High blood pressure happens when the first of blood pushing against a person’s artery walls is consistently too high. Over time, the force and friction of high blood pressure damages the delicate tissues inside the arteries. This can lead to deadly cardiovascular complications. Fortunately, making simple dietary tweaks can lower a person’s reading, including drinking a certain drink.
The NHS recommends cutting down on the amount of salt in your food and to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.
When it comes to the best fruit and vegetables to eat for blood pressure, new research has shown the positive effects of tomato juice.
Tomatoes contain a wealth of antioxidants and potassium and may help control blood pressure. Tomato juice was found to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol in people at risk of heart disease.
New research claims drinking a glass of unsalted tomato juice daily is a simple way to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Dr Nicole Weinberg, a cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Centre in California said: “Like with many vegetables, tomato juice is rich in vitamins and minerals.
“It is high in vitamin C and B, as well as potassium.”
In a study published in Food Science and Nutrition, drinking unsalted tomato juice lowered blood pressure and LDL cholesterol in Japanese adults at risk of cardiovascular disease.
In the study, 184 males and 297 females were provided with as much unsalted tomato juice as they wanted throughout one year.
At the end of the study, blood pressure in 94 participants with untreated prehypertension or hypertension dropped significantly.
The authors of the study noted: “To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first to investigate the effects of tomato or tomato product intake or cardiovascular disease risk markers over the course of a year over a wide range.”
In another study at Ben Gurion University in Israel wherefore 16 weeks investigators measured the effects of daily tomato extract supplements on 31 volunteers with mild hypertension.
The extract reduced systolic blood pressure by an average of 10 points and diastolic pressure by an average of four points, a significant decrease, according to researchers.
The researchers suggest that it may be the tomato’s antioxidants, including lycopene, beta carotene and vitamin E, that cause the benefits.
Potassium, also found in tomatoes, has been associated with improved blood pressure as well.
Being active and taking regular exercise lowers blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition.
NHS
According to Dr Thomas Giles, president of the American Society of Hypertension said: “Artery walls are subject to oxidative stress, we are all rusting away. Anything with antioxidants may be helpful.”
Alongside eating a healthy diet, being active can help lower blood pressure.
The NHS advised: “Being active and taking regular exercise lowers blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition.
Regular exercise can also help you lose weight, which will also help lower your blood pressure.
Adults should do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as cycling or fast walking, every week.”
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