Foods That Are Good for High Blood Pressure

Brussels sprouts are one of the vegetables good for people with high blood pressure.

Healthy food is like medication for high blood pressure. Except you don’t need a prescription, and you won’t have to worry about side effects. Just choose wisely, eat, and repeat.

Just as there are foods that raise blood pressure, there are foods that lower it. There’s even an eating plan based on that fact. It’s called DASH, or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.

Whether you follow DASH or chart your own course, try to focus on what you can eat instead of what you can’t. Like any other healthy diet, a diet to lower blood pressure will emphasize fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while avoiding fats, fried foods, and salty snacks.

If you can control what you eat, you can control high blood pressure and reduce your risk of stroke, heart failure, and heart attack. Start by focussing your grocery list on these healthful choices.

Fruit is sweet, it makes a good substitute for less healthy desserts.

Fruit is full of nutrients that can bring down your blood pressure. The key nutrients are potassium, magnesium, and fiber. The potassium in bananas, for example, lowers tension in the walls of your blood vessels. It also helps get rid of sodium -- which raises blood pressure -- through your urine.

Since fruit is sweet, it makes a good substitute for less healthy desserts. Look for fresh, frozen, or canned versions of these fruits that pack a lot of potassium, magnesium, and fiber:

• Apples
• Apricots
• Cantaloupe
• Raspberries
• Oranges (in moderation -- this fruit’s high in sugar)
• Pears
• Prunes

If you buy canned fruit, make sure it’s packed in water or natural juices, not syrup. And also check to see that there’s no added sugar or salt.

Stock up on these veggies that are rich in potassium, magnesium, and fiber.

Like fruit, vegetables are full of potassium, magnesium, and fiber that help bring your blood pressure down. Keep in mind, you may need to eat more than you normally would for them to have an effect. The DASH plan recommends 4 to 5 servings of vegetables a day. From breakfast to dinner, that might look like 1 cup of raw spinach, half a cup of steamed broccoli, and 6 ounces of vegetable juice.

There are plenty of ways to work vegetables into your day: Throw spinach into your smoothie; eat a salad with dinner; munch on carrot sticks at lunch.

Stock up on these veggies that are rich in potassium, magnesium, and fiber:

• Artichokes
• Avocado
• Butternut squash
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cauliflower
• Green peas
• Leafy greens
• Mushrooms
• Okra
• Sweet potatoes
• Pumpkin
• Tomatoes

Whole grains are full of dietary fiber.

Bread, cereal, pasta, and other foods with carbs and starches can come in whole grain or refined grain versions. Whole grains are full of dietary fiber. That’s why they’re a lot better for your body than foods made with refined white flour. Switch to whole-grain versions of foods you already eat. For example, go for whole wheat bread rather than white. Choose brown rice over white.

Shopping tip: Some packaged foods contain a “whole grain” seal. If you don’t see it, check the ingredient list. If the first ingredient listed contains the word “whole,” that item likely contains mostly whole grain.

Look for whole grain versions of these foods:

• Bread
• Cereal
• Granola
• Pasta
• Oatmeal
• Crackers
• Flour
• Corn tortillas

Low-fat dairy products including milk give you calcium, vitamin D, and protein without the extra fat.

Low-fat and fat-free dairy products give you calcium, vitamin D, and protein without the extra fat. Calcium helps with blood pressure because it tells your blood vessels to contract and release.

To pack in as many nutrients as possible, look for ways to combine dairy with fruits or grains -- like berries with Greek yogurt and nuts, or whole grain crackers topped with low-fat cheddar.

Shop for low-fat versions of:

• Cottage cheese
• Cream cheese
• Cheese
• Milk
• Yogurt, plain or Greek

Nuts, Seeds, and Beans Good for Blood Pressure

You get a big boost of magnesium when you eat nuts, seeds, and beans. This essential nutrient regulates your blood pressure and helps blood vessels relax.

Foods in this category also have fiber and plant compounds that protect you from heart disease and some cancers. They’re an easy, portable snack and also make great salad toppings.

Look for low or no-salt versions of:

• Almonds
• Black beans
• Cashews
• Lentils
• Kidney beans
• Peanuts
• Pistachios
• Pumpkin seeds
• Sunflower kernels