Hypertension is the most prevalent disease in the world today, known as the “silent killer.” Surveys show that the prevalence of hypertension in China has increased from 5.11% in 1958 to 18.8%, with an estimated 160 million hypertension patients nationwide, and the rapid increase is worrisome. Hypertension can cause damage to organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys, seriously threatening human health and life.
For hypertension patients, to prevent more serious complications, it is essential to cultivate good dietary and lifestyle habits.
Drinking two types of tea in daily life helps lower blood pressure and blood lipids and keeps blood pressure stable.
â‘ Cassia Seed Tea
Cassia seed has the effects of lowering blood pressure, blood lipids, clearing liver and brightening the eyes. Regular consumption of cassia seed tea has a special effect in treating hypertension. Brew 15-20 grams of cassia seeds several times a day, to treat hypertension, dizziness, blurred vision, etc.
â‘¡ Pueraria Tea
Pueraria has the effect of improving brain blood circulation and has a good relieving effect on symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, and lumbar and leg pain caused by hypertension. Regular consumption of Pueraria tea has a significant therapeutic effect on hypertension. The preparation method is to wash and slice the Pueraria roots, take 30 grams daily, boil in water, and drink as tea.
Two common vegetables on the table have remarkable effects on soothing the liver and lowering blood pressure.
â‘ Celery – Soothes the Liver and Cools the Blood, Refreshes the Mind and Relieves Headaches
Celery is not only a superior vegetable in daily life but also has certain pharmacological and therapeutic value. Celery, also known as cilantro, belongs to the umbrella plant family, with two types, water celery, and dryland celery. Medicinally, dryland celery is more commonly used. It has a sweet, cool, non-toxic nature, entering the lung, stomach, and liver meridians. It clears heat, promotes diuresis, refreshes the mind and strengthens the brain, soothes the liver, and cools the blood. In addition, celery contains substances such as coriander tannin and mannitol, which can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels and have a sedative and blood vessel-protecting effect. It is worth noting that people usually consume only its stems, discarding the leaves and roots. In fact, using the roots, stems, and leaves together has a better therapeutic effect.
“Celery and Red Date Stew”
Ingredients: 200-400 grams of celery, 50-100 grams of red dates.
Preparation: Wash the celery and red dates, put an appropriate amount of water in a pot, bring to a boil, then add the celery and red dates, stew for about 1 hour, remove residue, and consume the soup in portions.
â‘¡ Shiitake Mushroom – Reducing Fat, Promoting Weight Loss, Diuretic, and Lowering Blood Pressure
In traditional Chinese medicine, shiitake mushrooms have a neutral taste, sweet flavor, and are non-toxic, with the effects of tonifying qi, nourishing the stomach, and activating blood. Modern food science research has shown that shiitake mushrooms contain a substance called shiitake purine, which can promote the liver’s metabolism of cholesterol, reduce blood lipids and cholesterol levels in the blood, accelerate blood circulation, and thus lower blood pressure. In addition, shiitake mushrooms are rich in potassium, which can help treat arteriosclerosis. Regular consumption of shiitake mushrooms is beneficial for people with hypertension and arteriosclerosis.
“Dried Shiitake Mushroom Juice”
Ingredients: 5-6 dried shiitake mushrooms.
Preparation:
1. Soak the dried shiitake mushrooms in a glass (size of a milk bottle) for about 12 hours to allow the active ingredient shiitake purine to dissolve in the water.
2. Boil in water (to kill any tapeworm eggs or parasites that may be hidden in the folds of the shiitake mushroom).
3. Alternatively, you can boil directly, refrigerate after cooking to avoid damaging the active ingredients.
Effect Description: The nutritional value and medicinal effects of dried shiitake mushrooms can be enhanced.
Internal nourishing method
â‘ Sit on a chair, naturally place your legs apart on the ground, place your hands on your thighs, palms down: relax your whole body, keep a calm mind, eliminate distracting thoughts, focus on the lower abdomen, lightly close your lips, slightly narrow your eyes, and adjust your breathing.
â‘¡ Stand naturally, feet shoulder-width apart, slightly bend your knees, hold a ball with both hands in front of your body; relax your whole body, focus on the lower abdomen, adjust your breathing. 10-30 minutes each time, 1-2 times a day.
Life care strategies
â‘ Adequate aerobic exercise
Learn a suitable aerobic exercise method for yourself: “walk, jog, walk backward; ride a bike, swim, practice Tai Chi; aerobics, dance; jump rope, climb mountains, kick shuttlecocks.” Maintain regular exercise, maintain ideal weight, and avoid causing palpitations and significantly increased pulse during exercise.
â‘¡ Work in a quiet environment
A research group once conducted an experiment on 118 people and found that when people are in a noisy work environment, the average blood pressure rises by 4 mmHg, even if the noisy sound lasts for a short time, blood pressure will still rise. The researchers also conducted an experiment: 100 people meditated and contemplated for 20 minutes every day, and when their blood pressure was measured again after 12 months, the average blood pressure of these people decreased by 11 mmHg. If you don’t like to meditate quietly, you can buy an aquarium, watching tropical fish also has the effect of lowering blood pressure.
â‘¢ Eat melon and yogurt for breakfast
Melons and yogurt are high in the mineral potassium, which helps control blood pressure. Results from a tracking study of 2,600 people showed that eating foods containing 1g of potassium per day, like a potato, a banana, and 226 grams of milk, can reduce blood pressure by 4 mmHg after 5 weeks.
â‘£ It is best to eat almonds or taro snacks in the afternoon
Both almonds and taro are rich in magnesium. A study of 60 hypertensive patients showed that if patients consume 480 mg of magnesium daily, their blood pressure can decrease by an average of 4 mmHg. Magnesium can relax the inner walls of blood vessels. Approximately 70 grams of dried taro seeds can provide the 420 mg of magnesium the body needs each day. Besides, fish, malt, Chinese cabbage, and some grains are also good sources of magnesium.
⑤ Do not consider bread as the main food for dinner
The wheat flour in white bread will increase insulin levels in the body, which can lead to an increase in blood pressure within a few hours. A study found that people with high insulin levels are three times more likely to have hypertension than the average person.
Hypertensive patients are fortunate; five simple daily actions can stabilize blood pressure.
For hypertension patients, in addition to emotional regulation and medical treatment, self-massage therapy is also a good preventive and treatment measure.
â‘ Push Head
Method: Hold the sides of the head with both hands and rub, starting from the temples to the Fengchi point, then switch to using the thumbs to gently stimulate the Fengchi point until a slight soreness is felt.
â‘¡ Stroke Forehead
Method: Sit with bent fingers, use the sides of the index fingers, stroke from the Yin Tang point between the eyebrows, along the outside of the eyebrows to the temples at least 10 times.
â‘¢ Pinch Palm Centers
Method: Start with the right hand, use the thumb of the left hand to press the palm center of the right hand, press upwards from the palm center to the fingertips and then return to the palm center, repeating for each fingertip. Repeat the same process for the left hand. Pinching the palm centers can serve as an emergency measure to lower blood pressure when it rises sharply.
â‘£ Breathe Smoothly
Method: Place both hands flat on the chest, palms close to the chest, take a deep breath with thumbs touching the nose, then exhale through the mouth, gently stroke down with both hands to the lower abdomen, repeat 10 times.
⑤ Massage the Waist
Method: Close the fingers of both palms together, press firmly on both sides of the spine on the back, squeeze downwards to the tailbone, repeat 20 times each session.
