Natural Health Alternatives

Hypertension is a problem that touches the lives of many Americans, and it is often the result of poor diet, lack of exercise and genetic predisposition. Hypertension occurs when the heart is forced to work harder to pump blood through the arteries of the body, which have become clogged with arterial plaque. While high blood pressure cannot be cured entirely, it can be controlled and managed safely through lifestyle changes and prescription medications.

Doctors often recommend that hypertension sufferers adhere to a high blood pressure diet. There are four cornerstones of such a diet plan: cutting back on sodium, increasing potassium, limiting calories and exercising. It’s easy enough to avoid high-sodium snack foods and frozen dinners rich in preservatives. Potassium can be gleaned from bananas, orange juice, raisins and yogurt.