Is almond seed good for people with high blood pressure?

Almonds are healthy as an addition to not just a heart patient’s diet, but to any diet. They are particularly beneficial for patients suffering from hypertension. Almonds are an excellent dietary source for protein because they have a high protein content while they do not contain any cholesterol. Vitamin E, which acts and demonstrates powerful antioxidant properties, is also present in almonds. They are also a good source of magnesium, containing even more than is present in spinach. Almonds are in fact rich in a number of vital minerals and vitamins. They contain zinc, copper, manganese, iron and trace amounts of riboflavin and thiamin the B vitamins. Their calcium content and fiber content are higher than in any other of the nuts. Almonds although high in fat like all other nuts, contain mono-saturated fats, which are considered healthy.

Natural Remedies For High Blood Pressure

• In addition to including almonds in your diet, there are other dietary and lifestyle practices you should follow.
• Make sure that you are not overweight and if you are, work to lower your weight and blood pressure.
• Some of amount of mild exercise and physical activity is essential if not to lose weight at least to control your blood pressure.
• Calcium, potassium and magnesium are absolutely essential for controlling your blood pressure. All of these minerals and other essential vitamins are present in fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are essentials in your diet and should in fact be the main feature of your diet.
• Oily fish are also healthy as they contain a number of healthy fats. Include them in your diet but in moderation. Avoid fatty foods and most meats. Lean meats and poultry are also fine but in moderation.
• Dairy products are a good source of calcium, but control your intake as they are also high in fats. Switch to skimmed milk and low fat dairy products. Soybeans are a good dietary source of calcium.
• Avoid all processed and refined foods, junk foods and fried foods as these are all rich in harmful saturated fats.
• Be very careful with and control your intake of salt.
• In addition to diet and exercise it is important that you do not have to endure prolonged stress. Make it a point to relax and never get too stressed. Some amount of stress is unavoidable, but try to avoid stressful situations as far as possible. Activities like meditation and yoga can help cope with stress.

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A lot of care is essential, as your husband has an ancestry of cardiac diseases. High cholesterol levels are a result of improper eating habits, incidence of diseases, such as renal failure, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism and liver diseases also result in high cholesterol levels. Heredity factors are strong in raising the cholesterol, in addition to excessive work and stress. Obesity and increase in alcohol intake results increases the cholesterol levels. A low fat diet with adequate intake of dietary fiber proves beneficial. Decrease the in take of saturated fats, such as margarine, clarified butter, lard and butter. Weight maintenance, is crucial, in case of excessive body weight. Avoid refined foods such as pastries, refined flour and biscuits.

Substitute the recommended foods in your diet pattern. A six meal pattern is better in comparison to three meals. Increase the intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and cereals in the diet. Choline, inositol and pyridoxine in the diet (wheat germ) are helpful to keep cholesterol in check. Vitamin E in foods, such as sprouted grains, sunflower and safflower seeds and grains are useful, as it is an effective antioxidant, which in turn helps in prevention of free radical damage. Omega 3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids in fish, which has cardio protective effect. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are good supplements. It reduces the bad cholesterol and helps in a significant increase in HDL or good cholesterol levels. Oats are healthy for breakfast, as they are a rich source of soluble fiber. Beta glucan, a soluble fiber in oats have a cardio protective effect.

Low Fat Diet to Reduce Cholesterol

A healthy low fat diet is also helpful in the reduction of hypertension of high blood pressure. The intake of salt needs some extra care, in addition to increase in dietary fiber. Avoid the intake of high sodium foods, such as smoked meat, salted and refined foods, sauces, readymade soups, pickled fish, sauerkraut, sausages, hot dogs and hams. Read the food labels for effective selection of foods. Avoid foods with monosodium glutamate.

Research reveals the positive association between consumption of nuts and heart health. About one and a half ounce of nuts is accepted. They are energy dense and increase the calorie levels. Pecans, pine nuts, walnuts, pistachios, almond, peanuts and hazelnuts are helpful. They are an excellent substitute for the high percentage of saturated fats in meat and other animal foods. Stanols or plant sterols are highly effective in cholesterol reduction. Soy products help to raise the HDL levels and decrease the bad cholesterol levels.

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Good cholesterol is HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol, which circulates in the blood. It has got nothing to do with the dietary cholesterol. It is an essential component of the blood lipid, which helps to decrease the incidence of cardio vascular diseases. It also protects from the accumulation atheromatous plaques in the arteries, in vulnerable individuals. Women, in general have a higher HDL levels, in comparison to men.

The HDL levels are considered normal, when above 40 mg/dl. It comprises of 20 to 30 percent of the total cholesterol levels. Decrease in HDL cholesterol levels by five points, increases the incidence of heart diseases by 25 percent. Research reveals the positive correlation between HDL levels and orange juice consumption. This is attributed to the antioxidant effect of oranges. Soy based foods are highly beneficial, as they are low in saturated fats. Increase in HDL levels is seen with soy consumption, which might be due to the iso flavones in them. It also decreases the triglycerides and LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol levels. Eliminate animal and dairy fats in a complete manner. Opt for vegetable oils. The reduction of fat is about 30 to 35 percent of the total dietary calories. Extreme reduction in fats results in deficiency of essential fatty acids. This in turn, results in reduction of HDL cholesterol levels.

Foods for Cholesterol and Diet to Increase Cholesterol

High fiber foods, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and low fat products, decrease the glycemic load, thereby increasing the HDL cholesterol levels. Avoid smoking, as it helps to a great extent. Alcohol intake, in moderation helps in the protection of the arteries from plaque and also increases the HDL levels. Excessive body weight reduces the HDL levels, thereby calling for loss of extra pounds! Substitute the saturated fats in your diet with monounsaturated fats for better HDL levels.

Avoid trans fats, as it brings a significant reduction in good cholesterol and increases bad or LDL cholesterol levels. Olive oil, peanut butter, avocado and canola oil are monounsaturated fats that helps in the increase of HDL levels.  A half an hour session of regular exercise helps to increase the HDL levels to a considerable amount. Oats, fruits and veggies are a good source of soluble fiber, which help in HDL increase. Foods with omega 3 fatty acids, such as fish increase the HDL levels. Cranberry juice proves beneficial in increasing the good cholesterol levels. Supplementation of calcium in post menopausal women is also highly effective.

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