Nature’s Bounty: Quick Bites to lower BP

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Take a deep breath. Inhale, exhale and instantly find your mind and body feeling calmer.

The best way to live life is to live it without stress, but there for some, modern lifestyle or aging can bring along serious health problems like high blood pressure a.k.a Hypertension.

Not to be taken lightly, as it’s known globally as the ‘Silent Killer’, it occurs when the blood pressure shoots up in your body to unhealthy levels; resulting in major cardiovascular diseases. It can result in extended damage to the eyes, kidneys and the brain too over time, if not managed. Hypertension can occur at any age and should be monitored frequently.

Following a healthy diet is key to keeping your BP under check. Luckily, there are food items that can immediately help control hypertension and high blood pressure. They will also keep you well nourished throughout the day, so that you avoid dependence on junk foods:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF

Dark Chocolate: One must always carry a bar of low-calorie Dark Chocolate (we mean very, very, very low or no sugar added) in their bag. You never know when you need it, not just for your usual chocolate cravings, but also to immediately de-stress.

• Dark Chocolates are rich in flavonoids, which are plant compounds that help blood vessels dilate and relax.
• About 3 - 100gms of dark chocolate, if consumed every day, drastically lowers the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Cayenne Pepper: Commonly known as Lal Mirch and is used abundantly in Indian households.

• Cayenne Pepper expands the blood vessels and improves blood flow by increasing the rate of the flow of blood in your circulatory system. Thus, taking the pressure of the arterial walls.
• Cayenne Pepper contains high amounts of Capsaicin, an alkaloid (a chemical compound that acts as a cardiac stimulant) that stimulates nerve endings and produce heat sensations. This heat of the cayenne pepper helps in lowering down increased blood pressure.

• How to consume: Mix one teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper powder with half a cup of lukewarm water or mix two tablespoons of raw organic honey with two teaspoons of cayenne pepper; boil them with eight ounces of water and drink it warm. Remember - you can dilute it further for comfort.
• Warning:If you are allergic/have a weak constitution of the stomach, please avoid this approach.

Raw Garlic: Fresh, raw garlic has been known to have immense numbers of health benefits and is a healing miracle for reducing high blood pressure.

• Raw garlic contains large amounts of beneficial sulphur compounds which in combination with a high Allicin content, gives it an ability to dilate arteries. This helps in regulating blood pressure.
• To consume, just remove the skin, chew well and swallow.
  One clove of garlic every day, keeps high blood pressure away, and even the pessimistic people around me. People who love us would never care!

REGULATE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE 

Coconut Water: High blood pressure is caused due to fluctuations of electrolytes in the blood, and coconut water brings a balance to it due to its supply of important minerals and salts. It’s delicious, it’s refreshing and it’s a super drink!

Cranberry Juice: Pour yourself a glass of low-calorie fresh pressed cranberry juice, just like you pour yourself a glass of red wine. Both help you tremendously and effectively in lowering your high blood pressure.

• Cranberry Juice is the healthier substitute. It contains antioxidants like Proanthocyanidins, which help to block compounds known to constrict blood vessels and even out the blood pressure.

Such a delicious way to stay healthy, we must admit!

Sunflower Seeds: Unsalted Sunflower seeds are a go-to for simple everyday snacking that are also so beneficial for lowering your blood pressure.

• Sunflower seeds are extremely rich in Vitamin E which is necessary for proper Vitamin K usage and for making red blood cells. You get 61.5% of your daily dose of vitamin E in a quarter cup.
• These seeds also release 2.5gms per quarter cup of bioactive peptides (proteins), which reduce the production of enzymes that lead to high blood pressure.
• Sunflower seeds also contain 28.4% as magnesium that works wonders to prevent asthma, migraines, lower blood pressure and minimize the risk of heart attacks or strokes.

Now that you are aware of the best ingredients for high blood pressure, you can regulate your stress level immediately and even more effectively. Monitor it regularly and keep an eye out for regularly high levels.
Also, music, as we have experienced, has always been a great way to relieve all kinds of my day-to-day stress.
Indian classical music like Ragas help calm a mind and body. The soothing rhythm of Ragas relaxes the nervous system that aids in controlling high blood pressure and hypertension.

To read about how music therapy helps, read our blog -The Therapeutic Power of Indian Classical Music.
You never know when your blood pressure shoots to the roof but you will now always know what to do to control that beating heart!

Bibliography

Daily Dose Of Dark Chocolate May Help Lower Blood Pressure, NPR | Lower your Blood Pressure Fast, Hello Bar | How to Lower Blood Pressure- 7 Natural Remedies, RESPERATE | Do Sunflower Seeds Help Lower Blood Pressure? FOODS FOR BETTER HEALTH