Three Yummy Foods That Decrease Blood Pressure

Hypertension is one of the common medical conditions diagnosed in the United States with almost a quarter of the adult population being affected. The risk of developing hypertension goes up with age as the arteries stiffen and lose their elasticity. While some people eventually need medications to control their blood pressure, others are able to normalize their readings through simple lifestyle changes. One of the most important lifestyle factors for controlling elevated blood pressure is diet. Not only is salt restriction important; other vitamins and minerals also appear to play a role in controlling blood pressure including vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Studies have even shown that specific foods can have an effect on blood pressure. If you’re trying to reduce your blood pressure through diet, here are three tasty foods you’ll want to consider.

Dark Chocolate

How could something so yummy have so many health benefits? While dark chocolate has been shown to promote heart health, it also seems to lower blood pressure, according to studies. It appears that the flavonols found in cocoa products help to relax blood vessels which causes blood pressure levels to drop. Studies have shown that dark chocolate can reduce systolic blood pressure readings by up to five points. This may not sound like a lot, but it’s enough to cut the risk of stroke by up to ten percent. Of course you shouldn’t go overboard and eat an entire chocolate bar since chocolate is high in fat and sugar; but two small squares of dark chocolate per day may be just what the doctor ordered.

Pomegranate Juice

The juice of the pomegranate fruit has already been shown to have cholesterol lowering benefits, but it also appears to lower blood pressure naturally too. A study conducted in Israel showed systolic blood pressure drops of up to twenty-one percent after supplementing with pomegranate juice for twelve months. Pomegranate appears to inhibit the activity of an enzyme known as angiotensin-converting enzyme that raises blood pressure. A group of medications known as ACE inhibitors which are marketed as blood pressure medications have the same activity.

Bananas

Another food that decreases blood pressure by inhibiting angiotensin-converting enzyme is bananas. A Johns Hopkins study showed that eating at least two bananas each day dropped blood pressure readings by up to ten percent. Not only do bananas inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme, they’re also a rich source of potassium, a mineral that’s important for blood pressure control.

Are you ready to add these tasty foods that decrease blood pressure to your own diet? They can be eaten alone or combined with one another to create delicious, heart friendly recipes. Some possibilities are a chocolate banana split with low fat ice cream or a layered yogurt parfait with dark chocolate sprinkles. How about combining them all into a tasty, fruit smoothie? Who says eating healthy has to be boring? These tasty foods that decrease blood pressure a sure way to please your taste buds as well as your arteries.