It's well known that the best way to improve your health is through a combination of steady exercise and diet. Likewise, controlling your blood pressure is important to your overall health. With over 70 million Americans suffering from high blood pressure, it's critical to find ways to prevent this from becoming a problem in your life. Daily exercise and an improved diet help, but it's crucial to understand what foods can help you maintain better health. Here are six foods that can help lower your blood pressure.
1. Salmon
Most doctors agree that eating fatty fish like salmon is key to maintaining lower blood pressure. The high omega-3 found in salmon may lower blood pressure as well as inflammation.
2. Blueberries
Fresh fruits and vegetables are a necessary part of any health-conscious diet. Berries, especially blueberries, contain nitric acid, which is a good way to lower your blood pressure.
3. Fiber
Eating beans, cauliflower, potatoes, and whole wheat or bran products help produce fatty acids in your body. These fatty acids then help reduce blood pressure and helps digested food pass through your system more quickly, which also reduces blood pressure.
4. Leafy Greens
A high-sodium diet leads to increases your blood pressure, so lowering your salt intake is important. You should also eat lots of leafy greens like kale and spinach, which contain potassium that helps eliminate sodium from your body.
5. Olive Oil
Long known for its health benefits for the population living in the Mediterranean, olive oil contains so-called good fats. These are better for you than the fat contained in butter, and women, in particular, have shown improved health when olive oil is in their diets.
6. Dark Chocolate
Thankfully, lowering your blood pressure doesn't mean forgoing dessert. A small serving of dark chocolate (not milk chocolate) contains compounds that many experts believe can help reduce your blood pressure.