesterol as well as your blood pressure. To properly absorb the nutrients, buy whole flaxseeds and grind them in a coffee grinder. Eat two tablespoons a day, in your smoothies, cereal, or baked foods, and prepare to be impressed with your improved blood pressure readings.
High blood pressure is preventable and even reversible. In fact, it ought never exist. If you have hypertension, limit salt, eat greens, and sprinkle flaxseeds everyday.
Carla Hightower, MD, MBA is a physician, health coach, workplace wellness consultant, and speaker. She helps people heal themselves with food. Through wellness workshops and courses, she helps companies create healthy, energetic teams.
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