Using Diet to Lower Your Blood Pressure

Using Diet to Lower Your Blood Pressure

Individuals with high blood pressure should not only put away the salt shaker, but eat more fruits, vegetables, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products, according to a statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) in today's Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

One in four American adults has high blood pressure, which increases risk of stroke, heart attack and kidney failure.

For the first time, the American Heart Association's Nutrition Committee recommends adding fruits, vegetables and low-fat or fat-free dairy products to a reduced-salt diet to help prevent or lower high blood pressure.

In its statement, the Nutrition Committee recommended a diet rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium and low in total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium.