Control Your Blood Pressure With These Simple Tips

Hypertension, also called as high blood pressure is a common but dangerous condition. It is also often referred to as a modern lifestyle disease, probably because the changing lifestyle habits such as poor diet, lack of physical activity are the main reasons for the high incidences of hypertension. And these habits, make way for an array of complications including diabetes, kidney failure, stroke, heart attack etc.

However, it is always possible to stay healthier and control your blood pressure by simply following a healthy lifestyle. Adopt healthy eating habits, which include:

1. Regularly eat walnuts: Heart disease is directly related to physical reaction towards stress. Regular eating of walnuts will help in controlling this response, hence, well-managing your blood pressure. It is also a great source of antioxidants and fibre, which add to the benefits of eating it.

2. Sufficient mineral intake: Eating a diet rich in calcium, magnesium, and potassium is extremely beneficial for the heart. Sweet potatoes, bananas, dry fruits, dairy products, etc., have shown to reduce blood pressure.

3. Limit salt intake: The processed variety of salt that almost everyone consumes these days is devoid of all minerals and this is one of the major contributors for high blood pressure. Even studies have shown that reducing salt intake greatly helps in controlling blood pressure. Also, processed food items, everything from bread to cookies to cheese has salt, so avoid these eatables as much as possible.

4. Include a colourful meal in you diet: Fill your plate with peppers, berries, dry fruits, and organic fruits and vegetables. Pomegranate juice is believed to control angiotensin, converting enzyme, which is responsible for controlling hypertension. They are also rich in antioxidants and help control blood pressure by reducing inflammation.

5. Keep a tab on your cholesterol level: There is good and bad cholesterol and the bad one should be avoided. Read the labels properly, and ensure you are eating less of the bad cholesterol. Good cholesterol is required for the production of hormones and proper body functioning.

6. Don’t eat medicines unnecessarily: It may seem pretty easy to just pop an ibuprofen when there is a headache or a backache, it is advisable to watch out. Don’t take medicines if not needed and best is to avoid them, as they can induce hypertension and heart disease.

Apart from adopting these healthy changes, you can also practice relaxation techniques, consume green tea, have dark chocolate, red wine and quit smoking. All these together will definitely help to keep your blood pressure under check.