Five ways to reduce high blood pressure through your diet alone!

My father had high blood pressure. He left it untreated and, as a result, had a stroke. It was in good part due to his high cholesterol. I tried to learn from his mistakes. A few years ago my blood pressure was okay but my total cholesterol level was at 230. Since I didn’t want to end up like my dad, I decided to learn as much about naturally controlling cholesterol and blood pressure as I could. Even if you don’t have a stroke, if you have high blood pressure, you increase your risk of future heart and other circulatory problems. This may even result in an eventual heart attack. High blood pressure is an epidemic. About 72 million people in the United States age 20 and older have high blood pressure. While your physician may prescribe medications as one of the ways to reduce high blood pressure, a few simple dietary changes can help reduce your blood pressure to normal.In this article I’m going to give you five foods that when eaten regularly, have been proven to reduce high blood pressure. Most have several other components that provide additional benefits to your general health, as well as other health conditions that may be associated with high blood pressure.Before I go on I want to make the following disclaimer. Since I am not a doctor, be sure to consult with your physician and discuss the appropriateness of each of these foods to your specific health picture. Augmenting your medication with these dietary ways to reduce high blood pressure may require more frequent testing of your blood pressure. Your doctor may want to adjust your prescription dosage accordingly.The first is garlic. Garlic is perhaps your most valuable ally in reducing high blood pressure. Garlic contains allium, the active property in effecting a reduction in HBP. Onions also contain allium, although not in as high a concentration. Studies have shown that both garlic and onions reduce high blood pressure, 'bad' cholesterol and can prevent blood clots. A study by K. Reid at the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, stated that “our meta-analysis suggests that garlic preparations are superior to placebo in reducing blood pressure in individuals with hypertension.”In addition, garlic is also a natural antibiotic. It is effective against an array of pathogens. There are many ways to incorporate garlic and onions into your diet, so go ahead and load up! Many clinical studies have found that just a couple of large cloves each day can cut your risk of heart attack in half!The second food is cucumbers. They are good in a salad seasoned with those garlic and onions and help lower your blood pressure. Cucumbers are also good for your digestive tract and can also relieve the symptoms of rheumatism. Since cucumbers have a mild diuretic effect, mention that you are eating more of them to your doctor.The third, artichokes are yet another of the effective ways to reduce high blood pressure naturally. Artichokes contain cynarin. In the 1970s, European scientists documented cynarin's ability to lower cholesterol in humans. In addition, if you're overweight, this is a good addition to your salad plate as well. If you are diabetic, artichokes can help regulate blood sugar levels while providing plenty of the fiber you need.The forth, celery is an old time remedy for high blood pressure. So why not add a few stalks to your growing salad dish. Like cucumbers, celery is mildly diuretic, reducing your water retention so talk to your doctor about eating more of it. Celery is also good for diabetics in regulating blood sugar, as well as reducing water retention.The fifth and final food to naturally reduce your blood pressure is mushrooms. In Traditional Chinese Medicine certain mushrooms have long been used as one of the ways to reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. In particular, shiitake and maitake mushrooms are found to be especially effective in this regard. Shiitake mushrooms are usually available fresh in larger supermarkets. Both are also available in dried form and are easily reconstituted in water. A mix of these mushrooms can make a delicious soup, or can be added to your salad as an accent. Other notable benefits of eating these mushrooms include boosting the immune system function, fighting off viral conditions. They are also used as a preventative to and treatment for cancer.Once again, discuss these food choices with your doctor. Once you get the okay, eat a salad a day which includes these ingredients. Bet you never imagined that a bowl of salad might be one of the best ways to reduce your high blood pressure! All while helping you control your weight and addressing a variety of other health conditions. To your good health!If you would like more information on getting fit I have a FREE Fitness e-Course!