High blood pressure increases a person’s risk of life-threatening conditions, such as heart attacks and strokes, which is why controlling your reading is very important. Eating a healthy diet is one way to do this – experts recommend cutting down on the amount of salt in your food and to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Regular exercise can also help you lose weight, which can also help lower blood pressure.
But studies over the years have suggested new ways blood pressure can be controlled – by taking chlorella supplements.
Chlorella is green freshwater algae, best digested as a supplement.
It’s available in capsule, tablet, powder and extract form, and has been shown to have numerous health benefits, including keeping blood pressure in check.
In one study, people with mildly high blood pressure took four grams of chlorella daily for 12 weeks.
By the end of the 12 weeks, the participants had lower blood pressure readings than those who took the placebo.
Another small study involving healthy men showed taking chlorella supplements was linked to less stiffness of the arteries – something that can affect blood pressure.
Chlorella artery-protecting benefits are believed to come from its nutrients, which include arginine, potassium, calcium and omega-3s. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17330510/
Chlorella has also been shown to benefit blood vessels in another way – by helping improve cholesterol.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance made by the liver and is essential for staying healthy.
But too much can lead to serious health problems.
A number of studies have suggested chlorella supplements may help lower cholesterol.
Several studies have shown taking five to 10 grams of chlorella daily lowered total and LDL (bad) cholesterol in people with high blood pressure and/or slightly elevated cholesterol.
Other ways to lower blood pressure
Alongside eating a healthy diet and regular exercise, high blood pressure can often be prevented or reduced by limiting your alcohol intake.
The NHS advises: “Regularly drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure over time.”
Staying within the recommended levels is the best way to reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure:
Men and women are advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week
Spread your drinking over three days or more if you drink as much as 14 units a week
Losing weight can also help control blood pressure.
The health body adds: “Being overweight forces your heart to work harder to pump blood around your body, which can raise your blood pressure.”
Cutting down on caffeine and stopping smoking is also advised.
The health body warns: “Drinking more than 4 cups of coffee a day may increase your blood pressure.
“If you’re a big fan of coffee, tea or other caffeine-rich drinks, such as cola and some energy drinks, consider cutting down.
“It’s fine to drink tea and coffee as part of a balanced diet, but it’s important that these drinks are not your main or only source of fluid.
“Smoking does not directly cause high blood pressure, but it puts you at much higher risk of a heart attack and stroke.
“Smoking, like high blood pressure, will cause your arteries to narrow.
“If you smoke and have high blood pressure, your arteries will narrow much more quickly, and your risk of heart or lung disease in the future is dramatically increased.”
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