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At this point most of us are aware that there is a very strong link between a diet that is healthy and general good health. What many of us may not be as aware of, however, is that the foods that we choose to eat, or even not to eat, can have a direct effect on our blood pressure.
Individuals who are either overweight, or obese, run a much higher risk of having high blood pressure. A great many studies over the years have proven that even dangerously high blood pressure can be significantly reduced simply by losing weight.
The best way to lose weight is by moving around more by exercising which will burn off more calories daily. A good beginning is to exercise regularly at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Exercise, along with being aware of how many calories you are eating, will do the trick and help you both lose weight and lower high blood pressure.
One word of caution: If you are not now exercising and are overweight, it is a good idea to discuss a healthy weight loss plan with your medical practitioner prior to beginning an exercise program that may be too vigorous.
Before beginning a diet keep a food diary for a week or two to see what your current calorie intake is now with the food you normally eat. When asked to estimate their normal daily calorie intake, most people tend to underestimate the number quite a bit. Keeping an accurate record of everything you eat for a little while will give you a true picture on how much you are really eating and where cutting back by reducing calories will have the most affect.
Medical professionals agree that the less sodium in your diet, the better your blood pressure will be. Blood pressure is very much affected by the foods and how much sodium you have in your diet.
To help lower your blood pressure, and to lose weight, your diet should not have too much red meat, starches, and sodium. Fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, poultry, and some lean meat are good sources of potassium, dietary fiber, and magnesium, all of which help to reduce blood pressure.
Choosing the right mix of foods for your daily meal plan, also counting the calories associated with those foods, and following a reasonable exercise program will all be quite helpful in reducing your blood pressure and reducing your weight as well.
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A very good addition to any diet is chia seed. Classified by the FDA is a whole, raw food, chia seed is the best of the cholesterol lowering foods and is also rich in other beneficial nutrients and minerals such as Potassium, Iron, Calcium,and Selenium.
Stop by to visit Chia Benefits.net and learn more about this amazing dietary supplement.
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