What Fruits are Best to Lower Blood Pressure?

By: The Hale Groves Team | On: February 21, 2023 | Category: Fruit Facts Healthy Eating

Concerned about high blood pressure? Maintaining a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables can help you manage the condition.

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure (or hypertension) is a condition in which the force of blood pumping through the arteries is consistently too high. When this occurs, the walls of the arteries are extended beyond their normal limit, which can lead to damage and scarring and put people at risk for heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.

For patients diagnosed with high blood pressure, the first line of defense is usually lifestyle changes. These can include regular exercise, quitting smoking, reducing stress, limiting alcohol intake, getting enough sleep, reducing sodium intake, losing weight, and maintaining a healthy diet.

Can fruit help lower high blood pressure?

If you recently received a basket of fruit as a gift, rejoice! Many fruits are beneficial in maintaining healthy blood pressure. These include apples, pears, apricots, mangos, plums, and citrus fruits.

Winter is citrus season in the US, so it’s a good time to explore your options for adding healthy citrus fruit to your daily diet. Citrus fruit (such as grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, and Sumo Citrus®) make wonderful, healthy, low-calorie snacks that studies show have tremendous blood-pressure-lowering properties and adding them to your diet is even easier than you think. A single, medium orange is just 60 calories but is packed with vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds that may help keep your heart healthy by reducing heart disease risk factors (like high blood pressure).

Fruit helps you maintain a healthy weight.

Being overweight increases your risk of developing high blood pressure. In fact, your blood pressure rises as your body weight increases. Losing even ten pounds can help lower your blood pressure, and losing weight has the biggest effect on those who are overweight and already have hypertension.

Losing weight doesn’t mean you have to go hungry – in fact, most times you just have to replace some foods (like processed snacks high in refined sugars) with heathier options that are just as delicious and even more satisfying. If you’ve ever ordered or been sent a basket of delicious Honeybells, Cara Cara Navel Oranges, Honey-Sweet Tangerines, or other delectable fruits from Hale Groves, you know that nothing beats fruit when it comes to a refreshing and satisfying snack. Not only is it low-calorie and full of vitamins and minerals, but it’s also rich in fiber and water – both of which stave off hunger pains so waiting for your next meal isn’t a hardship.

Fruit helps your body function better.

In addition to helping to manage your blood pressure, eating fruit (including citrus fruit) helps your body to work more efficiently overall. Fruit is loaded with essential nutrients your body needs to function, helps your bones and muscles stay strong, aids in digestion, is beneficial for your eyes, regulates your blood sugar, and keeps your skin and hair looking great. This is why fruit baskets from Hale Groves make such loving gifts – if you’re looking for fruit to send to someone you love, visit Hale Groves to find the best fresh fruit gifts for those you love!

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