
When you don't have high blood pressure yet, why wait to suffer from the complications it can bring in the future? So as early as today, practice the things I have listed below which I got from the article of Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Heart Health. Take time to read and think before ending up on a hospital!
- Limit caffeine intake.
- Limit alcohol intake.
- Avoid processed foods. These are the biggest sources of sodium in today's diet.
- Maintain optimal weight. Even losing a small amount of weight can lower blood pressure.
- Relax. Meditation, yoga, breathing exercises and biofeedback can help lower blood pressure.
- Don't smoke.
- Exercise. As little as 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, such as walking, can help lower blood pressure.
- Check your medicines. Discuss your current medications and their risks of increasing blood pressure with your doctor.
- Nutrition and Supplements
- Eat eight to 10 servings of vegetables and fruit per day.
- Limit animal protein to six ounces per day.
- Limit salt intake. If you are salt sensitive or have a family history or hypertension, reducing salt to about one teaspoon a day may help control your blood pressure.
- Use garlic. It has a modest effect on blood pressure, potentially helping to relax blood vessels.
- Consume four to five servings of nuts, seeds and dry beans per week. This is equivalent to two tablespoons of nuts or seeds, or 1/2 cup cooked dried beans.
- Eat plenty of fish. Include at least three servings of fish a week, emphasizing cold-water fish such as wild Alaskan salmon, sardines and tuna, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Take fish-oil supplements if you cannot get enough omega-3-rich foods.
- Take calcium and magnesium. Inadequate intake of both of these minerals has been associated with high blood pressure. Women should get between 1,000 and 1,200 mg of calcium a day from all sources, while men need no more than 500-600 mg daily from all sources and probably do not need to supplement.
- Take vitamin C. This antioxidant vitamin has been shown to lower blood pressure in people with mild to moderate hypertension.