Olive Oil
The use of olive oil has been found beneficial in the treatment of high blood pressure. A study, by researchers at Stanford medical school, of 76 middle-aged men with high blood pressure a few years ago, concluded that the amount of monounsaturated fat in three tablespoons of olive oil a day could lower systolic pressure about nine points and diastolic pressure by six points. More remarkable, a University of Kentucky study found that a mere two-thirds of a tablespoon of olive oil daily reduced blood pressure by about five systolic points and four diastolic points in men.
Parsley
Parsley is one of the oldest and best-known vegetables. It was known to ancient Romans. It is high in vitamin and mineral contents. This vegetable is especially rich in ascorbic acid and hence is a good blood cleanser. Raw parsley juice has properties, which are essential to oxygen metabolism in maintaining the normal action of the adrenal and thyroid glands.
Parsley is a blood pressure lowering food. It contains elements which help maintain the blood vessels, particularly the capillaries and arterial system in a healthy condition. It may be taken as a beverage by simmering it gently in the water for a few minutes and drinking it several times daily. Alternatively, it may be taken in the form of juice extracted from the leaves.
Potassium-Rich Foods
Foods rich in potassium have been found beneficial in lowering blood pressure. Potassium is a strong medicine for high blood pressure. Adding potassium to the diet can lower blood pressure and reducing potassium can raise it. Thus, eating a low-potassium diet can cause high blood pressure.
This was proved, in a test at Temple University School of Medicine. In this test, 10 men with normal blood pressure ate a pbtassium-adequate diet and then a potassium-restricted diet, each for nine days. Deprived of potassium, the men experienced an average raise in arterial pressure, including both diastolic and systolic pressure, of 4.1 points – up from 90.9 to 95.
Their blood pressure shot even higher when the men’s diets were full of sodium. Thus, potassium also helps keep a high-sodium diet in check, said the study’s senior author, G. Gopal Krishna, M.D. He believed that too little potassium leads to sodium retention, which over a period may trigger high blood pressure. Taking enough potassium can also reduce the doses of medication a person needs.
A study at the University of Naples in Italy discovered that after a year on high-potassium diet, 81 per cent of a group of patients needed only half their original dosages of drugs to control their high blood pressure. Further, 38 per cent of the high-potassium group was able to stop medication entirely. They simply ate three to six servings of high-potassium foods a day, boosting their average intake of potassium about 60 per cent.
Potassium is widely distributed in foods. All vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables, grapes, orange, lemon, raisins, whole grains, lentils, sunflower seeds, nuts, milk, cottage cheese and butter milk are rich sources.
Potato
The potato, especially in boiled form, is a valuable food for lowering blood pressure. When boiled with their skins, potatoes absorb very little salt. Thus they can form a useful addition to a salt free diet recommended for patients with high blood pressure. They are rich in potassium but not in sodium salts. The magnesium present in this vegetable exercises beneficial effect in lowering blood pressure.