High blood pressure is a common condition that affects more than a quarter of all adults in the UK. The condition, which is also known as hypertension, puts extra stress on your blood vessels and vital organs. It could be caused by eating an unhealthy diet, or by not doing enough exercise. But you could lower your chances of developing high blood pressure by regularly eating avocado, it’s been claimed.
Avocado could reduce your risk of hypertension as it’s rich in potassium, according to charity the American Heart Association.
Potassium-rich foods help to balance out the negative impact of sodium on the body, it said.
It could also reduce the tension on the walls of your blood vessels, which subsequently helps to maintain a normal blood pressure.
“Foods that are rich in potassium are important in managing high blood pressure because potassium lessens the effects of sodium,” said the charity.“The more potassium you eat, the more sodium you lose through urine.
“Potassium also helps to ease tension in your blood vessel walls, which helps further lower blood pressure.
“Increasing potassium through diet is recommended in adults with blood pressure above 120/80 who are otherwise healthy.
“Potassium-rich foods include avocados, apricots, peas, potatoes, spinach, tuna, halibut, oranges and mushrooms.
“Even though potassium can lessen the blood pressure-raising effects of sodium, eating more potassium should be combined with your efforts to break up with that excess salt and develop other healthy eating and lifestyle habits.”
All adults need around 3,500mg of potassium in a single day, according to the NHS. Most people should be able to get enough potassium in their diet.
Meanwhile, you could also lower your risk of high blood pressure symptoms by regularly eating potatoes, it’s been claimed.
Potatoes are rich in both magnesium and potassium. Magnesium is needed to regulate blood flow throughout the body.
High blood pressure is often known as ‘the silent killer’, because symptoms only tend to reveal themselves if you have extremely high blood pressure.
The most common high blood pressure symptoms include a pounding in your chest, finding blood in your urine, and severe headaches.
It’s crucial that all adults over 40 years old check their blood pressure at least once every five years.
You can check your blood pressure by visiting your local doctors’ surgery or pharmacy.
Diagnosing the condition early is very important, because patients are more at risk of some deadly complications, including heart attacks and strokes.
