5 Foods that Help Lower Blood pressure that You Haven't Thought Of

If you are trying to manage your blood pressure with diet, you probably already know that bananas and other high potassium foods such as beans, sweet potatoes and leafy greens. But to really get the maximum benefit from diet, you should consider these other lesser known foods. By eating the right combination of foods, many people can achieve blood pressure drops comparable to those achieved using medication.

Here are five lesser known options that you can add to your hypertension-fighting diet.

1. Beets
    Nitric oxide (NO), on the other hand, acts as a signaling molecule,
    one that is typically beneficial to health. It gives signals to the
    cells in your arteries, telling them to soften and relax. This action
    greatly improves vasodilation, which reduces blood pressure. For
    this reason, nitrate-rich foods that are not exposed to very high
    heat are beneficial because they can become nitric oxide. Beet
    juice and beet greens are an especially rich source of nitrates.

2. Figs
    Figs are one of the most potassium-rich fruits, with about 232mg
    of potassium in just two small figs.

3. Pistachios
    Pistachios are a healthy way to decrease blood pressure by
    reducing peripheral vascular resistance, or blood vessel
    tightening, and heart rate. One NIH study found that a diet
    with one serving of pistachios a day helps reduce blood
    pressure.

4. Pomegranate Juice
    Despite Pom Wonderful's recent kerfuffle with the FDA over the
    health claims made for its pomegranate juice product,
    pomegranates are a healthy fruit that you can enjoy raw or as
    a juice. Several small studies have concluded that drinking a
    cup of pomegranate juice once a day for four weeks can help
    lower blood pressure over the short term.

5. Olive Oil
     Olive oil is an example of a healthy fat. It contains polyphenols,
     which are inflammation-fighting compounds that can help
     reduce blood pressure.

When combined, the nutrients in these foods can work synergistically to lower your blood pressure. The benefits are often noticed quickly and can be as much as a 5 point drop for some people.