If you are looking to lower your blood pressure the natural way, with minimal use of pharmaceutical drugs, look no further than the DASH Diet. This diet consists of low-sodium, high-fiber foods rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Studies show that people consuming a diet low in sodium had lower blood pressure levels. Sodium intake should be limited to the lowest possible – 1500 milligrams per day. For more on the Dash Diet, refer to the lesson on “Recipes for Hypertension.” There are numerous reasons why the Dash Diet works – it’s in the vegetables!

It's All About the Veggies!

There are a number of everyday vegetables and spices that have beneficial effects in controlling high blood pressure. You can incorporate these into your cooking, or make a vegetable soup or teas.

First off, there is celery. This common vegetable has been used by oriental medicine practitioners for years for lowering high blood pressure. Some experimental evidence shows that celery is very useful for this. In one study using laboratory animals, celery extract was injected and it helped lower their blood pressure. Eat as few as four celery stalks per day and it could prove beneficial in lowering your blood pressure.

Next, there is onion – a cousin of garlic. The best thing is the onion essential oil. Try two or three tablespoons of onion essential oil a day, and it could lower your systolic levels by an average of 25 points and your diastolic levels by 15 points.

Then there’s the tomato, which is high in gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), a compound that can help lower blood pressure.

Broccoli and carrots are vegetables containing several active ingredients, and also share the same effect.

Spice Things Up!

As for spices, start with saffron, a popular spice in Arabic cooking. Although it is very expensive, this spice is also favored for its heavenly flavor in Indian teas. Saffron contains a chemical called crocetin that lowers the blood pressure. There is a variety of assorted spices that all contain active ingredients which are beneficial in reducing hypertensive symptoms. Fennel, oregano, black pepper, basil and tarragon have this effect and they add flavor to your cooking.