With These Foods & Herbs
Crystal Maceira, CBP, LMT, MH
May – Jun 2024 • Vol 4, No 10
May 10th is World Hypertension Day, so we felt it was a good time to write an article on this widely-recognized, chronic issue. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common health problem that affects millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries becomes too high, which can lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and even death.
Luckily, there are many ways to lower your blood pressure naturally, including eating certain foods and herbs, practicing relaxation techniques, and making lifestyle changes. In this article, we will focus on some of the best foods and herbs for lowering blood pressure.
Introduction to High Blood Pressure
Hypertension usually has no symptoms or warning signs until it causes damage to organs in the body. This makes it important to regularly check your blood pressure levels and take steps to keep them under control. Some risk factors for developing high blood pressure include age, family history, being overweight or obese, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and poor diet.
Foods That Help Lower Blood Pressure
One of the most effective ways to lower your blood pressure is by changing your diet. Here are some foods that have been shown to help:
- Fruits and Vegetables— Eating plenty of fruits and veggies can reduce your blood pressure because they contain fiber, potassium, vitamins C and D, and other nutrients that support heart health. Examples include bananas, avocados, spinach, kale, sweet potatoes, and berries.
- Whole Grains— Whole-grain products like oats, quinoa, brown rice, and whole wheat bread provide fiber and other nutrients that help regulate blood sugar and insulin levels, which can contribute to high blood pressure.
- Nuts and Seeds— Snacking on nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds can help lower blood pressure due to their high magnesium content. Magnesium helps relax blood vessels and improve circulation.
- Fish— Consuming fatty fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel, and sardines provides omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties that protect against heart disease and lower blood pressure.
Herbs That Help Lower Blood Pressure
In addition to food, there are several herbal remedies that have been used traditionally to treat high blood pressure. Here are examples:
- Hawthorn— This is an herb that has been used since ancient times to promote cardiovascular health. Studies suggest that haw-thorn may be able to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow, leading to reduced blood pressure. We have made this a special way and call it Heart Tonic. With this tincture, my friends and family have had great success in bringing their blood pressure down in a matter of days.
- Ginkgo Biloba— Ginkgo biloba contains antioxidants called flavonoids that have been shown to widen blood vessels and improve circulation. This can result in decreased blood pressure and improved overall vascular function.
- Garlic— This is another popular herb that has been linked to lower blood pressure. Compounds found in garlic called allium sulfides appear to stimulate production of nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.
- Flor de Manita— This herb is widely used to assist the heart in regulation of blood pressure. It is an anti-inflammatory and stimulant. It has been known to clean arteries and lower cholesterol.
The list doesn’t stop there! We have many herbs in stock that has been used to help lower blood pressure: Butterfly Pea Flower, Dandelion (root and leaf), Suma, Yohimbe, Shiitake, Chaparral, Cleavers leaf, Passion flower, Olive leaf, Gotu K