High blood pressure: The 73p food that could cut high levels – ‘improves vascular health’
High blood pressure: Lifestyle changes to reduce reading
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High blood pressure details the force of blood against the walls of your arteries high enough to trigger health problems. Dubbed as a “silent” condition, high blood pressure doesn’t present many symptoms. Yet, it’s vital to keep levels at bay to avoid any further health complications.
Around a third of Britons are affected by hypertension, according to the NHS.
What’s worse, many might not even know it as the condition is characterised by a lack of symptoms.
But leaving your reading high can have serious repercussions in the form of health problems.
One way to lower hypertension is by incorporating spinach into your diet, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
A nutrient powerhouse, spinach packs high amounts of carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid, iron and calcium.
But the ingredient that makes it potent for targeting high blood pressure is potassium, Blood Pressure UK reports.
Potassium is an “essential” mineral that helps with multiple functions in your body.
And enjoying foods and drinks rich in this mineral can help cut your high blood pressure.
Potassium plays a part in how much fluid is being stored in your body and how much goes out.
Being hydrated and drinking water is important but if your body holds onto too much water, there will be more fluid in your blood.
This then puts extra pressure on your artery walls, boosting your blood pressure.
And to get rid of the excess fluid, your body needs a “fine balance” of sodium and potassium.
Eating too much salt, rich in sodium, will make your body hold onto water.
This upsets the balance of sodium and potassium needed for the extraction of this extra fluid.
Blood Pressure UK explains: “By eating more foods that are high in potassium, you can help to restore the balance, allowing the kidneys to work well and lower your blood pressure.”
A healthy adult needs around 3,500 to 4,700 milligrams of potassium daily and 30 grams of spinach offers around 11 percent of that.
What is considered high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is recorded at 140/90 millimetres of mercury (mmHg) or higher.
And ideal blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg, the NHS reports.
The higher number records systolic pressure while the lower number is the diastolic pressure.
The only reliable way to find out your blood pressure levels is to have these numbers measured by an approved device.
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