The Best Natural Ways To Fight Hypertension
Hypertension affects many people, most of them elderly, but also some young people. Fortunately, there are natural ways to combat hypertension, such as proper nutrition and healthy habits.
What is hypertension?
With each beat, the heart pumps blood into the arteries. If the pressure with which the blood is pumped is higher than it should be, we are talking about hypertension. There are two values of blood pressure that are considered in this regard:
- Systolic blood pressure: pressure when the heart is pumping blood.
- Diastolic blood pressure : blood pressure when the heart is resting after each beat.
Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg. The first number refers to systolic blood pressure and the second to diastolic blood pressure.
In general, hypertension has no symptoms, so you need a sphygmomanometer to measure its value.
The consequences of hypertension
Blood pressure should be within normal limits. If it increases, the effects are felt in the body. The heart, kidneys and brain can be affected. If your hypertension is chronic, its consequences can be life-threatening.
Causes of hypertension
Certain factors can lead to high blood pressure. Some of them are related to daily habits that, fortunately, you can change and improve.
- Obesity
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- A diet high in sodium
- Certain medications, such as birth control pills and flu medications
- Inactivity
At the same time, genes play an important role. Some studies show that hypertension is genetically inherited. Regardless of the cause, there are certain natural methods of combating hypertension available to anyone.
Natural methods to combat hypertension
Garlic
Garlic fights hypertension. You can eat a clove of raw garlic a day or you can add this ingredient to the food. If you don’t like the taste, you can buy granulated garlic capsules from the store.
Olive oil
Olive oil has many benefits. Among other things, this food helps the proper functioning of the circulatory system.
At the same time, olive oil lowers cholesterol levels and is a natural source of monounsaturated fatty acids, which are beneficial for health.
Black chocolate
The higher the cocoa content, the healthier the chocolate. If you want to capitalize on the benefits of this natural method of combating hypertension, we recommend that you consume dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa and no sugar.
Cocoa contains flavonoids, natural antioxidants that lower blood pressure.
Oat
Oats lower blood cholesterol levels, and high cholesterol is associated with high blood pressure. This cereal is ideal for breakfast. To lower blood pressure and cholesterol, you can use the following simple recipe:
- Let the oatmeal soak overnight.
- In the morning, add milk or water and drink the mixture.
apples
Apple peel contains flavonoids, just like chocolate. Therefore, if you suffer from hypertension, it is advisable to eat the whole fruit without peeling it. The shell contains the highest concentration of vitamins in the composition of apples.
Smoothie with parsley and lemon
Parsley is a powerful diuretic, which helps fight water retention, a condition that raises blood pressure. Therefore, consuming a smoothie with parsley and lemon is among the most effective natural methods of combating hypertension. In addition, this drink helps to eliminate sodium from the body through urine.
ingredients
- 1 organic lemon
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons parsley (30 g)
Method of preparation
- Cut the lemon and, without peeling it, add it to the blender together with the water and the parsley.
- Process the ingredients for a few minutes.
- Strain the liquid and drink it on an empty stomach.
Pineapple
Pineapple has diuretic properties that make it one of the best natural ways to combat high blood pressure.
- You can consume the fruit as such or as a juice.
- If you choose the second option, we recommend that you do not add sugar, because this ingredient leads to fattening, and excess weight is just one of the risk factors for hypertension.
