A secret ingredient from nutritionists: a spice that can lower your blood pressure
What you consume definitely affects your blood pressure. When it comes to the need to reduce it, special emphasis should be placed on one particular spice, according to eatingwell.
According to the American Heart Association, a heart-healthy diet focuses on eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, fish, nuts, and beans, and limits saturated fats, alcohol, sodium, and sugar.
However, it should be borne in mind that the use of different spices can also be important. If you are looking for a specific spice to lower blood pressure, ginger is recommended. Ginger has long been known for its culinary and digestive benefits, and experts say it can also be beneficial for heart health.
The study, published in Phytotherapy Research, looked at six randomized clinical trials that investigated the effects of ginger supplementation on blood pressure. Overall, they found that ginger significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by an average of 6 and 2 points, respectively, compared to placebo.
However, it is important to note that this decline was only observed in participants with an average age of 50 years or less. The dose required to change blood pressure was at least 3 grams per day (less than 2 teaspoons of ground ginger), which was taken for 7-12 weeks.
In addition, the antioxidant properties of ginger may help regulate blood pressure, according to a review by Phytotherapy Research. Ginger is rich in plant compounds such as gingerols, shogaols, gingerone, and paradol, which can promote antioxidant activity that keeps blood vessels clean, and these compounds can also stimulate blood vessel dilation, improving blood flow.
According to a study in Nutrition Reviews in 2021, there is also some evidence that ginger supplements can help improve cholesterol, blood sugar, and inflammation. However, all of these potential health benefits of ginger need to be studied more closely to fully understand the health benefits of ginger.
