High blood pressure is a common condition that can increase a person’s risk of a heart attack and stroke if left untreated. Experts say high blood pressure can often be prevented or reduced by eating healthily.

READ MORE

• High blood pressure: The trendy drink proven to lower your reading

As a general rule, you should cut down on the amount of salt in your food, as salt raises blood pressure.

But certain foods and drinks have also been found to hold blood pressure lowering properties.

Rosehip tea is a herbal tea made from the pseudo-fruits of the rose plant and has been linked to numerous health benefits, including lowering high blood pressure.

Rosehip’s high flavonoid content has been shown to reduce blood pressure in people with elevated levels and improved blood flow to the heart. 

Flavonoids are plant chemicals found in almost all fruits and vegetables and help the body ward off everyday toxins.

A six-week study involving 31 adults with obesity also found those who consumed a drink containing 40g of reship powder per day had significantly improved blood pressure, compared with the control group. 

Lowering high blood pressure is one way to keep the heart healthy. Other ways include lowering cholesterol.

High cholesterol is when you have too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood.

Too much cholesterol can block the blood vessels and make you more likely to have heart problems or a stroke.

But not all cholesterol is bad – good cholesterol (HDL) makes you less likely to have heart problems or a stroke.

Bad cholesterol (LDL) makes you more likely to have heart problems or a stroke.

Rosehip could also lower bad cholesterol because of its high vitamin C content.

READ MORE

• High blood pressure: Drinking this tea could help lower your reading

A review of 13 studies found supplementing with at least 500mg of vitamin C per day was associated with a significant decrease in bad cholesterol. 

Other ways to prevent or reduce blood pressure

As well as cutting down on the amount of salt in your food, the NHS recommends eating a low-fat diet that includes lots of fibre, such as wholegrain rice, bread and pasta, and plenty of fruit and vegetables.

Regularly drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure over time.

So the health body advises: “Staying within the recommended levels is the best way to reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure.

“Men and women are advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week.

“Spread your drinking over 3 days or more if you drink as much as 14 units a week.”

Being overweight forces your heart to work harder to pump blood around your body which can raise your blood pressure.

So the health body recommends losing weight.

Being active and taking regular exercise can also lower blood pressure by keeping the heart and blood vessels in good condition.

Source: Read Full Article