One of the most important aspects of your health is maintaining good blood pressure. High blood pressure can be a walking time bomb ready to explode. There are serious consequences to not controlling it such as damage to key organs in your body like the heart, kidneys, and vision.
You do not always have to be put on medication to control your hypertension. This depends on your current state of health and meds that you are taking. Many times, blood pressure can be lowered by altering your lifestyle and making changes in your diet. If you are trying to think of ways to lower your pressure, here are a few tips to help you accomplish this task.
Eating healthy is essential if you want to lower your hypertension. The American Heart Association and National Institute of Health recommend DASH diet for reducing blood pressure. This plan will show you foods that will help lower it by eating those that are low in saturated fat, cholesterol and total fat and more whole grains. Fruits, vegetables, and fat-free dairy products. This diet also will tell you to eat less lean red meat, sweets, added sugars, and sugary soft drinks.
Another way to naturally reduce your high pressure is to be physically active as this is good for your heart health. When you have a healthy heart, it does not have to work as hard to pump the blood to your body and this reduces high blood pressure. When you have a regular exercise program, this leads to weight loss and helps to control your blood pressure. You should try to vary your exercise routines and include cardio exercises in your plan for good heart health. If you are not able to have a regular exercise program, then try walking for at least 30 minutes when you have the opportunity. It will take some time before you see the benefits of lowering your blood pressure through exercise.
You should also cut back on your intake of salt/sodium. It is a proven fact that healthy people need 1500 to 2400 mg of sodium in a typical day. If you reduce the intake of salts in your diet, this will help you to lower your blood pressure. One of the best ways to reduce your sodium intake is to avoid processed foods and eat more fresh food. The reason why the sodium content is so high in processed foods is that it is used as a preservative to keep the food longer. You should always read the labels on the food before you buy it to check the sodium content as you cannot always taste it in food and it may have a high sodium content.
Other ways to reduce your blood pressure is to avoid smoking and reduce your alcohol consumption. Nicotine in cigarettes can increase your blood pressure and keep it high. If you are taking medication, drinking alcohol can cause side effects on your body. If you drink less, it will help you to lower your pressure.
One other way to lower your blood pressure is to reduce the amount of coffee you drink. When possible, you should try to drink decaf instead of regular coffee. The caffeine in regular coffee can increase your blood pressure and help to keep it high. I hope that you found this information interesting and useful and if you would like more free information, then please visit my healthy living web site where you will find some great information to help you live a long and healthy life.
I am a 53 year old retired mill worker from Northern Maine. I am happily married with 3 wonderful boys. My main interests are my family and God. I own a healthy living web site with great information designed to help you live a healthier and longer life.www.healthadmire.com
