Foods That Lower Blood Pressure: 6 Things That Will Surprise You

If you are trying to avoid taking medication for hypertension, there are some foods that help lower blood pressure.

Incorporate these six foods into your diet to ward off hypertension, reducing your risk of other chronic health conditions.

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1. Garlic
Joe Leech, a registered dietician and sports nutrition expert, writes in Bodybuilding that garlic has been shown to reduce blood pressure and can even help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. He recommends eating at least two cloves of garlic each day or up to 1200 milligrams if you prefer a supplement.

2. White beans
According to Prevention magazine, while lowering sodium intake is important for heart health, adding other nutrients like magnesium, potassium, and calcium is just as important. Just one cup of cooked white beans provides a generous amount of all three nutrients.

3. Beets
Berkeley Wellness summarizes the results of a 2013 study conducted in Australia: Participants who drank beet juice were observed to have lower systolic blood pressure after 24 hours.

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4. Hibiscus tea
Hibiscus tea and its effects on blood pressure were studied in 2010 at Tufts University, says Berkeley Wellness. Study subjects who drank three servings of the tea daily for six weeks saw reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. One reason for this outcome may be the high levels of antioxidants so prevalent in hibiscus tea.

5. Dark chocolate
Chocoholics can rejoice in the findings of a 2010 meta-analysis, says Berkeley Health. Consuming dark chocolate rich in flavanols can help lower blood pressure in part because it is believed to widen blood vessels to ease the flow of blood through them.

6. Tree nuts
Unlike peanuts, which grow underground, nuts like cashew and almonds grow on trees and are among the best foods that lower blood pressure, explains Leech. These nuts are very high in magnesium. Magnesium deficiency is common and contributes to hypertension.

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