FRUITS THAT LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE


FRUITS THAT LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

After vegetables, fruits are the best thing to include in your regular diet. The more colorful your plate, the more nutrients you can possibly consume. It is recommended that you should have at least 2-3 servings of fruits every day. One serving should include 1 medium fruit and 6 ounces of fruit juice. Apart from the nutritional value, it has been proven that fruits help in lowering blood pressure

Citrus Fruits:
This family of fruits is the most efficient in lowering high blood pressure. They are a rich source of vitamin C. They also contain various other nutrients such as carbohydrates, potassium and folate. Phytochemical, the compound which helps in preventing heart diseases occurs naturally in these fruits.

Bananas:
Including bananas in your daily diet is the easiest way to increase your nutrient intake. Bananas are rich in potassium. One ripe banana contains up to 400mg of potassium. Vitamin B6, an antioxidant, occurs naturally in bananas. They also contain vitamin C and dietary fiber.

Apples:
They contain a range of phytonutrients such as catechin, quercetin, phloridzin and chlorogenic acid. These nutrients play the role of antioxidants. Apples also contain fiber and flavonoids.

Including these vegetables and fruits in your regular diet will make it a heart-supportive diet. The method of cooking also plays an important role. If possible don't peel the skin of apples because the skin contains the maximum nutrients. You can only benefit from the vegetables if they are cooked in less oil. Increasing the daily intake of fruits and vegetables will surely go a long way in making your diet effective for lowering blood pressure.


Potassium and High Blood Pressure














Potassium and High Blood Pressure


The benefit of potassium on blood pressure was confirmed by the Third National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES III). Published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in February 2001, data on more than 17,000 adults indicated that adequate potassium intake from fruits and vegetables can lower blood pressure. Results showed that a diet with 8.5 daily servings of fruits & vegetables (providing 4,100 mg of potassium) lowered blood pressure by 7.2/2.8 mmHg (systolic/diastolic) in people diagnosed with high blood pressured, compared to a diet providing only 3.5 servings of fruits & vegetables (providing 1,700 mg of potassium).

The recommended daily intake of potassium for all healthy adults is 4,700 mg.
- Bananas,
- Beans,
- Tofu and
- Potatoes are all rich sources of potassium.

Many fruits and vegetables are also good sources of potassium. Try baking, roasting or steaming when cooking vegetables. Avoid boiling as potassium leaches out into the water during cooking. Speak to your doctor before taking potassium supplements, especially if you have kidney related health problems.
In general, a diet that emphasizes fruits & vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy appears effective in shaving points off a blood pressure reading. In particular, shedding pounds, cutting down on sodium, boosting potassium intake and limiting alcohol are all proven ways to help control blood pressure.
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