How to Cure High Blood Presure the Natural Way

High blood pressure affects many Americans. When your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, doctors prescribe medication to bring it back to a normal level. You can also keep your blood pressure down the natural way. A more health-conscious lifestyle can help you overcome risk factors (age, race, heredity) and live a drug-free, balanced life.

Instructions

• 1

  Cut back on your caffeine intake. When you drink caffeine, your blood vessels constrict, decreasing circulation. A stimulant, caffeine also intensifies the affects of stress on the body. Along with the constricted blood vessels, this can cause a temporary increase in blood pressure. Substituting caffeine-free beverages is the best way to go, but limiting caffeine to less than 200 mg daily can help decrease your blood pressure.

• 2

  Moderate your alcohol consumption. Alcohol plays a duel role in blood-pressure levels. When consumed in moderation (no more than one alcoholic beverage daily), it can prevent heart attacks and coronary artery disease. And in some cases, a daily alcoholic beverage can actually reduce your blood pressure.

  On the other hand, excessive alcohol consumption can increase your blood pressure. It also nullifies the effect of blood-pressure medication. Binge drinking is very dangerous to your blood pressure. For optimal health, cut back to moderate drinking or abstain altogether.

• 3

  Pay attention to what you eat. A healthy, vitamin-rich diet can lower your blood pressure considerably. Increasing the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily meal plan can help you lower blood pressure as much as 14 mm Hg. The Mayo Clinic recommends the DASH (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) diet. DASH stresses small amounts of red meat, fat, cholesterol and sweets while increasing your daily levels of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat foods and fat-free dairy products.

  It is important to incorporate foods containing calcium, potassium and vitamin C into your meal plan. The more diverse your nutritional pallet, the greater the affect on your cardiovascular health.

  Using herbs, spices and salt-free seasonings instead of salt can also aid in decreasing blood pressure.

• 4

  Move your body. Moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise lowers blood pressure. Work with your doctor to develop a workout plan that is right for you.

  Another benefit to working out regularly is weight loss. The more the weight loss, the lower the blood pressure, generally speaking. It can also improve the effectiveness of blood-pressure medication. Dr. Curtis Ellison hypothesizes that weight gain changes the hormone levels in the body, thus increasing blood pressure. Maintaining a healthy weight (through diet and exercise) can bring your blood pressure back to normal.