Thursday 12 September 2013

Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure

According to the Heart Association, nearly one in three adults in the States has high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. But nearly one-third of those people don't know they have high blood pressure, because it is a silent disease. People can have high blood pressure for years without experiencing symptoms or knowing they have it.

The upper or first number in a blood pressure reading is the systolic pressure and the lower or second number is called the diastolic pressure. 



* Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg.
* Prehypertension is systolic pressure that's between 120 to 139 or diastolic pressure between 80 and 89.
* Stage 1 hypertension is systolic pressure between 140 to 159 or diastolic pressure between 90 and 99.
* Stage 2 hypertension is systolic pressure higher than 160 or diastolic pressure of 100 or higher.
Natural Remedies:


Lifestyle changes and natural remedies may help to control high blood pressure, but your doctor may also recommend medication to lower high blood pressure. It is important to work with your doctor, because untreated high blood pressure may damage organs in the body and increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, brain hemorrhage, kidney disease, and vision loss.

Fish Oil:

Preliminary studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil may have a modest effect on high blood pressure. Although fish oil supplements often contain both DHA (docohexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), there is some evidence that DHA is the ingredient that lowers high blood pressure.
Folic Acid:
Folate is a B vitamin necessary for formation of red blood cells. It may help to lower high blood pressure in some people, possibly by reducing elevated homocysteine levels.One small study of 24 cigarette smokers found that four weeks of folic acid supplementation significantly lowered blood pressure.
Garlic:
Onions have similar characteristics and are often used in combination with garlic. To preserve the beneficial effects of garlic it should not be boiled. The fresh juice is the most effective preparation. For nervous spasms, cramps and seizures, crush one clove of garlic in a glass of hot milk. For high blood pressure, take one clove of garlic each morning. Prepare oil of garlic by placing eight ounces of peeled minced garlic in a wide-mouthed jar with enough olive oil to cover. Close tightly and shake a few times each day; allow to stand in a warm place for three days.

Lemon:

Regular consumption of lemon is also a good way to control hypertension. Lemon helps in making the blood vessels soft and pliable and removes their rigidity which in turn lowers the high blood pressure. In fact, when lemon is consumed regulalry, there is less chance of heart failure due to its invaluable Vitamin B content. Those having high blood pressure must drink fresh lemon water several times a day. It is a good idea to drink one glass of warm water with lemon juice in it early in the morning on empty stomach. For better result, do not add salt or sugar to lemon water.

Coconut Water:

People suffering from high blood pressure must try to keep their body well hydrated. It is a good idea to drink eight to ten glasses of water daily. Along with water you can also drink coconut water which is a tasty and nutritious beverage. At the same time coconut water also helps a lot in lowering the high blood pressure level. When coconut water is regularly consumed, there will be significant improvement in blood pressure level. Along with coconut water, one can also try coconut oil for cooking.

Fenugreek Seeds:

The paste of fenugreek seeds is one of the most effective ways to lower the high blood pressure level. To make paste out of fenugreek seeds, take one to two teaspoon of fenugreek seeds and add them in water and boil it for around two minutes. Strain out the fenugreek seeds and with the help of a blender make a paste. Take this paste twice a day, one in the morning on an empty stomach and one in the evening. Follow this remedy for two or three months to notice significant improvement in your blood pressure level.

Watermelon Seeds:

Watermelon seeds contain a compound known as cucurbocitrin which helps in widening the blood capillaries. At the same time it also helps in improving the functionalities of the kidneys. This in turn helps in reducing blood pressure level and also helps a lot in arthritis. Just take two teaspoons of dried watermelon seeds, crush them gently before adding them in one cup of boiled water. Steep it for around an hour. Then strain it and take four tablespoon of this water at regular intervals in a day.

Banana:

Banana is one such fruit that a high blood pressure patient can eat regularly to control it. Banana is a rich source of potassium which helps in controlling the blood pressure level. At the same time it has low sodium level and free of cholesterol which also help a lot. So, try to eat one or two bananas daily. Along with banana, you can also try dried apricots, raisins, currants, orange juice, spinach, zucchini, baked sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, and winter squash.


Celery: 

The high level of 3-N-butylphthalide, a kind of ‘phytochemical’ content present in celery helps a lot in controling high blood pressure level. When celery is consumed on regular basis, one can notice improvement in his or her blood pressure level. At the same time it will also help in reducing the stress hormones that constrict blood vessels, leading to high blood pressure. Try to eat one stalk of celery along with a glass of water daily. Else if you like, you can even munch on celery to lower blood pressure.

Honey:

Honey can reduce pressure from the heart and it also has a calming effect on the blood vessels and hence it can be helpful in reducing high blood pressure. People suffering from hypertension must make it a habit to consume one to two teaspoon of honey on daily basis. It is a good idea to eat two teaspoon of honey on empty stomach in the morning. Else you can make a mixture of one teaspoon each honey and ginger juice and two teaspoon of cumin seed powder and eat it twice a day. Another effective remedy is to mix basil juice and honey in equal amount and have it on an empty stomach daily.


Onion Juice: 

Onion can also be used to lower down the high blood pressure level. Try to eat one medium sized raw onion daily. Else make a mixt
ure of onion juice and honey. Add half teaspoon of onion juice and half of teaspoon honey together and eat it twice a day to lower the blood pressure level. When this mixture is taken two times a day for one to two weeks, there will be huge improvement in the health.


Cayenne Pepper:                                                                                                                
Those suffering from mild hypertension must eat cayenne pepper. This is one such ingredient that can help in smooth blood flow by preventing platelets from clumping together and accumulating in the blood. One can add some cayenne pepper to the plate of fruit or vegetable salad. Else one can even add a pinch of cayenne pepper powder in a bowl of soup before drinking it. As cayenne pepper can be very spicy one needs to add a little bit only. 



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