We often blame health issues like hypertension on uncontrollable factors like heredity, age and gender. In the process, we fail to look into the controllable factors that contributed to the development of hypertension, said factors of which will point the way toward the best blood pressure remedy. This is the case with the following lifestyle changes.
Your diet must be a healthy one. We suggest the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet with its emphasis on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Of course, you can still eat dairy foods just as long as these are of the low-fat variety. It also helps to eat more bananas, garlic and nuts since these foods have been proven to contain beneficial substances as part of an effective blood pressure remedy.
Sodium, or salt, is good for flavoring food but when taken in excess, your hypertension can worsen. You must lessen your sodium intake to just 1,500 mg a day including the salt from frozen dinners and canned soups. If you must add flavor to your dishes, do so with herbs like rosemary, basil and parsley.
Your alcohol and caffeine intake must also be closely monitored. On one hand, you can drink a glass of red wine daily for its therapeutic benefits but anything else can endanger your health. On the other hand, the caffeine in coffee and sodas counteract whatever beneficial impact a blood pressure remedy has gained for your health – just eliminate these beverages from your diet.
If you have been habitual or occasional smoker before being diagnosed with hypertension, then you have one more reason to drop the habit. Tobacco damages the walls of the blood vessels, thus, speeding up the hardening of the arteries. Your heart then works harder, which leads to increased risks for hypertension. So, if you want the plan for the ultimate blood pressure remedy to work, quit smoking pronto.
Look at your weight and waistline. If both are on the high side when measured, you must take the necessary steps to lose the excess numbers. Lose weight and trim your waistline in the process. Soon, your high blood pressure levels will drop by a 10 mm-Hg, which is a good drop, indeed.
Last, you must learn to relax. No, you need not take frequent vacations since even yoga and meditation for 30 minutes a day is sufficient as a blood pressure remedy.
By: Weston Uchida
