Diet, Physical Activity, Relaxation: Natural Ways to Lower Blood Pressure

One of the issues that concerns many is high blood pressure. Some say it depends on genetics and can only be reduced artificially, i.e., through medication. I do not intend to deny this, however, can diet and other natural methods also assist in this matter?

What is blood pressure essentially? In simple terms, blood pressure is the pressure of the blood against the blood vessels surrounding it. The damage that can be caused by blood pressure is often systemic, such as heart problems, blood vessels, brain, and more. Therefore, it must be taken seriously. The pressure on the blood vessels arises from various reasons, and I will present some of them:

A. Salt: One well-known reason is excessive consumption of salt in food. Salt absorbs fluids, which causes an increase in blood volume. As blood volume rises, pressure begins to build on the blood vessels. Thus, reducing salt intake may help.

B. Overweight: Being overweight can also lead to high blood pressure. Excess weight puts a strain and pressure on the heart and blood vessels. Therefore, losing weight can help reduce blood pressure, and indeed, in some cases, weight loss contributes to this.

C. Stress: Another well-known factor affecting blood pressure is internal stress, whether we are aware of it and feel it, or not. Stress causes us to be tense and, again, is not always felt by us.

If we are constantly tense, the blood vessels also constrict, creating pressure on the blood vessels, which leads to increased blood pressure. For this, action should be taken in several ways:

A. Nutrition: Usually, a natural therapist will recommend a dietary plan based on fruits and vegetables that includes, among other things, foods rich in a mineral called magnesium. This mineral helps relax muscles. Consequently, it can assist in relaxing blood vessels and lowering blood pressure. This mineral is found in many foods like green leaves, sweet potatoes, bananas, legumes, almonds, avocados, whole rice, and more. Sometimes the foods are not enough, and a magnesium-containing food supplement may be recommended.

B. Physical Activity: One way to relax the mind is through physical activity. When engaging in physical activity, calming hormones are released from the brain, soothing the sympathetic nervous system. This leads to relaxation and widening of the blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure. Breathing exercises can also help, and various technologies have been developed to help in this matter. In conclusion, I note that in the natural route, it is always advisable to combine different methods as this way, there is a better chance of reducing blood pressure, sometimes even without conventional medications. To your health!

Eliahu Shechter is an iridologist and natural healer