Stroke and coronary heart disease are still on the top 3 causes of death in the US. Despite constant reminders that high blood pressure can lead to these chronic diseases, most Americans don’t take precautions to lowering their blood pressure. This may be because of a lack of knowledge in the types of foods to eat to promote healthy blood pressure. -Why Does High Blood Pressure Occur?-- High blood pressure can occur from many factors, including family history, race, and age. You might not be able to change these common factors, but you can certainly help prevent high blood pressure by reducing your tobacco and alcohol intake, changing your diet, and lowering stress levels. If you’re blood pressure levels are 140/90, you’d be considered to have hypertension. Normal blood pressure should be sitting at 120/80, and anything over this could put you at risk for disease. The scary part of high blood pressure is that most of the time you’d never even notice it happening. Once symptoms start occurring, it’s most likely the damage is already too extensive to reverse. These damaging effects could include heart failure and stroke or kidney failure. Diabetes, sleep apnea, and high cholesterol are also all associated with high blood pressure.

#What To Do To Lower Blood Pressure...

First and foremost, you should avoid any prescription drugs to reduce your blood pressure. Unless diagnosed with an illness where a prescription is necessary, you can reduce blood pressure by simply making some lifestyle changes, particularly in your diet. Easy changes could include more exercise, including a simple switch from the elevator to taking the stairs. And quitting smoking will help more than just your pressure, as will abstaining from alcohol. Opt for a healthier diet, eliminating all things sweet and sugary as well as fast foods. These 4 foods will help you begin your lifestyle change and promote a healthy blood pressure level.

#1. Artichokes... Known to lower cholesterol levels in the bloodstream, artichokes are an excellent food to preventing high blood pressure. Don’t believe me? Dr. Barbara Wider conducted 3 separate clinical trials and all results supported artichokes being a cholesterol lowering food.

#2. Bananas.. A banana a day keeps stroke-­ related deaths away, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine. One research done in India boasts results of a 10% decrease in blood pressure levels by eating two bananas a day for only one week. This could be because bananas are rich in potassium, an element that promotes proper heart function.

#3. Beets... Beet root juice was found to lower high blood pressure levels by the William Harvey Research Institute. In fact, their research showed results in only 1 hour after consumption.

#4. Garlic... Garlic is great in preventing many illnesses, especially when it comes to protecting the heart. Eating garlic was proved by South Australia’s University of Adelaide to lower blood pressure, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal showed that 2 cloves of garlic a day promote a healthy heart. www.riseup247.com