High blood pressure diet: The 50p ‘overlooked’ vegetable to avoid deadly hypertension

High blood pressure is a very common condition that affects almost a third of all adults in the UK. If you have high blood pressure – which is also known as hypertension – you could benefit from eating certain foods, including a relatively common vegetable.

It’s vital that if you have high blood pressure, it’s diagnosed as soon as possible.

Hypertension increases the risk of some deadly complications, including heart attacks and strokes.

But making just a few lifestyle changes could help to protect against high blood pressure.

Regularly eating celery could help to lower your blood pressure, according to nutritionist Dr Sarah Brewer.

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“Celery and celery seed are often overlooked as health-promoting foods but can help to lower a high blood pressure,” Dr Brewer wrote on her website, MyLowerBloodPressure.com.

“Celery contains potassium which helps to lower blood pressure by flushing sodium from the body, via the kidneys.

“The main blood pressure-lowering effect of celery comes from its high content of natural nitrites, however, similar to those found in beet root. These dilate blood vessels to help lower blood pressure.

“Among 12 commonly eaten raw vegetables, celery, tomatoes, carrots, and scallions (spring onions) are each significantly associated with having a lower blood pressure.”