High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) is very common, particularly in older people, and “can lead to serious problems such as heart attacks or strokes”, explains the NHS website.
Incorporating certain foods into your diet helps lower your blood pressure, with one dietitian recommending a snack that contains ingredients you may already have at home. High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) is very common, particularly in older people, and “can lead to serious problems such as heart attacks or strokes”, explains the NHS website. “There are usually no symptoms, so you may not realize you have it,” he adds. However, high blood pressure can cause symptoms such as headaches, blurred vision and chest pain.
There are various things you can do to help reduce it, including gaining weight if you are overweight, exercising regularly and eating a healthy, balanced diet. Verywellhealth.com, a US-based health and medical news site, spoke with four dietitians who shared heart-healthy snacks.
Lauren Manaker MS, RDN, a registered dietitian based in Charleston, South Carolina, said one of her favorite snacks to help lower blood pressure is a layer of orange slices and low-sodium cottage cheese, topped with a sprinkle of pistachios. Oranges contain potassium, which, according to the American Physiology Society, is “known to lower blood pressure and help the body get rid of excess sodium.”
Cottage cheese is a good source of calcium, which can help regulate blood pressure as part of a balanced diet. Meanwhile, pistachios contain potassium, magnesium, and healthy fats, all of which can support heart health and blood vessel function.
However, it is obviously not suitable if you are allergic to any of the ingredients, and you will need to eat a varied diet to get all the nutrients you need. You can check out other dietitian-recommended snacks on the Verywell Health website.
Hypertension is often referred to as the “silent killer” because people often don’t realize they have it until it leads to other health problems.
The only way to know is to have your blood pressure checked, the NHS website says.
If you get a diagnosis, various lifestyle changes can help, such as quitting smoking, reducing alcohol and salt intake.
There are also various high blood pressure medications that a GP may prescribe depending on your medical situation.
You can find out more on the NHS website.
Gn Health
