Nuts and Seeds That Can Lower Your Blood Pressure

If you are one of the millions of people who have hypertension, you are probably into your maintenance or rigid diet to maintain your pressure stable or else you will have complications. Eating the right food can help stabilise your blood pressure. Medication also helps but would it be nice to enjoy good food that actually help reduce your blood pressure rather than limit your intake to bland food and very less sodium?

Here are some nuts and seeds that you can add to your meals or even snack on them for healthier reasons than grabbing the chips and sodas you can see. These nuts and seeds are not only tasty, they are also packed with vitamins and nutrients that help your arteries and blood pressure. Add them on your salad, sandwich spreads and even on oats!

Sunflower seeds

Sunflower seeds are rich in Vitamin E, the fat soluble vitamin which aids in the absorption of Vitamin K that helps in the production of red blood cells.

Pumpkin seeds

These green seeds contain high amounts of magnesium. Magnesium helps in relaxing blood vessels and it is also responsible in balancing the levels of sodium and calcium in our body.

Cashew nuts

Cashew has lower fat content than other nuts. It contains oleic acid which is the good monounsaturated fat similarly found in olive oils that helps improve heart conditions.

Almond nuts

Almonds protect artery walls. It helps lower bad cholesterol levels and improves heart conditions.



(Photos not mine. Credit to the owners)

Ginkgo Biloba's Health Benefits

Photo credit: femside.com

Ginkgo Biloba is commonly associated to providing positive effects to help in the prevention of ailments such as Dementia, Alzheimers, Tinnitus, Cardiovascular diseases, High Blood Pressure and Retinal issues. Aside from those preventative measures, it also helps relieve a woman's journey to menopause since Ginkgo Biloba has estrogenic activities which can be used as an alternative hormone replacement  therapy. It also helps migraine and premenstrual syndrome sufferers as it helps in blood circulation which is good for migraines.

It is also one of the oldest plant and known for its beautiful fan-shaped leaves that provide nutrients and contains chemicals like flavonoids and terpenoids. Those chemicals are good and potent antioxidants which help in preventing maladies.

You can buy Ginkgo Biloba supplements and can be taken  daily. However, pregnant and nursing women, those taking blood thinning medications or any anti-depressants.  When taking Ginkgo Biloba, you should consult with your physician first.

Prescribed Medications

I am fully aware of the numerous parties and the eating I will have this holiday season that my medications are on stand-by. I am regularly taking my hypertension medication and for my cholesterol. I am very careful of the food intake at this time because of the many temptations around me. I don't want to end up eating too much and putting my medications off track because of the binges. My doctor's appointment is not too far from now too so I better be careful and have those numbers in check or else, my doctor will prescribe more medications for me. Of course, I don't want to end up having too many prescribed drugs for fear of prescription drug abuse addiction or relying too much in the aid of various medication.

It's really tough facing this festive season without taking into consideration my health. I just have to keep reminding myself that I want my blood test to come out good in terms of lower cholesterol and uric acid levels. That way, I don't really have to keep taking medications for my hypertension and high uric acid.

Bed Rest

I am on a 3-day bed rest while I recuperate from acute sinusitis and hypertension. I went to the doctor (finally!) yesterday because I couldn't stand the pressure on my nasal cavity and I was feeling feverish already. That could only mean one thing, I needed my antibiotics whether I liked it or not.

I waited for 45 minutes before being called in the doctor's office. Both myself and the doctor were surprised to see my blood pressure to read as 143/100. That was way too high.

So, I am back to my antibiotics, anti-allergy and hypertension meds again. I also have to wait for the result of my blood test for everything that could possibly causing my hypertension and inability to lose weight inspite of the exercise regimen and low-sodium diet.

Am I going through menopause?!? I am praying that my renal test is also okay. I drink a lot of water and certainly not a salty food junkie but I'm really scared.

Great Recipe for High Blood Pressure

I chanced upon this great recipe for high blood pressure. I will definitely benefit from this because I have HBP. Check it out and try it for yourself. I will probably head to the nearest market after I post this. ;)

Mixed Lettuce, Fennel and Orange Salad 

with Black Olive Vinaigrette

• 1 tablespoon(s) red-wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon(s) lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon(s) Dijon mustard
• 2 clove(s) garlic, minced
• 1/8 teaspoon(s) salt, or to taste
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup(s) extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup(s) Kalamata olives, pitted and coarsely chopped
• 1 tablespoon(s) chopped fresh parsley
• 3 medium navel or Valencia oranges
• 10 cup(s) mixed lettuces, such as chicory, radicchio, and lettuce
• 2 head(s) Belgian endive, sliced
• 2 bulb(s) fennel, trimmed and sliced

Procedure:

1. To prepare vinaigrette: Whisk vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in oil. Stir in olives and parsley.
2. To prepare salad: Using a sharp knife, remove peel and white pith from oranges. Quarter the oranges; slice pieces crosswise.
3. Just before serving, combine lettuces, endive, fennel, and the orange slices in a large bowl. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to coat well.

(Source: Realage.com/Eatingwell.com)