Blood pressure expresses the force of blood against the walls of your arteries. If this force is consistently too high, it becomes a health condition that can eventually lead to heart problems. Here’s how you could reduce your high blood pressure.
American Heart Association shares that the snack which could help is apricot.
The sweet and juicy fruit not only contributes to your five-a-day, it can also help to lower your reading.
The reason why apricot is beneficial for hypertension is a mineral called potassium.
Apart from contributing to essential functions in the body, potassium plays a role in blood pressure reduction.
DON’T MISS:
There are various parts to this reduction, one being the role of potassium in how much fluid is kept in your body.
If your body holds onto fluid, this also means that there will be more fluid in your blood.
And this can put pressure against your artery walls, increasing your high blood pressure, Blood Pressure UK explains.
To get rid of excess fluid from your body, there needs to be a balance of sodium and potassium.
Apricots contain about 259 milligrams of potassium, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
So, they can contribute to your daily potassium intake.
What counts as a high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is considered to be 140/90 millimetres of mercury (mmHg) or anything above, according to the NHS.
Blood pressure is recorded with two numbers – systolic pressure (the higher number) and diastolic pressure (the lower number).
The only reliable way to find out your blood pressure is by having a reading.