Lowering your Blood Pressure Naturally

(482 Words)
It is very important to keep control of your blood pressure. If your blood pressure gets too high, then you are at risk for a wide number of serious conditions, such as stroke. Doctors can control blood pressure, usually through medication, but there are advantages to controlling it on your own. There are many natural methods that can play a part in lowering blood pressure. Combine these for the greatest effect.
First it is very important to be at a healthy weight. As you gain weight, your blood pressure may go up, according to the Mayo Clinic. Someone who would have normal blood pressure may end up with high blood pressure simply as a result of the extra weight. Losing weight may even help you to avoid medication.
It is important to exercise on a regular basis. This can have a very good effect on your blood pressure, as well as provide many other health benefits.
Eating a healthy diet can go an extremely long way in lowering your blood pressure. One of the most important ways that you can lower your blood pressure is by keeping your sodium intake at a healthy level. The Mayo Clinic recommends that people should have no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day, and no more than 1,500 mg if they are on a low-sodium diet. Many prepared foods and meals you get at restaurants contain a great deal of sodium, and it is not uncommon to find a bowl of soup that has 1,000 mg. Sometimes meals at restaurants actually contain more than your daily recommended allotment of sodium. It is also often not the salt that you add, but the salt that is in the food that is already cooked, that causes the most problems. Remember that just because food doesn’t taste salty does not mean that it isn’t.
There are many different dietary measures that can help you lower your blood pressure. The
DASH diet, also known as the dietary approaches to stop hypertension, is a very good diet for those wanting to lower their blood pressure. You should eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, including a lot of potassium-rich foods such as bananas. Other foods such as watermelon have also been shown to help lower blood pressure. Avoid to the extent possible foods with a lot of salt or sugar. You should also not have too much alcohol because that can raise your blood pressure.
It is also important to stay calm, because being stressed and nervous raises your blood pressure. You can try meditation, yoga and other practices that can keep you calm.
There are many different ways that you can lower your blood pressure naturally. Make sure to keep track of your blood pressure so that you know if it is at a safe level. By keeping your blood pressure in control, you will safeguard your health.