High blood pressure: Amazing 55p vegetable may help cure the condition
HIGH blood pressure symptoms include a severe headache, fatigue and chest pain. If left untreated it can cause more dangerous health complications, such as heart attacks and strokes. Luckily, the high levels can be brought down by eating different fruits and vegetables, such as celery.
High blood pressure: NHS doctor explains causes
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the largest known risk factor for heart disease and related conditions in the UK. It already affects more than one in four adults nationally, with 30 per cent of them living in more deprived neighbourhoods.
The condition has a variety of causes, often linked to lifestyle and diet. The NHS says that people who are overweight, eat too much salt, don’t exercise enough, smoke and drink too much alcohol may have an “increased risk”.
Fortunately, taking action to combat these and lower your blood pressure will reduce risks to your health.
“There is robust evidence that action to lower blood pressure does reduce the risk to health,” says Public Health England.
A study published in The Lancet journal two years ago found that for every 10mmHg reduction in blood pressure there was a 13 per cent death risk reduction, alongside a 28 per cent drop in the risk of developing heart failure, 27 per cent for stroke, and 17 per cent for coronary heart disease.
There are many different ways to reduce blood pressure including taking more exercise, and changing your diet to include less salt.
Dr Josh Axe, a clinical nutritionist, you should try eating celery to slash blood pressure levels.
“You probably know by now that you burn more calories eating celery than you consume,” he said on his website.
“But did you know that it’s good for high blood pressure?
“Every time you eat celery, its nutrients help to keep high blood pressure in check.
“The good news is that high blood pressure can usually be reversed naturally, specifically through lifestyle changes and consuming foods that lower blood pressure,” he added.
Celery contains the chemical phthalates, or NBP, which may relax the tissues of the artery walls to increase blood flow, reducing blood pressure, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It also contains low amounts of salt, and high fibre, magnesium and potassium.
Dr Axe suggests that celery should be consumed cooked, rather than raw.
The more cooked celery consumed, the higher the drop in blood pressure, was a 2014 conclusion from work published in the Journal of Human Hypertension. Studying the diets of 2,195 Americans aged between 40 - 59, the scientists found a blood pressure drop of -1.9 mmHg when 92 grams of cooked vegetables were consumed.
Another study published 2013 in Journal of Medicinal Food found that eating a small amount of celery seed extract reduced blood pressure. The tests, carried out on 54 rats, showed drops in blood pressure by up to 38 mmHg. It was not clear if the results could be replicated on humans.
Celery can be bought for as little as 55p at many UK supermarkets. It is easily cooked by being placed in boiling water for 10 to 12 minutes, until the stems become tender.
Dr Axe also suggested eating other foods to reduce blood pressure including tomatoes, pomegranate juice and pistachios, which all may help to lower blood pressure.
“If you’re at risk for high blood pressure or have already started experiencing high levels, implementing natural ways to lower blood pressure and eating these foods that lower blood pressure is a great place to start,” said Dr Axe.
Other products including apple cider vinegar and mushrooms can also help lower blood pressure.
A Japanese study found taking red reishi mushroom extracts for six months word average blood pressure by 19/10mmHg.
High blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher, and ideal blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg.