Hey there viewers!
If you're serious about lowering your blood pressure, you probably already know to ditch
high-sodium foods, unhealthy fats and sugar.
Other things include exercising and eating more of fresh fruits, vegetables and lean
proteins.
The truth remains that there’s no single solution for this problem.
But making simple changes, can yield powerful results.
Doing something as easy as expanding your beverage intake can help keep blood pressure
at a healthy level.
And in today’s video, we will tell you the best beverages that can keep blood pressure
levels under control.
From cranberry juice, black tea, red wine, water to kombucha and more, watch till the
end to learn about all of them.
Beet Juice: Beets are essential in regulating blood pressure because they contain a healthy
variety of vitamins and nutrients.
These are designed to help promote optimal blood function.
One beneficial nutrient in them is nitrate.
Once eaten, it is converted to nitrites, which helps relax muscle tissue and facilitates
increased blood flow.
It is also a good source of potassium and folate, which are both critical in controlling
blood pressure.
Studies show that your blood pressure levels drop almost immediately with just one to two
cups of beet juice each day.
Ok, we get it - sipping on plain beet juice isn't everyone's cup of tea or should we say
cup of beets.
If the taste of this drink is a problem, try adding one cup of it to your post-workout
smoothie, which might improve the flavor.
What is your favourite juice?
Would you make beet juice part of your regular diet?
We would love to know down below in the comments section.
Cranberry Juice: Cranberries are a superfruit, so that makes cranberry juice a super-drink.
It has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
These properties go a long way towards preventing and reducing inner blood vessel damage, and
ultimately lowering blood pressure.
Also, cranberry juice has been reported to reduce blood pressure by dilating blood vessels
and increasing blood flow.
This superfruit is packed with vitamin C which also helps to naturally lower your blood pressure.
The best part is that you can drink the stuff until your heart’s content because there
is no set standard or recommendation for the amount you can drink each day.
There’s just one caution - cranberry juice can be high in sugar and calories, so it’s
best to opt for an unsweetened version . Also, adding sparkling water to a cup of it makes
for a lighter, more refreshing drink.
Milk: Milk can do wonders for your blood pressure.
Studies have shown that high blood pressure is linked to calcium deficiency.
Naturally, the more calcium you eat, the more you decrease your risk of developing high
blood pressure due to a lack of calcium.
However, before you run out and buy milk by the gallon, it’s important to know that
all milk is not created equal.
To get the best blood pressure benefits, you want to choose milk that is higher in calcium
and lower in fat.
For that reason, low-fat milk is the way to go.
It is higher in calcium and contains reduced fat content.
This actually promotes the absorption of calcium better than high-fat milk.
If you’re lactose intolerant, unsweetened almond milk that’s been fortified with calcium
is a good substitute.
Hibiscus Tea: Drinking hibiscus tea can significantly lower blood pressure, particularly when it
is slightly elevated, according to a study.
It contains anthocyanins and other antioxidants that may help blood vessels resist damage
that can cause them to narrow.
Many herbal tea blends contain hibiscus, which brews up bright red and delivers a tart flavor.
But you have to drink quite a bit of it to reap blood pressure benefits.
The recommended quantity is three cups a day.
To get the full benefits, steep for six minutes before sipping it hot or cold.
Prune Juice: Prune juice has long been known to help alleviate constipation.
But one of its lesser-known health benefits is that it also lowers blood pressure.
This effect was reported in a study where researchers compared three groups: one group
that ate three prunes per day, a second group that ate six prunes per day, and a third group
that didn’t eat any prunes.
The researchers reported a significant reduction in blood pressure among people who ate a single
dose of three prunes per day.
People who ate six prunes per day experienced an additional reduction in systolic blood
pressure.
Moreover, both three- and six-prune doses were found to also lower LDL cholesterol.
To take advantage of these effects, drink a glass of 100-percent prune juice or make
your own by blending soaked prunes.
Tomato Juice: Growing evidence suggests that drinking one glass of tomato juice per day
may promote heart health.
In a study, researchers evaluated the effects of drinking an average of one cup of tomato
juice per day among participants with risk factors for heart disease.
They concluded that tomato juice improved both systolic and diastolic blood pressure,
as well as LDL cholesterol.
Other recent studies have reported similar results among people with stage 1 hypertension
and pregnant women.
To avoid unnecessary sodium, which can have the opposite effect on blood pressure, make
sure to buy unsalted tomato juice.
Kombucha: Kombucha Kombucha offers high amounts of probiotics.
This is helpful for maintaining good bacteria that protects gut health.
A review of studies showed that regular intake of probiotics for more than eight weeks could
help maintain blood pressure in normal levels.
Yogurt, kimchi, miso and tempeh are other fermented foods that offer the same health
benefits as Kombucha.
Black Tea: Black tea has been shown to impact blood pressure levels positively.
In a study, participants drank three cups of black tea daily over six months.
Results found that those who drank black tea had a significant decrease in systolic and
diastolic blood pressure, compared to the placebo group.
Another meta-analysis of five different studies looked at the impact of drinking black tea
for four weeks on blood pressure.
The results found improvements in blood pressure levels of participants.
Watermelon Juice: Watermelon juice contains an amino acid called citrulline, which may
help to manage high blood pressure.
It helps your body to produce nitric oxide, a gas that relaxes blood vessels and encourages
flexibility in arteries.
These effects aid the flow of blood, which can lower high blood pressure.
In one study, adults with obesity and prehypertension or mild hypertension who took watermelon juice
showed reduced blood pressure in the ankles and brachial arteries.
Researchers have also found that animals given a diet rich in watermelon had better heart
health.
In one study, mice who drank a solution containing watermelon juice had 50 percent less plaque
in their arteries than the control group.
They also had 50 percent less bad cholesterol.
Water: Water is a simple drink, yet it’s complex enough to treat an extensive list
of ailments.
While it won’t instantly lower your blood pressure, it can help to decrease blood pressure
over time.
Many people are chronically dehydrated, which can wreak havoc on your body’s blood pressure.
Chronic dehydration reduces your body’s ability to transport blood efficiently.
This forces blood vessels to constrict to conserve water usually lost through everyday
functions like sweating and urination.
The constricted blood vessels tax your body’s ability to pump blood effectively, which results
in elevated blood pressure.
Of all the drinks on this list, water is the cheapest and healthiest option.
Pomegranate Juice: Pomegranate juice inhibits an enzyme that naturally occurs in the body
called ACE.
If you have an abundance of it, your blood pressure levels can rise because of tightening
of blood vessels.
This is similar to what happens to your body during dehydration.
Because pomegranate juice is a natural ACE inhibitor, it functions like the medications
doctors prescribe to treat high blood pressure.
That is what makes it so unique at combating elevated blood pressure.
In some studies, researchers found that it can lower systolic blood pressure by up to
30 percent.
For an easy fix, add sparkling water to 3 ounces of pomegranate juice and enjoy.
You can also add this refreshing juice to your favorite smoothie recipe.
Red Wine: You didn’t think we would create a list of the healthiest drinks to lower your
blood pressure without giving you some information on red wine, did you?
While all of the drinks on this list are helpful in reducing blood pressure, none of them are
quite as fun as a glass of crisp red wine.
Studies show that it can increase the good cholesterol, which goes a long way towards
removing plaque build-up in your arteries.
Higher good cholesterol levels mean less plaque, which in turn allows blood to flow easier.
When your blood flows through your vessels smoothly, your blood pressure will be lower.
An abundance of blood clots in your arteries can also increase your risk for further plaque
development and contribute to higher blood pressure.
Red wine works overtime to reduce blood pressure with a chemical called resveratrol.
It acts as an anti-clotting agent, which works to lower your blood pressure.
Berry Juice: Berries, especially blueberries are known for their antioxidant properties.
A review reported that drinking cranberry or cherry juice may improve blood pressure.
Another review found that eating berries lowered both systolic blood pressure and bad cholesterol
levels.
In both cases, the researchers concluded that berries likely have heart benefits.
If you opt for store-bought berry juice, make sure it doesn’t contain any added sugar.
Managing your blood pressure level is very important in keeping your body healthy.
Another very important factor for a sound body is knowing when your blood sugar level
is high so that you can control it in time.
You can learn more by:
Understanding the signs of high blood sugar levels
OR
Finding out about the warning signs that you are eating too much sugar
These 2 videos will definitely help you to know when your blood sugar level is high so
you can control it before it causes any damage to your body.
How did you get your blood pressure under control?
Let us know in the comments section below!