As a cardiologist I am always interested in ways to lower blood pressure naturally. I use many herbs and supplements to lower blood pressure as hawthorn, magnesium, globe artichoke, L-carnitine and much more. But there are foods that can also lower your blood pressure.
The herb, Allium sativum known as Garlic from the Lily Family has been shown in studies to lower blood pressure. The mechanism is hypothesized to be by relaxing the smooth muscle that line the blood vessels. By doing this, garlic reduces resistance to blood flow thus lowering blood pressure. Years ago, two dear friends/colleagues’ naturopathic doctors, Dr Peter Bonjourno and Pina LoGuidace published a review article on The Health Benefits of Allium.
In addition to garlic, the consumption of omega 3 fatty acids has been studied to lower blood pressure. For those that do not want to take more supplements, you can eat more fish. These fatty acids reduce inflammation and improve blood vessel function. The fatty acids also increase the good cholesterol- the high-density lipoprotein (HDL ) For men, the HDL should be > 40 and for women, > 50
Lastly, the next two can be addictive- red wine and dark chocolate. You must consume these in small- moderate levels. Red wine contains resveratrol which dilates blood vessels thus lowering BP This substance also inhibits the formation of bad cholesterol called the lower density lipoproteins ( LDL). The polyphenols and flavonoids in dark chocolate ( not milk chocolate) have been studied to reduce blood pressure.
So now your diet just changed with the consumption of garlic, red wine, dark chocolate and fish. Sounds like a nice Italian dinner
Until tomorrow…