Hypertension, a common cardiovascular concern affecting 1.3 billion people worldwide, is also called high blood pressure. It’s a condition that requires a multifaceted approach to management with a focus on preventive care. While medication plays a crucial role, dietary choices can significantly impact your blood pressure levels and should be a first line treatment.
Grace O is the founder of FoodTrients, a non-profit organization dedicated to research and information on food as medicine that can help everyone age better. What drives Grace’s program of healthy aging are nine elements she calls FoodTrients®: Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Beauty, Detox, Disease Prevention, Gut Health, Immune Boosters, Mind, and Strength.
To manage healthy blood pressure, FoodTrients nutrition expert Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO, outlines five essential FoodTrients® foods that provide benefits that you can start incorporating today.
Berries pack a potent punch of antioxidants known as flavonoids. These compounds have anti-inflammatory properties that contribute to blood vessel dilation (expansion), positively influencing blood pressure and possibly helping reduce it.
Fatty Fish – The type of fish richest in anti-inflammatory, heart healthy fats include those from cold waters like salmon. Omega-3 fats found in these species of fish help manage blood pressure, reduce inflammation in the body, and improve overall heart health long-term.
Leafy Greens are powerful nutrient-dense options that help fight hypertension. Packed with potassium, greens help the body balance sodium levels, a key factor in blood pressure regulation. They also contain high levels of natural nitrates, which convert into nitric oxide — a ‘vasodilator’ that relaxes blood vessels and promotes easier blood flow.
Oats can contribute to blood pressure management. Oats contain beta-glucans, a type of soluble fiber that has been linked to lower blood pressure levels. Fiber helps reduce cholesterol absorption, promoting heart health and artery health.
Watermelon contains citrulline, a compound that can be converted into arginine, promoting the production of nitric oxide. All melons are rich in potassium so including a variety of melons in your diet adds a delicious element to your blood pressure management plan.
Making mindful choices in the kitchen can have a profound impact on blood pressure management. Incorporating fiber-rich, anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens, berries, oats, fatty fish, and melon into your diet not only enhances the flavors of your meals but also supports heart health and blood pressure management. As always, consult with healthcare professionals like your doctor and registered dietitian for personalized advice on managing blood pressure through dietary changes, ensuring a holistic approach to cardiovascular health.
Try Grace O’s delicious spring salad from her latest cookbook, Anti-Aging Dishes from Around the World, that contains the FoodTrients for healthy blood pressure.
Serves 5
Roasted veggies aren’t just for fall anymore! They can fit into the diet year-round when mixed with other fresh, seasonal choices. Root vegetables such as beets and carrots can be combined with a variety of greens and a light, lemony vinaigrette to make the perfect warm-weather salad. Quick and easy to make, try this roasted vegetable salad with summer greens this week. The veggies and greens are full of detoxifying fiber and chlorophyll.
Ingredients
4 large carrots, peeled and diced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 medium purple beets, peeled and diced
¼ cup plus 2 Tbs. olive oil (divided)
2 Tbs. honey
Zest and juice of 1 small lemon
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/8 tsp. sea salt
¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper
5 cups arugula
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
FoodTrients Elements:
Anthocyanindins Betalain (antioxidants in beets) Biotin
B-Vitamins Copper Fiber
Iron Potassium Vitamin A
Vitamin C Vitamin K
CONTACT:
Trina Kaye – Public Relations / The Trina Kaye Organization / TrinaKaye@tkopr.com / 310-963-3964
About FoodTrients
FoodTrients® is a philosophy and a resource dedicated to the foods and rejuvenating nutrients that help us fight the diseases of aging and promote longevity. All of the recipes combine modern scientific research and medicinal herbs and ingredients from cultures around the world. They’re loaded with flavor and superfoods, which promote wellness, increase energy and vitality, improve skin, and help people look and feel younger.
About Grace O
Over a span of 30 years, Grace O has built an impressive record of business achievement, community building, philanthropy, and community service in California. Guided by her spirit of entrepreneurship and building on a model of generosity learned from her family, Grace has spent a lifetime helping people heal through food and medicine. Grace launched FoodTrients.com in 2010 where she shares age-defying superfoods from around the world and creates delicious recipes with them. Grace is the author of three award-winning cookbooks—The Age GRACEfully Cookbook: The Power of FOODTRIENTS to Promote Health and Well-being for a Joyful and Sustainable Life; The Age Beautifully Cookbook: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World, and the multi-award-winning Anti-Aging Dishes from Around the World.
For more information and recipes visit www.FoodTrients.com.