Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Research shows some drinks lower blood pressure high and supports health heart. So, what are the drinks to lower high blood pressure?
When blood pressure is not controlled, it can cause complications such as heart disease and stroke.
One of the first lines of defense against high blood pressure or hypertension is diet. Adopting a blood pressure friendly diet can help keep your blood pressure within a healthy range without the side effects caused by medications.
Apart from food, several types of drinks can also help lower blood pressure.
High blood pressure usually develops over time and can be caused by a poor diet, lack of physical activity, and certain health conditions, including diabetes and obesity.
It is important to treat high blood pressure, as it can increase the risk of many other conditions, including heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.
Launching Healthline, here are some delicious drinks that can help lower blood pressure.
1. Beet juice
This colorful, low-calorie vegetable not only contains a number of health-promoting vitamins, minerals and plant compounds, it may also help lower blood pressure.
A 2016 study found that raw and cooked beetroot juice lowered blood pressure risk. However, uncooked beetroot juice had a greater effect on blood pressure.
Beets are rich in dietary nitrates, compounds known to have blood pressure-lowering effects. In a 2017 review, researchers found that these benefits outweighed the effects of nitrates alone.
2. Tomato juice
Growing evidence suggests that drinking one glass of tomato juice per day can improve heart health.
In a 2019 study, Japanese researchers evaluated the effects of drinking an average of one cup of tomato juice per day among participants with risk factors for heart disease.
They concluded that tomato juice can reduce the risk of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as LDL cholesterol. Other recent studies have reported similar results among people with stage 1 hypertension and pregnant women.
Be sure to consume tomato juice without additives to avoid unnecessary levels of sodium, which can have an inverse effect on blood pressure.
3. Pomegranate juice
Not only rich in nutrients like folate and vitamin C, pomegranates also have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. It’s perhaps no surprise that pomegranate juice can contribute to a heart-healthy diet.
A 2017 literature review found that consuming pomegranate juice can help lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The effect on systolic blood pressure was independent of how long participants consumed pomegranate juice and how much.
Be sure to consume pomegranate juice without added sugar.
