Top 5 Foods That Help Lower Blood Pressure

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High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart attacks and coronary heart diseases. According to a Harvard study, 15 percent of deaths in the United States were associated with high blood pressure. Here are a few foods that we recommend to help you keep your blood pressure in check.

Berries.

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Consuming a weekly bowl of blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries can help lower your risk for high blood pressure. Berries have a pigment called anthocyanin, a kind of bioflavonoid phytochemical that is an effective antioxidant.

Potatoes.

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Potatoes are notorious for their carb and sugar content. Its potassium content may be its redeeming factor though. According to medical experts, eating high-potassium veggies like potatoes and fruits (e.g. bananas, peas, raisins) can help regulate your blood pressure. Experts recommend taking 2,000 to 4,000 mg of potassium everyday to be able to make most of its benefits.

Whole oats.

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What you see on those Quaker Oats ads were true: whole oats could actually reduce your systolic and diastolic blood pressure, especially if you are predisposed to hypertension. People with hypertension were also reported to had experienced a 9 percent decrease in blood cholesterol.

Dark chocolate.

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Dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids, which are known to be great free radical scavengers and protects your body from cellular damage. Flavonoids are effective in lowering LDL cholesterol content by 10 percent.

Non-fat yogurt.

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A helping of non-fat yogurt a day keeps the bad cholesterol away. According to a study by the American Heart Association, people who include non-fat yogurt in their daily diet were 31 percent less prone to developing high blood pressure.