High blood pressure is a common condition that affects more than a quarter of all adults in the UK. But, you could lower your risk of developing hypertension by regularly eating apples, it’s been claimed.
High blood pressure – which is also known as hypertension – puts extra stress on blood vessels and vital organs.
The condition could lead to some deadly complications, including strokes and heart attacks.
It could be caused by eating an unhealthy diet, or by not doing enough exercise.
Adding apples to your diet is one of the easiest ways to lower your blood pressure, it’s been claimed.
Apples could lower your chances of hypertension as they’re rich in antioxidants.
These antioxidants, known as flavonoids, protect against damaging free radicals.
They also prevent a build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries, while also helping blood vessels to relax.
For the best benefit, you should eat at least four apples every week, according to nutritionist Dr Sarah Brewer.
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“Apples are one of the richest dietary sources of antioxidant flavonoids,” she wrote on her website, MyLowerBloodPressure.
“Those eating the most apples have a 41% lower risk of a stroke than those eating the least.
“When it comes to blood pressure, studies showed that those who ate four or more apples a week had significantly lower blood pressures than those who ate less than one a month, on average.
“Aim to eat an apple a day as a snack. You can also grate the flesh and mix with lemon juice (to prevent browning) and add to salads, coleslaw and Bircher muesli. Dried apple rings and apple crisps also make tasty yet healthy snacks.”
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You should always make sure to eat the peel of apples, too. They contain the most flavonoids, she added.
Meanwhile, you could also lower your blood pressure by regularly eating avocados, said the nutritionist.
They boost the amount of ‘good’ HDL cholesterol in the body, which significantly lowers the risk of a heart attack.
Avocados are also rich in vitamin E, potassium and essential fatty acids; all of which contribute to a lower chance of developing hypertension.
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High blood pressure is often known as ‘the silent killer’, because symptoms only tend to reveal themselves if you have extremely high blood pressure.
The most common high blood pressure symptoms include a pounding in your chest, finding blood in your urine, and severe headaches.
It’s crucial that all adults over 40 years old check their blood pressure at least once every five years.
You can check your blood pressure by visiting your local doctors’ surgery or pharmacy.
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