(NaturalNews) Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure or HBP, affects more than 70 million Americans. High blood pressure causes damage to the blood vessels and eventually can lead to numerous side effects, such as heart disease, stroke or kidney failure, warns the American Heart Association. Home remedies can help lower blood pressure but should be undertaken with care, as hypertension is a serious medical condition.
Fiber Shown to Lower Blood Pressure
Adding fiber to the diet helps lower blood pressure, according to research reported in the
Journal of Nutrition. It also reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. A good source of fiber is whole grains and vegetables. Oats are an excellent source of fiber as are apples and potatoes. Applesauce and oatmeal are easy to absorb forms of fiber that will help lower blood pressure.
Beet Root Juice Lowers Blood Pressure
Research reported in the
Journal of Nutrition found that fiber lowered high blood pressure and reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease. In a study conducted at the Queen Mary University of London, participant's blood pressure lowered within 24 hours of consuming beetroot juice. Dosage used in the study was 250 ml.
Research Shows Dark Chocolate Lowers Blood Pressure
Dark chocolate lowers blood pressure, according to 15 studies published from 1955 to 2009 and reported in the British newspaper
The Telegraph. Dark chocolate contains more of the nutrients that lower blood pressure. Research has shown that those who consume one chocolate bar a week reduce their risk of having a stroke by 22 percent.
Potassium Intake Lowers Blood Pressure
Potassium lowers blood pressure and can be found in many foods, especially in bananas. Other good sources of potassium include raisins and currants. The American Heart Association recommends 4,700 mg of potassium per day for those with high blood pressure. Lowering salt also helps balance potassium levels as sodium and potassium work together in the body. Add herbs to spice home cooked meals, instead of adding salt, and avoid canned foods, which contain high amounts of salt.
Lavender Oil Massage Lowers Blood Pressure
Researchers at Creighton University have found that a massage with lavender oil lowers blood pressure. The oil can be applied via massage or added to bath water. Also, dried lavender can be drunk as a tea or added to bath water to help lower blood pressure naturally. Lavender can be easily grown in a pot or a backyard garden for home health care.
http://www.natws.com/025889_chocolate_cocoa_health.htmlhttp://www.naturalnews.com/028648_bananas_blood_pressure.htmlhttp://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/potassium-000320.htmlhttp://altmed.creighton.edu/Aromatherapy/Studies.htm]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20585108]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7855133/Chocolate-could-help...About the author
Melanie Grimes is a writer, award-winning screenwriter, medical journal editor, and adjunct faculty member at Bastyr University. She also teaches homeopathy at the Seattle School of Homeopathy and the American Homeopathic Medical College.
A trained homeopath, she is the editor of the homeopathic journal, Simillimum, and has edited alternative and integrative medical journals for 15 years. She has taught creative writing, founded the first Birkenstock store in the USA and authored medical textbooks.
Her ebook on Natural Remedies for the Flu is available at:
http://melanie-grimes.blogspot.com/2009/04/buy-natural-flu-remedy-ebook-h...Follow her blog at
http://melanie-grimes.blogspot.com/www.melaniegrimes.com
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