6 foods that could help lower blood pressure


LearnHeartWhat you need to know about heart failure6 foods that could help lower blood pressure
Salmon and trout
Greek yogurt
Leafy greens
Dark chocolate
Colorful potatoes
Bananas

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If you’re one of the 119.9 million adults in the United States living with high blood pressure, it’s vital to adopt a few heart-healthy habits. Getting enough exercise, managing your stress, and checking your blood pressure regularly are good first steps to getting it under control, along with taking any medications as prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Another helpful healthy habit? Eating your way to better heart health. Foods that are rich in nutrients and low in sodium can help lower blood pressure naturally—and it doesn’t hurt if they taste good, too. Try incorporating these foods into your diet to lower blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Preventi... + 19
  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High Blood Pressure: Facts About Hypertension. Last reviewed January 5, 2023.
  2. Mayo Clinic. Omega-3 in fish: How eating fish helps your heart. April 19, 2022.
  3. Buendia JR, Bradlee ML, Singer MR, Moore LL. Diets Higher in Protein Predict Lower High Blood Pressure Risk in Framingham Offspring Study Adults, American Journal of Hypertension, Volume 28, Issue 3, March 2015, Pages 372–379.
  4. Buendia JR, Li Y, Hu FB, et al. Regular Yogurt Intake and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Among Hypertensive Adults, American Journal of Hypertension, Volume 31, Issue 5, May 2018, Pages 557–565.
  5. He J, Wofford MR, Reynolds K, et al. Effect of dietary protein supplementation on blood pressure: a randomized, controlled trial. Circulation. 2011 Aug 2;124(5):589-95.
  6. Lee HJ, Cho JI, Lee HS, et al. Intakes of dairy products and calcium and obesity in Korean adults: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) 2007-2009. PLoS One. 2014 Jun 10;9(6):e99085.
  7. Bondonno CP, Dalgaard F, Blekkenhorst LC, et al. Vegetable nitrate intake, blood pressure and incident cardiovascular disease: Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Study. Eur J Epidemiol. 2021 Aug;36(8):813-825.
  8. Cleveland Clinic. 6 Types of Foods That Lower Blood Pressure. March 11, 2022.
  9. Garcia LC, Hernandez ANM. Beneficial effects of cocoa and dark chocolate polyphenols on health. FASEB Journal. Supplement: Experimental Biology 2020 Meeting Abstracts. April 2020.
  10. Shaw K, Singh J, Sirant L, et al. Effect of Dark Chocolate Supplementation on Tissue Oxygenation, Metabolism, and Performance in Trained Cyclists at Altitude. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2020 Sep 11:1-7.
  11. Ahmad A, Dempsey SK, Daneva Z, et al. Role of Nitric Oxide in the Cardiovascular and Renal Systems. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Sep 3;19(9):2605.
  12. Vinson JA, Demkosky CA, Navarre DA, Smyda MA. High-antioxidant potatoes: acute in vivo antioxidant source and hypotensive agent in humans after supplementation to hypertensive subjects. J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Jul 11;60(27):6749-54.
  13. Tsang C, Smail NF, Almoosawi S, et al. Antioxidant Rich Potato Improves Arterial Stiffness in Healthy Adults. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2018 Sep;73(3):203-208.
  14. Im YR, Kim I, Lee J. Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Purple Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.): Varietal Comparisons and Physical Distribution. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Mar 16;10(3):462.
  15. Jokioja J, Yang B, Linderborg KM. Acylated anthocyanins: A review on their bioavailability and effects on postprandial carbohydrate metabolism and inflammation. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2021 Nov;20(6):5570-5615.
  16. Lila MA. Anthocyanins and Human Health: An In Vitro Investigative Approach. J Biomed Biotechnol. 2004;2004(5):306-313.
  17. American Heart Association. How Potassium Can Help Control High Blood Pressure. Last reviewed Oct 31, 2016.
  18. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salt: Effects of Sodium and Potassium. January 31, 2024.
  19. Levings JL, Gunn JP. The imbalance of sodium and potassium intake: implications for dietetic practice. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014 Jun;114(6):838-841.
  20. Cleveland Clinic. 10 Foods That Are High in Potassium. February 24, 2021.
Written by Christina Donnelly.
Medically reviewed by Mark Arredondo, MD.September, 2024
Updated onAugust, 2026

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