6 Drinks to Lower Blood Pressure Quickly – Healthline
In addition to making changes to your diet and lifestyle, research shows that several drinks could help lower blood pressure levels and support heart health.
When blood pressure goes unchecked, it can lead to complications such as heart disease and stroke.
One of your first lines of defense against high blood pressure (hypertension) is your diet. Adopting a blood pressure-friendly diet
In addition to certain foods that may help lower your blood pressure, some types of drinks may also be helpful.
In this article, we’ll take a deeper dive into six different types of drinks that may help lower your blood pressure.
High blood pressure is a condition that
This can cause your heart and blood vessels to work harder, which can damage your heart muscle over time. Additionally, it can cause small tears in the walls of your arteries to form, leading to the buildup of fatty plaque.
High blood pressure usually develops over time and can be caused by food choices, lack of physical activity, and certain health conditions, including diabetes and obesity.
It’s important to treat high blood pressure, as it
Treatment for high blood pressure generally involves a combination of medications, which are used to relax or widen your blood vessels, along with diet and lifestyle changes.
Not only do these colorful, low-calorie vegetables contain a host of health-promoting vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds, but they may also help lower your blood pressure.
A
Beets are rich in dietary nitrates, a compound known to have blood pressure-lowering effects. In a
In other words, other heart-friendly compounds are likely at play as well.
Try this simple beetroot juice recipe.
Growing evidence suggests that drinking one glass of tomato juice per day may promote heart health.
In a
They concluded that tomato juice improved both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as LDL cholesterol. Other recent studies have reported similar results among people with stage 1 hypertension and pregnant women.
To avoid unnecessary sodium, which can have the opposite effect on your blood pressure, make sure to buy unsalted tomato juice.
Not only are pomegranates rich in nutrients such as folate and vitamin C, they also boast
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The effects on systolic blood pressure were independent of how long participants consumed pomegranate juice for and how much.
If you decide to add pomegranate juice to your diet, make sure it’s 100 percent juice with no added sugar.
Like pomegranates, berries — especially blueberries — are known for their antioxidant properties.
A 2020 review reported that drinking cranberry or cherry juice may improve your blood pressure.
Another review published in
In both reviews, the researchers concluded that berries likely have cardiovascular benefits, but more research needs to be done to clarify their role in preventing and controlling heart disease.
If you opt for store-bought berry juice, make sure it doesn’t contain any added sugar.
Low-fat dairy products such as fat-free or low-fat milk and yogurt are a key component of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, a science-based set of recommendations for preventing and treating high blood pressure.
According to one
But the researchers noted that they couldn’t separate which component of dairy may be responsible for the association, surmising that phosphorus and calcium may be playing a role.
Typically, health professionals recommend you try to get three cups of low-fat milk products per day. You can drink a glass with your meals or add it to cereal or a smoothie. Steamed skim milk also makes a great addition to coffee.
But if you choose to limit dairy consumption due to environmental concerns, lactose intolerance or dietary preferences, make sure to include other sources of key nutrients such as potassium and calcium in your diet.
A
The researchers reported that long-term intake of both types of tea lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. But the reduction in blood pressure was more significant for green tea.
Another
Both coffee and alcohol can have varied effects on blood pressure.
The effect of coffee on blood pressure has been a longstanding source of controversy in the scientific community.
Caffeine appears to create a temporary spike in blood pressure. But this effect may not be significant, according to research from 2017, which showed that people with high blood pressure may be able to safely drink coffee.
But the study recommends people exercise some caution when consuming the drink.
Some past research has suggested that long-term coffee consumption is associated with an increased risk of hypertension.
But according to the same 2017 literature review, moderate coffee consumption is safe, and perhaps even beneficial for both healthy people and those with high blood pressure.
If you have high blood pressure, ask a doctor or healthcare professional whether you should limit or stop drinking caffeinated beverages.
With that said, there may be other compounds in coffee such as antioxidants, micronutrients and other plant compounds that have an anti inflammatory effect and are actually beneficial for blood pressure.
As with coffee, alcohol’s effect on blood pressure is complicated. Health professionals usually recommend drinking in moderation, though recent research
Moderate alcohol consumption — that’s up to one drink per day for people assigned female at birth and up to two per day for people assigned male at birth — was once thought to lower blood pressure. But
In addition, alcohol itself may interfere with the effectiveness of medications. According to research, the impact of alcohol on blood pressure likely
When it comes to alcohol consumption, the recommendation likely isn’t the same for everyone. If you have high blood pressure, talk with a doctor to find out what’s considered a safe level of alcohol consumption for you.
Just as some drinks can help lower blood pressure, several others may actually increase blood pressure levels.
Here are some drinks that you may need to limit or avoid if you have high blood pressure:
There are several steps you can take that can help lower your blood pressure and support heart health, including:
In addition to following a heart-healthy diet, some types of drinks may also be helpful when it comes to lowering your blood pressure.
According to research, several types of fruit and vegetable juices, as well as skim milk and green tea, may help to control your blood pressure.
If you’re concerned about your blood pressure, be sure to talk with a doctor about the best way to manage your blood pressure and heart health.
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Last medically reviewed on May 20, 2024
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
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May 20, 2024
Written By
Carly Vandergriendt
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Medically Reviewed By
Alissa Palladino, MS, RDN, LD, CPT
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