Herbal Teas -Juices- And Soups That Lower High Blood Pressure

The truth is we all want to find alternatives to high blood pressure medications such as diets, exercises or special foods to lower blood pressure. The side effects that we experience can be worse than the actual high blood pressure problem itself.

Too many of us become non-compliant with the medications we are prescribed. As a result, we live with uncontrolled hypertension which is also dangerous. So what do we do if we want to lower and control our hypertension and yet be drug-free?

What we need to do is find solid alternatives to the problem. So today we want to look at three foods to lower blood pressure.

The Brews

When I talk about brews I am not talking about beer. So we will not be giving a review on “Guinness Stout, Amstel, Heineken, or Budweiser”. No. we are going to talk about teas. Brewing tea to lower high blood pressure. What types of teas, and how much to drink.

Hibiscus Tea

According to a 2013 study, drinking hibiscus tea greatly reduces blood pressure in those individuals whose blood pressure is slightly elevated. the authors of the study review, believe that anthocyanins and other antioxidants in hibiscus tea may work together to keep blood vessels resistant to damage that causes them to narrow.

Many herbal tea blends contain hibiscus, which brews up bright red and delivers a tart flavor. researchers recommend finding one you like and drinking three cups daily.

To get the full benefits of the hibiscus, steep for six minutes before drinking hot or cold. I like drinking it over ice with a twist of lemon.

Green Tea

In a study published in “Endocrine Abstracts“, researchers asked the participants to drink four cups of green tea per day for 14 days while also maintaining their current diet. Over the 14 day period their blood pressure reduced by an average of 7.1/7.8mmHg.

The researchers concluded that green tea can indeed lower blood pressure.The reason green tea is so effective at combating high blood pressure is the polyphenols it contains.The polyphenols are a group of powerful, plant based nutrients.

They can be sourced from a variety of foods but green tea is by far the richest source.Researchers found that men and women who drank tea on a daily basis for at least a year were much less likely to develop high blood pressure.

Hawthorne Berry Tea

Hawthorn tea might be very beneficial for people suffering from high blood pressure. You can prepare this tea by pouring about 250ml of boiling water over a teaspoon of hawthorn tea. Cover with a lid, leave it for about 10 minutes, then strain and drink. Drink three times a day.

You can find this tea in all healthy food stores and larger markets. It should be noted that Hawthorne Tea is a powerful diuretic. This increases the health also of kidney function. Drink this powerful tea on a day when you won’t be running errands.

Olive Leaf Tea

Much like willow bark, olive leaves have been used in medicine for centuries. It has been documented in ancient texts across multiple cultures.

In a double-blind, controlled study in humans, this formulation reduced systolic blood pressure by an average 11.5 points mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure by 4.8 points—in just eight weeks. Olive leaf tea and extract can help support healthy blood pressure.

Olive leaf tea is unique and tastes like nothing else. A light steeping delivers a satisfying mellow flavor. Longer steeping or brewing in a tea press creates a stronger infusion with a more bitter taste that can be mellowed with a slice of fresh lemon, stevia, honey, milk, sugar and other herbal flavorings. Drink 1 cup daily.

The Juices

Juices are also a very effective way to control blood pressure. When I am talking about juice I am not talking about commercially processed juices.

Commercial juices generally contain to much sugar and sodium. The best juices to drink are the ones you can make at home. Two juices that can be purchased in your local health or whole foods stores are pomegranate and cranberry. Ensure though that you purchase 100% juice. You usually have to cut down with water.

Pomegranate Juice

I really love drinking this juice. The crisp tartness of the juice is amazingly delicious. The explosion of interest in the ancient, sacred pomegranate fruit has led to hundreds of new scientific papers in the last few years.

Recent clinical trials have found that as little as 2 ounces of pomegranate juice a day lowers high blood pressure, improves cholesterol, and even decreases plaques in your arteries.

Beet Root Juice

In the morning I like to make beet juice with 2 carrots, 1 granny smith apple and 1 cucumber. It is very refreshing, a little sweet but is packed with inorganic nitrates. These cause the arteries to relax and open resulting in a lowered blood pressure.

One glass of beetroot juice a day is enough to significantly reduce blood pressure in patients with high blood pressure. Drinking 250ml beetroot juice a day can lower BP by 7.7/5.2mmHg – better than some anti-hypertensive drugs, research shows.

Celery Juice

Celery juice contains the compound 3-n-butylphtalide, or phthalide, which contributes to the vegetable’s taste and aroma. As a chemical affecting the body, phthalide helps relax the smooth muscles in the walls of the blood vessels, according to High Blood Pressure Info.

Blood pressure decreases as the blood vessels dilate and allow blood to flow easier and more freely. It is recommended that you juice at least 2-4 stalks daily. You can combine this with apple, carrot, and beetroot for a super juice.

Pineapple Juice

Pineapple juice reduces hypertension due to adequate presence of potassium and lesser amount of sodium. This proportion of potassium and sodium is the best way to combat high blood pressure.

A cup of pineapple juice contains about 1 milligram of sodium and 195 milligram of potassium. So, it is suggested that persons suffering from hypertension may take pineapple juice regularly. Pineapple is considered

Water

I know water isn’t a juice. But if you are trying to lower your blood pressure here are some things you should know. Drinking adequate amounts of water is, quite simply, one of the healthiest, cheapest, and most effective ways that you can help lower your blood pressure.

Chronic dehydration causes blood vessels to constrict, which helps the body conserve water by reducing water loss through perspiration, urination, and respiration. Most people have heard of the eight-glasses-a-day rule, even if they don’t abide by it. But that recommendation is just the minimum intake.

The Soups

Well instead of yelling at you, “No soup for you, come back in 1 year!” I will tell you yes soup for you to lower your blood pressure. We often overlook this food when it comes to taming the beast of high blood pressure so here are a few soup du jours for you to try.

Gazpacho Soup

Gazpacho is a popular cold soup typically made from tomato, cucumber, green peppers, garlic and olive oil and many of these ingredients protect against high blood pressure which is a major risk factor for heart attack or stroke.

By analyzing the diets of some 3995 Spanish individuals at high risk of heart disease, it was found that people who reported regularly consuming Gazpacho were much less likely to have high blood pressure (hypertension).

Chicken Soup

The soup, sometimes dubbed Grandma’s medicine, has been used as a folk remedy to cure all ills. But researchers have discovered that the chicken leg meat used to make the soup contains a chemical known as an ACE inhibitor, which lowers blood pressure.

These inhibitors reduce tension in muscles which in turn reduce the tension on blood vessels and the blood that runs through them. A caution to make this soup fresh at home. To many processed soups you buy in the store have an enormous amount of sodium in them.

Onion Soup

Onions contain prostaglandin A. This can dilate blood vessels, reduce blood vessel resistance, decrease blood viscosity and improve microcirculation, still does restrain the substance that increases blood pressure.

Onion skin contains quercetin, a plant pigment which can help reduce blood pressure and prevent arteries from clogging. So when you are cooking the soup don’t discard the skin. Add them to the soup while it is cooking and remove before serving.

Mung Bean Soup

Mung bean is botanically known as Vigna radiata and is equally known by other names such as; haricots moong,  mudga, judia mungo, mung-bohnen, and fagioli mungo.

Studies reveal that mung beans contain anti-hypertensive, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, consuming mung beans is considered effective for regulating lipid metabolism.

In addition, here is a short video about teas to lower blood pressure:

There is such a variety of juices, teas and other drinks to lower blood pressure that this article is just the beginning. We want to empower ourselves with knowledge, educating ourselves about different ways to naturally lower blood pressure.

Infographic of Drinks to lower blood pressure

Further Reading and Healthy Recipes:

• Eat these foods to lower blood pressure and cholesterol – click to read more…
• Eight foods that lower blood pressure – click to read more…
• A collection of heart healthy Recipes – click here to read more…