Lower Blood Pressure – Naturally!
What Is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, affects one in four American adults.
Hypertension does not really have any symptoms, but many risk factors that contribute to high blood pressure.
These high blood pressure risk factors include the following:
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Stress
- Age
- A family history of high blood pressure
- Lack of physical activity
- Smoking
- Being overweight
- Eating too much sodium or not having enough potassium in your diet
Here are five steps you can follow to help you stay healthy and keep your blood pressure in check – naturally!
5 Steps to Naturally Lower Blood Pressure
1. Lose the extra weight – Blood pressure usually goes up when your weight goes up. If you lose just 10 pounds, you can help reduce your blood pressure.
2. Stop smoking and drinking too much alcohol – You already know all the dangers of smoking, but nicotine can also raise your blood pressure and keep it elevated for up to an hour after you smoke. One serving of alcohol per day can be good for you, but any more than that can raise your blood pressure.
3. Exercise – Try to get at least 30 to 60 minutes of exercise every day. Exercise can help you shed those extra 10 pounds. It can also energize you, reduce stress and lower your blood pressure.
4. Eat a heart-healthy diet – Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Increase your intake of minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium, and eat foods rich in protein and fiber. Also, be sure to decrease your sodium intake. Click on the following link for a heart-healthy diet plan from the National Institutes of Health. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash/new_dash.pdf
5. Drink ionized alkaline water – Ionized alkaline water from a water ionizer machine is high in antioxidants, which help to neutralize free radicals. This water also helps restore pH balance in your body. Drinking ionized alkaline water helps the minerals you eat – especially potassium, calcium, and magnesium – stay where they belong in your body instead of working to neutralize the acids in your body.
Following these five steps will put you on the path to a better, heart-healthy life!
