Three tasty foods that can help lower high blood pressure
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A diet that supports healthy blood pressure doesn’t mean giving up tasty food. Many of our favorite products contain nutrients that naturally help lower blood pressure.
Which three delicious foods can reduce high blood pressure — read in RBC-Ukraine’s material.
Dark chocolate
Good news for those with a sweet tooth! Eating dark chocolate can help normalize blood pressure thanks to its flavanols. Flavanols are natural compounds in cocoa that promote relaxation and widening of blood vessels, which in turn lowers blood pressure.
One study showed that dark chocolate consumption reduces both systolic and diastolic pressure, with the most noticeable effect in people with high or elevated blood pressure. Cocoa flavanols help vessels relax and expand, improving blood flow and lowering internal pressure. For maximum benefit, choose dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content.
Strawberries
The studies show that regular strawberry consumption may help lower blood pressure thanks to a combination of beneficial compounds. Strawberries contain flavonoids such as anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, which improve blood circulation and reduce pressure. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, while vitamin B9 supports red blood cell production.
Both vitamins help maintain healthy blood pressure. In addition, strawberries are rich in fiber, which lowers pressure and reduces the risk of heart disease. Potassium also plays a role by counteracting sodium and relaxing arterial walls.
Swiss cheese
You don’t need to give up cheese for heart health — you just need to choose the right type. Swiss cheese can benefit blood pressure because of its low sodium content (about 53 mg per ounce). A low-salt diet is recommended for reducing high blood pressure.
This cheese is also rich in calcium, essential for heart health, and contains bioactive peptides — small protein components that help relax blood vessels. Research has shown that these peptides have blood-pressure-lowering properties.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
