In today’s blog article, we are going to talk about some ways to lower blood pressure with some easy (and free!) ideas. However, we want to stress that if you are on blood pressure medication do not change your dosage or stop taking it without consulting your family doctor.

Nevertheless, here are some ways that it is possible to reduce your blood pressure:

Losing Weight

If you are overweight, very often losing weight will lower your blood pressure. This is because your heart has to work harder to push blood through vessels supporting a lot of weight compared to less weight. But losing weight is not easy for everyone. The simplest suggestions for losing weight is to eat less sugar and processed food and eat more plant-based foods. Be aware, however, that there are plenty of slender people who have high blood pressure, so weight is not always the solution.

Mindfulness Meditation

Stress seems to play a role in high blood pressure. So, reducing stress may lower blood pressure. One way to reduce stress is through mindfulness meditation which is a way to relax the mind and the body. Meditation is easy to learn and it’s free. Practicing it for a few minutes every day can give you benefits that last all day long. We highly recommend incorporating mindfulness meditation into your daily routine.

Diet

Aside from losing weight, there are a few dietary changes that can affect blood pressure. For example, black liquorice can elevate blood pressure, so it’s a treat to be avoided if you have blood pressure issues. Also, consuming less salt is a good idea, too. Most processed foods have a lot of added salt that we are not aware of. The body needs some salt, but most of us eat much more than we need.

Exercise

Yes, regular exercise can lower blood pressure. You don’t have to run marathons, just a daily walk can make a difference, not just in your blood pressure, but in your overall fitness.

None of these suggestions above, alone, will likely solve a high blood pressure problem. However, making some small changes may help your blood pressure, and these changes may make you feel better, in general, and sleep better.