The right foods can help lower blood pressure and prevent hypertension (high blood pressure). The Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Dietetics Department shares the types of foods that should be on your plate.
High Blood Pressure: 4 Foods to Eat
High fibre foodssuch as fresh vegetables and fruits are effective in keeping blood pressure under control. The Health Promotion Board recommends consuming a minimum of 2 + 2 servings of fruit and vegetables daily.
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Mr Gary Chiah, Senior Dietitian at the Department of Dietetics, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the SingHealth group shares tips on the best foods to lower high blood pressure.
More fibre
High blood pressure can be kept under control with fresh vegetables and fruits. HPB recommends a minimum of 2 + 2 servings of fruit and vegetables per day. One serving of fruit is equivalent to one small fruit, 1 medium banana, 10 grapes or ¼ cup of dried fruits. One serving of vegetables is 100 g (or ¾ of a mug) of cooked vegetables.
Consume more magnesium-rich foods
Magnesium can help in lowering high blood pressure. Green leafy vegetables, seeds and nuts (e.g. almonds, cashew nuts, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds) are good sources of magnesium. Seeds and nuts also contain heart-healthy fats. It is unnecessary to take additional magnesium supplements. Just be sure to include magnesium-rich foods in your meals.
Whole grains
People with high blood pressure should eat more whole grain foods as they contain fibre, potassium and magnesium. Substitute white rice and refined noodles with whole grain products like brown rice and whole wheat noodles.
Eat more potassium-rich foods
When you have high blood pressure, make sure you eat sufficient fruits and vegetables as they are rich in potassium. For vegetables, you could choose peas, greens, tomatoes, spinach and potatoes. Fruits such as bananas and oranges and dried fruits such as raisins, apricots, prunes and dates are also high in potassium. Remember to get your potassium from food, not supplements, to avoid any risk of overdose.
