No level of high blood pressure is a safe level. Even if your blood pressure is only nominally above normal levels you are at an increased risk of stroke, organ damage and heart attack. The health risks only increases the longer your blood pressure stays high and the higher it gets.

Fortunately there are natural ways to help reduce blood pressure levels and to prevent blood pressure from rising to dangerous levels. Studies have been conducted that show a strong positive correlation between certain diet plans and a lowering of high blood pressure - so you can eat your way to normalised blood pressure with a diet for high blood pressure!

Scientists discovered that lowering cholesterol, red meats and saturated fats in the diet and increasing fruits and vegetable and low fat milk products as well as whole grains can have a significant impact on high blood pressure. Lowered hypertension was also found when fish, organic chicken and eliminating processed sugars was incorporated into the diet.

It is important to include foods that are rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium as these are the heroes of fighting high blood pressure. Of course any blood pressure diet is going to be low in salt, as salt and sodium are the big baddies when it comes to increasing high blood pressure and hardening of the arterial walls.

The foods that are great for lowering blood pressure do not need to be sought out at specialty health food stores, they are everyday foods available in any supermarket. Calcium and vitamin D are found in skimmed milk. Together these two nutrient work in the body to lower blood pressure and have been known to see results of about 4% lower, doesn't sound like much but can make a huge difference to your life expectancy. Getting about half an hour of sun on at least 25% of your body is also crucial for vitamin D absorption.

Spinach is not just for Popeye, but is another great food for lowering blood pressure. Beans and legumes as well as seeds and nuts (unsalted of course) are also essentials. All of the above are high in magnesium and potassium, key mineral for lowering blood pressure. Making sure you get potassium through foods is really important as taking supplements can upset the bodies balance of potassium so only take supplements with your doctor's supervision.

Another trio of high blood pressure fighters is potatoes, soybeans and bananas. Potassium is important because of its relationship with sodium. Potassium and salt are inextricably bound together, if one is high the other is low, so for the sake of your blood pressure you want potassium to be high! Potassium particularly works in the kidneys, so you can avoid the risks of kidney disease or chronic renal failure associated with high blood pressure.

For the chocolate lovers amongst us, there is good news. Your favourite treat just got better. Cheers dark chocolate! Studies have shown that eating around thirty calories (about 14 grams, so not too much!) will have a positive effect on your blood pressure without causing any weight gain or other negative affect. Dark chocolate is also full of antioxidants and minerals like iron - eat it with nuts or fruit to extract the fullest amount of 'goodies' from the chocolate.

Its important to keep in mind that youdon't have to eat tasteless and bland meals to benefit your blood pressure. You will be living a healthier more active life, the benefits of which are untold, and most of all the deadly shadow of hypertension will be dispelled and you can gain control of your life once more.

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