If you have high blood pressure (hypertension) you may not want to take prescription drugs to lower it. Here are a few tips on some natural ways of lowering your blood pressure.

Normal blood pressure for adults is listed at 120 over 80. Any level above that reading will raise your risk. But if you have readings in the 140-159 over 90-99 range you are considered in the high blood pressure stage 1. Readings of 160 and higher over 100 or higher are stage 2. The second stage is very critical but even in stage 1 you need to do something to bring your readings down.

Black people tend to get more severe hypertension then white people do. They also get it at an earlier age. Approximately 40 percent of black people have it. If your mom or dad had it there's a pretty good chance that you may get it also. Men usually get it between the ages of 35 and 55. Women mainly get it after menopause but some develop it before then.

People that have a bmi of 30 or more are in the obesity range and have a higher risk of having hypertension. If you drink too much alcohol or use too much salt in your diet it may raise your risk. Salt is usually found in canned goods, breads and other baked goods. Be careful not too use too much of salt alternatives because they may throw off your potassium and salt levels in your body.

If you have diabetes or even if you have a lot of stress in your life these can cause you to have hypertension. Too relieve some of the stress you may want to learn meditation as a way to help you relax.

You should increase your intake of potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin c, calcium and magnesium to help lower your high blood pressure. Eat more fruit. The fiber from fruit like blueberries, peaches and strawberries works better than vegetable and cereal fiber for lowering systolic blood pressure. Eating bananas will give you more potassium and drinking skimmed milk will also.

You need to start exercising regularly to help you keep your weight down and to help with your circulation. By living a healthier lifestyle and using some of the above tips you may find that you can lower your high blood pressure naturally.