If you suffer from high blood pressure there is a strong chance you will develop cardiovascular disease therefore leading a lifestyle that takes care of your heart is the best defence against developing high blood pressure. There are a number of supplements that can certainly help you in this healthful endeavour.
High blood pressure increases the work load on your heart, it has to pump harder to get the blood around the body because of the narrowing of the blood vessels. This is the process that leads to a heart attack.
There is a general consensus between experts in the field that the better strategy for dealing with high blood pressure is to concentrate on diet rather than concentrating on specific things to stop blood pressure rocketing.
One way you can support a dietary approach is to take certain supplements - supplements a growing body of research is putting forward as having blood pressure lowering benefits.
Pycnogenol®
Pycnogenol® is a natural plant extract derived from the bark of the French Maritime Pine tree, one of its major fields of application is in heart health and circulation. Research has found that Pycnogenol® helps individuals maintain healthy circulation by increasing vasodialation of blood vessels, thus improving blood flow. Pycnogenol® helps make blood platelets less sticky, helping to reduce blood clots.
Studies have also shown that Pycnogenol® enhances the body’s own response to counteract blood vessel constriction. Normalizing blood vessel diameter naturally helps maintain blood pressure that is already in the normal range.
The health benefits of Pycnogenol® are attributed to the fact that its a very powerful antioxidant, it acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and aids in the production of endothelial nitric oxide which helps to dilate blood vessels.
Potassium
Potassium helps for regulate high blood pressure by counteracting the negative effects of salt. Too much salt in your system increases your blood pressure but potassium flushes it out of the body. While you can find potassium in spinach and tomatoes for example research has found that potassium supplements helped decrease both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
If you're wondering which one is a better indicator of circulatory health its systolic blood pressure as that is the one that measures pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats. Diastolic measures pressure when your heart rests.
Dietary Fibre
Dietary fibre is becoming increasingly recognised as being crucial to our general good health and includes a group of plant based carbohydrates such as wholegrains, berries, pulses and nuts and seeds.
A diet focused on lots of fibre-rich food as been shown to lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure which are both markers of heart disease.
Scientific evidence has also found that taking dietary fibre supplements may lower both diastolic and systolic blood pressure.
Exercise
Another sure fire way of reducing blood pressure is to combine your heart healthy diet with plenty of regular exercise. And if you're overweight then losing weight is also key - as the NHS explains being overweight means that your heart has to work harder to pump blood around your body which in turn raises blood pressure.
Related Supplements
In Stock
from £29.95
- From the bark of the maritime pine tree
- One of the most powerful antioxidants
- 40mg of extract per capsule
- Trees grown sustainably & pesticide free
In Stock
from £23.45
- 95% glucomannan extract
- Naturally-sourced from Konjac
- Contributes to weight loss
- Easy to swallow capsule
A healthy balanced diet is the best way to consume all the nutrients we need. Sometimes however this isn't possible and then supplements can help. This article isn't intended to replace medical advice. Please consult your healthcare professional before trying any supplements or herbal medicines.