Remember when everyone thought it was okay if your blood pressure increased with age? Well, that’s all changed now. Here’s what the American Heart Association has to say:
“High blood pressure should be treated earlier with lifestyle changes and in some patients with medication – at 130/80 mm Hg rather than 140/90 – based on new American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for the detection, prevention, management and treatment of high blood pressure .Nov 13, 2017”
Notice they’re recommending lifestyle changes as the best way to treat high blood pressure. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been on blood pressure meds a couple of times, and the side effects started dragging me down within a few days. So here’s the good news about that. Recent studies at UCLA have shown that you can lower your blood pressure in as little as three days to three weeks by doing three things:
1 Exercise
2. Decrease sodium intake
3. Increase potassium intake by consuming more fruits and vegetables
Apparently, you don’t need to exercise all that much—maybe a fifteen minute walk. The important thing is to do these things every day, and make them a part of your permanent lifestyle.
At lunchtime, try substituting a high sodium soup and sandwich with a high potassium fruit/yogurt smoothie
Fantastic Fruit Smoothie
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 banana
Handful of blueberries
10 seedless grapes
1/3 cup fresh pineapple chunks
Put all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth. Potassium: 600 mg. Calories: 175