Generally people tend to eat processed foods like chips, or cookies when they feel hungry. This is not a healthy habit as these foods tend to increase hypertension. It is better to keep healthy low calorie foods in reach to eat whenever you feel hungry. There are several natural foods that control hypertension.
Fruits
Fruits are rich in nutrients. They are ideal snacks to lower blood pressure. Fruits are an essential ingredient of a healthy diet. They contain anti-oxidants and vitamins. They can be consumed raw or in the form of salads and juices. Some of the fruits that help to manage hypertension are prunes, melons, banana and citrus fruits.
Prunes are sweet to taste and contain and high quantity of potassium. Potassium helps to maintain the blood pressure and cardiac function. They are also helpful in the prevention of atherosclerosis.
Bananas are also rich in potassium and contain very low quantities of sodium. Two bananas a day are recommended to keep the blood pressure under check.
Melons contain potassium and magnesium. They also contain carotenoids which help to prevent the hardening and narrowing of the arteries. This largely contributes to the lowering the blood pressure. Both watermelon and muskmelon have these properties.
Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C. They also contain phytonutrients and bioflavonoids which are anti inflammatory and help to prevent blood clots. They help to control cholesterol and hypertension. Some of the important citrus fruits are orange, lime, lemon and grapefruit.
Vegetables
Vegetables help to regulate and control blood pressure. Eating more vegetables and lowering the sodium intake is essential to control blood pressure. Vegetables can be consumed raw, cooked or boiled.
Garlic is a very important vegetable that can help control hypertension. Cut three cloves of garlic into pieces and swallow it as you swallow tablets every day. This definitely is a great help in controlling hypertension. The swallowing is meant to reduce the pungent odor of garlic from the mouth.
Onion can help control blood pressure. Eating raw onion is helpful in controlling hypertension but also fight atherosclerosis, bronchitis. It helps to control irregular heart beat. Onion contains an antibiotic called allicin which is destroyed when it is cooked.
Carrots, broccoli, and tomatoes are also quite useful in controlling hypertension. Here is a diet plan that would help to keep the blood pressure under control
The author has a master’s degree in science and blogs at http://rareremedies.blogspot.com/
