If you're above the age of 35, chances are good you may have already been warned about the dangers of hypertension, or high blood pressure. Hypertension is a condition that occures when the force of the blood on the arteries' walls is strong, which eventually creates health problems, especially those connected to heart disease.       

Our blood pressure is mainly dependant on our blood vessels. When they narrow, the blood pressure will be high (just like a garden hose being squeezed sends water more strongly). The normal blood pressure should be 120/80. 

 

Symptoms of hypertension

Unfortunately, many people won't show signs of hypertension, and it will only become evident when they either go through a test or have a health related problem. 

 

Common symptoms include: Mild headaches, Dizziness, nosebleeds, shortness of breath and vision problems.

 

Common causes of high blood pressure

- Kidney problems

- Age

- Obesity

- Stress

- Lack of exercise

- Use of certain drugs (cocaine for example, alcohol for another)

- certain medication (cold remedies, birth control pills, pain relievers etc.)

- sleep apnea

However, there are a great many cases of hypertension with unknown underlying reasons, perhaps genetic, and they can be controlled effecitvely with certain home remedies and lifestyle changes. 

 

Home Remedies that will lower your blood pressure: 

1. Lemon Water  

Lemon softens your blood vessels, and this will lower your blood pressure. In addition, the vitamin B will help keep your heart healthy.

 

Add 2 tablespoon of lemon juice to a glass of hot water, drink it on an empty stomach. Try to drink 5-6 glasses of fresh lemon water every day. It would be best to drink lemon juice without any sugar or salt, you can always add a little honey if the taste is a bit too bitter.

 

2. Ginger Juice with Cumin

Mix a teaspoon of cumin powder with a honey and ginger juice mixture to create blood pressure remedy. Add 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger juice to a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of cumin powder. Mix well. Consume this twice a day to lower your blood pressure.

 

3. Garlic

Garlic is a very common home remedy that reduces the cholesterol levels in our body, which is one of the main causes of high blood pressure. Garlic contains hydrogen sulfide, a compound that is essential to good blood flow.

 To effectively lower your blood pressure, eat 5-6 pods of fresh garlic every day, on an empty stomach. You can also extract the juice of the garlic by crushing about 10 pods of it. Add 5-6 drops of garlic juice to four teaspoons of water and drink twice a day.

 

4. Watermelon seeds

Watermelon seeds contain a substance called cucurbocitrin. This material help widen the blood capillaries in your body and take down the hypertension levels. It also helps to fight off arthritis and kidney diseases.

 

Start by taking two tablespoons of dried seeds and crushing them gently. These add to a cup of boiling water. Leave it in the cup for about an hour and slightly stir it so it mixes with the water all the way. Strain it and drink 4 tablespoons of this water every hour of the day for quick results.  

 

5. Curry Leaves

Curry leaves contain many medicinal properties and were found to be effective in treating high blood pressure.

 

Boil 25-30 leaves in a cup of water. Let it simmer down to room temperature and strain away the leaves. Drink this concotion early in the morning on an empty stomach.

6. Celery Leaves

A substance called 3-N-butylphthalide (try saying that 3 times fast) is found in high amounts in celery leaves and is a compound that can really help drasitaclly lower your blood pressure, as well as reducing the stress hormones that are causing the blood vessels to constrict in the first place.

 

Add one or more stalks of celery (or celery leaves) and make a daily vegetable salad that will help you really reduce that blood pressure. When consuming the celery, also add a glass of water for better results.

 

7. Onion Juice

A recent study has found that giving people suffering from hypertension reduced their condition considerably, compared to a placebo group. Researchers think a compound named quercetin may be responsible for this.

 

Try to eat at least one raw onion a day. Extract the juice of the onion and add a teaspoon of it to a teaspoon of honey. Drink this twice a day, every day to lower your blood pressure.

8. Fenugreek Seeds

Make a paste out of fenugreek seeds that is said to be very useful in the battle against high blood pressure.

 

Take 1-2 teaspoons of seeds and boil them in water for about 3-4 minutes. Straing the seeds and crush them (or use a blender) to make a smooth paste. Consume this amount every day twice: morning and evening, and always on an empty stomach. Your hypertension should begin to lower in 2-3 months time.

 

9. Bananas

Bananas have zero cholesterol and are low on sodium. Try to eat at least 2 of them a day or add them to your meals. Other foods that are good for high blood pressure: Orange juice, spinach, baked sweet potatoes and raisins.