High blood pressure affects one in four people in the UK and can lead to serious complications including stroke and heart attack if left untreated. The best way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have your reading regularly checked. Your GP and pharmacist can do this for you, or you can buy a blood pressure monitor to use at home. But the best form of prevention from the life-threatening complications of high blood pressure is to make some simple lifestyle changes, such as watching what you eat.
Mung beans, a member of the legume family, cultivated in East and Southeast Asia, have been shown to reduce blood pressure
Eating a healthy diet is recommended to prevent or reduce high blood pressure.
As a general rule, experts recommend cutting down on the amount of salt in food and eating plenty of fruit and vegetables.
But individual foods have also been proven to hold blood pressure-lowering properties.
Mung beans, a member of the legume family, cultivated in East and Southeast Asia, have been shown to reduce blood pressure.
As well as being a good source of potassium, mung beans are rich in magnesium and fibre – nutrients that have been found to significantly lower the risk of high blood pressure.
An analysis of eight studies also showed higher intakes of legumes, such as beans, lowered blood pressure in both adults with and without high blood pressure.
More specifically, test-tube and animal studies have shown certain mung bean proteins can suppress enzymes that naturally raise blood pressure.
Studies in rats have also suggested sprout extracts may help lower blood pressure.
Mung beans are versatile and are typically eating in salads, soups and stir-drys.
Alongside reducing blood pressure, other benefits associated with mung beans include reducing heart stroke, lowering cholesterol, lowering blood sugar levels and aiding digestive health.
As well as eating a healthy diet, being active plays a key role in keeping blood pressure in check.
The NHS explains: “Being active and taking regular exercise lowers blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition.
“Regular exercise can also help you lose weight, which will also help lower your blood pressure.
“Adults should do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as cycling or fast walking, every week.
“Physical activity can include anything from sport to walking and gardening.”
Other lifestyle changes that can be made to lower blood pressure include cutting down on caffeine, stopping smoking, limiting alcohol intake, losing weight if overweight, and getting a good night’s sleep.
Some experts believe taking supplements can help lower blood pressure.
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