Friday, 17 May 2013

FOODS THAT HELP LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

MINDFUL FOOD TIPS (cont):

High blood pressure (BP) or hypertension is considered a high risk factor for heart attacks and strokes as well as kidney failure.

Here are a few tips to help reduce high blood pressure:

1. Reduce caffeine intake.

2. Reduce or preferably, eliminate alcohol. Alcohol decreases the body's ability to burn fat by almost 35%.

3. Snacking on raisins three times daily may also help reduce BP. 

4. No margarine or hydrogenated oils. Read product labels carefully as hydrogenated oils are hidden in many everyday foods- e.g. muesli bars, dips, biscuits, cakes, salad dressings etc.

5. Eating 3 kiwi fruit per day may help lower BP.

6. A Florida State University study found that watermelon lowers BP. In addition to watermelon's potassium contribution, they found a specific amino acid that contributes to lowering BP.

7. Don't forget chocolate!  It should be organic and dark or bittersweet without milk and with very little sugar. Yes, it has been researched- there are compounds in cacao that dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure!





No comments:

Post a Comment