High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major health problem that is common in older adults. Your body’s network of blood vessels, known as the vascular system, changes with age. Arteries get stiffer, causing blood pressure to go up.
The list of foods that can lower high blood pressure is long, but many researchers have found one food, in particular, to be very helpful. This nutrient-dense ingredient contains more than twenty different nutrients and has been shown time after again as an invaluable part of preventing heart disease by lowering bad cholesterol levels while increasing good ones!
We’ll talk you through how this works so keep reading below.
- Berries
Blueberries and strawberries contain antioxidant compounds called anthocyanins, a type of flavonoid.
They found that those with the highest intake of anthocyanins — mainly from blueberries and strawberries — had an 8 percent reduction in the risk of high blood pressure, compared to those with a low anthocyanin intake.
Enjoy berries as a snack or sweet treat after meals, or add them to smoothies and oatmeal.
- Bananas
Bananas contain plenty of potassium, a mineral that plays a vital role in managing hypertension. One medium-sized banana contains around 422 milligrams. Adults should aim to consume 4,700 milligrams (mg) of potassium daily. Other potassium-rich foods include:
- avocado
- cantaloupe and honeydew melon
- halibut
- mushrooms
- sweet potatoes
- tomatoes
- tuna
- beans
People with kidney disease should speak to their doctors about potassium, as too much can be harmful.
- Beets
Drinking beet juice can reduce blood pressure in the short and long term.
Drinking red beet juice led to lower blood pressure in people with hypertension who drank 250 milliliters, about 1 cup, of the juice every day for 4 weeks. The researchers noticed some positive effects within 24 hours.
In this study, those who drank 1 cup of beet juice every day had an average drop in blood pressure of around 8/4 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). For many, this change brought their blood pressure within the normal range. On average, a single blood pressure medication reduces levels by 9/5 mm Hg.
The researchers suggested that beet’s high levels of inorganic nitrate caused a reduction in blood pressure. It may help to drink a glass of beet juice each day, add beets to salads, or prepare the vegetables as a healthful side dish.
- Dark chocolate
This sweet treat may lower blood pressure. A review of 15 trials suggests that cocoa-rich chocolate reduces blood pressure in people with hypertension or prehypertension.
Choose high-quality chocolate that contains a minimum of 70 percent cocoa, and consume a single square, or a piece measuring about 1 ounce, each day.
- Kiwis
A daily serving of kiwi can reduce blood pressure in people with mildly elevated levels.
Eating three kiwis a day for 8 weeks resulted in a more significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, compared with eating one apple a day for the same period. The authors suspect that the bioactive substances in kiwis caused the reduction.
Kiwis are also rich in vitamin C, which may significantly blood pressure readings in people who consumed around 500 mg of the vitamin every day for about 8 weeks.
Kiwis are also easy to add to lunches or smoothies.
- Watermelon
Watermelon contains an amino acid called citrulline, which may help to manage high blood pressure.
Citrulline helps the body to produce nitric oxide, a gas that relaxes blood vessels and encourages flexibility in arteries. These effects aid the flow of blood, which can lower high blood pressure.
In one study, adults with obesity and prehypertension or mild hypertension who took watermelon extract showed reduced blood pressure in the ankles and brachial arteries. The brachial artery is the main artery in the upper arm.
Researchers have also found that animals given a diet rich in watermelon had better heart health. In one study, mice who drank a solution containing watermelon juice had 50 percent less plaque in their arteries than the control group.
The mice who drank the solution also had 50 percent less low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which many describe as bad cholesterol, and they showed 30 percent less weight gain than the control animals.
To boost watermelon intake, add the fruit to salads and smoothies, or enjoy it in a chilled watermelon soup.
- Oats
Oats contain a type of fiber called beta-glucan, which my blood cholesterol levels. Beta-glucan may also lower blood pressure, according to some research.
Higher consumption of beta-glucan fiber may lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Barley also contains this fiber.
Start the day off with a bowl of oatmeal, or use rolled oats instead of breadcrumbs to give texture to the meat or vegetarian burger patties.
- Leafy green vegetables
Leafy green vegetables are rich in nitrates, which help to manage blood pressure. Some research suggests that eating 1–2 servings of nitrate-rich vegetables every day can reduce hypertension for up to 24 hours.
Examples of leafy greens include:
- cabbage
- collard greens
- fennel
- kale
- lettuce
- mustard greens
- spinach
- Swiss chard
To consume a daily dose of green vegetables, stir spinach into curries and stews, sauté Swiss chard with garlic for a tasty side dish, or bake a batch of kale chips.
- Garlic
Garlic is a natural antibiotic and antifungal food. Its main active ingredient, allicin, is often responsible for associated health benefits.
Garlic increases the body’s production of nitric oxide, which helps the smooth muscles to relax and the blood vessels dilate. These changes can reduce hypertension.
Garlic extract reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive people.
Garlic can enhance the flavor of many savory meals, including stir-fries, soups, and omelets. Using garlic instead of salt can further promote the health of the heart.
- Fermented foods
Fermented foods are rich in probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that play an important role in maintaining gut health. Eating probiotics can have a modest effect on high blood pressure.
The researchers reported more enhanced effects when study participants consumed:
- multiple species of probiotic bacteria
- probiotics regularly for more than 8 weeks
- at least 100 billion colony-forming units a day
Fermented foods to add to the diet include:
- natural yogurt
- kimchi
- kombucha
- apple cider vinegar
- miso
- tempeh
Some people prefer to take concentrated probiotic supplements every day.
- Lentils and other pulses
Lentils are a staple of many diets around the world, as they are an excellent source of vegetarian protein and fiber.
Blood pressure and cholesterol. A total of 30 percent of the rats’ diet comprised pulses, including beans, peas, lentils, and chickpeas.
Lentils are very versatile. Many people use them as a vegetarian alternative to minced beef or to add bulk to salads, stews, and soups.
- Natural yogurt
The yogurt may reduce the risk of high blood pressure in women.
The researchers found that middle-aged women who consumed five or more servings of yogurt each week for 18–30 years showed a 20 percent reduction in the risk of hypertension when compared to similarly aged women who rarely ate yogurt.
The men in the study did not appear to have the same benefits, but their yogurt intakes tended to be lower.
Unsweetened yogurts, such as natural or Greek yogurts, tend to have more benefits. Enjoy them with fruit, nuts, or seeds for a healthful snack or dessert.
- Pomegranates
Drinking 1 cup of pomegranate juice daily for 28 days can lower high blood pressure in the short term. The researchers attributed this effect to the fruit’s antioxidant content.
Whole pomegranates can be enjoyed whole, some people prefer the juice. When buying pre-packaged pomegranate juice, check to ensure that there is no added sugar.
- Cinnamon
Cinnamon may also help to reduce blood pressure, at least in the short term.
Three studies showed that cinnamon decreased short-term systolic blood pressure by 5.39 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 2.6 mm Hg. However, more research is needed.
Add cinnamon to the diet by sprinkling it over oatmeal or freshly chopped fruit, as an alternative to sugar.
- Pistachios
Pistachios are healthful nuts that may decrease hypertension.
Pistachio nuts in a moderate-fat diet may reduce blood pressure during times of stress. This may be because a compound in the nuts reduces the tightness of blood vessels.
It is important to note that the California Pistachio Commission of Fresno and the American Pistachio Growers funded this small-scale study. Snack on plain pistachios, toss them into salads or blend them into pestos.
Foods to avoid
While some foods may relieve hypertension, others can cause substantial increases in blood pressure.
People can prevent or reduce high blood pressure by avoiding the following:
Salt
Sodium can significantly raise blood pressure. Lowering salt intake by 4.4 grams daily substantially reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Caffeine
The caffeine in coffee, tea, cola, and energy drinks can cause short-term spikes in blood pressure.
These findings do not suggest that coffee increases blood pressure or the risk of cardiovascular disease in the long term.
Alcohol
Consuming moderate amounts of red wine may have some health benefits, but larger amounts of alcohol can cause blood pressure.
Heavy alcohol use also increases the risks of heart failure, stroke, cancer, and obesity.
A healthful diet and lifestyle can help to reduce the risk of hypertension.
Foods that may lower blood pressure include fruits, vegetables, oats, nuts, lentils, herbs, and spices.
Incorporate these into a balanced diet and engage in adequate physical activity to treat hypertension and improve overall health.
