Most people are aware that the standard American diet full of salt and processed food is unhealthy. It causes a wide variety of issues ranging from diabetes to heart disease to high blood pressure. High blood pressure is particularly worrisome because it can lead to many other health issues. If you have high blood pressure and are trying to lower it, a whole foods eating plan can help. The main elements of a whole foods eating plan are fresh fruits and vegetables. Whole grains and lean meats are eaten in moderation, and healthy fats are used as well. This type of diet is very healthy and excellent for helping to lower blood pressure. If you are interested in starting a whole foods eating plan to lower your blood pressure, here are some things that will help.
First and foremost, stop eating processed foods. Processed foods are full of fat and salt and deficient in most important nutrients. In place of processed foods start cooking from scratch. Base your meals as much as possible around fruits and vegetables that are in season. If you need something that is not in season see if you can find it frozen. Frozen fruits and vegetables are picked at their peak of freshness so they are a good substitute for fresh. Put together a wide variety of salads or stir frys. Bake a casserole instead of buying a boxed mix. Make your own soup rather than eating from a can. Cooking from scratch is an excellent way to significantly lower your blood pressure by reducing the amount of fat and sodium in your diet.
In addition to cooking from scratch, be sure to drink enough water. Remember that if you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated. Try keeping a reusable water bottle next to your desk at work, or keep a glass of water by your bed in the evening. Drinking at least eight glasses of water each day will help to keep your body running well without having to work too hard. This will help to lower your blood pressure. In addition, it will help you to stay full so that you do not feel the need to eat all of the time.
If you are looking for ingredients to add to your cooking that will help to lower your blood pressure, then you will definitely want to add garlic to your shopping list. Fresh garlic is an excellent ingredient for lowering blood pressure and adding flavor to your food. In addition, food that is seasoned with garlic often does not need as much salt added. If you have trouble with the taste, start by adding just a little bit of garlic and slowly increase how much you are using. In time, you will miss the taste of garlic if you accidentally leave it out of something that you are cooking.
When it comes to lowering your blood pressure, cooking from scratch, drinking more water, and using garlic are three helpful things that you can do. These tips will help you to reduce the amount of fat and sodium in your diet and enable you to lower your blood pressure and feel good doing it.
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