20 foods that lower blood pressure — and which foods to avoid (2024)

According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost half of all Americans have hypertension, or high blood pressure.

However, only a small portion are managing it, which is concerning considering that high blood pressure poses a significant risk to overall health.

What causes high blood pressure?

Blood flow throughout the body occurs in the arteries.The force of blood flow within the arteries is called blood pressure and is measured using systolic (the pressure when your heart beats) and diastolic (the pressure when your heart rests in between beats). When the force of blood flow is too high, it’s called hypertension or high blood pressure.Hypertension damages the arteries and restricts blood flow, and because of this, having the condition puts you at risk for many adverse health conditions, including stroke, heart disease, dementia, and kidney problems.

You can’t feel if the force within the arterial system is higher than it should be.Because of this, hypertension is often referred to as “the silent killer,” since the potential adverse effects may strike without warning.

Multiple risk factors may increase the likelihood you develop high blood pressure, including having certain health conditions such as diabetes, as well as genetics and family history.Many lifestyle factors may also impact your risk, such as excess alcohol consumption, tobacco use, sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet.

Foods that lower blood pressure

Managing hypertension may involve pharmacological and lifestyle approaches, such as altering the diet or engaging in more physical activity.The DASH diet has been shown to be effective in treating and managing blood pressure, and new data reveals that focusing on improving gut health may also help.

Here are 20 foods to consider adding to your diet if you’re trying to reduce blood pressure:

Pomegranate

Pomegranate is a deeply-hued anthocyanin-rich fruit.Consumption of pomegranate and its juice has been linked to reducing the risk of certain cancers and lowering inflammation.The fruit may also play a role in helping to lower bad LDL cholesterol as well.A 2023 meta-analysis found that pomegranate may assist in reducing blood pressure.Previous studies have shown similar associations. You can use the juice, or seeds (or, arils) in smoothies, salads, dressings and sauces.

Avocado

Potassium is a mineral found in plants and directly benefits blood pressure. A 2023 study found that consuming avocados, a fruit high in potassium, five or more times per week led to a 17% decrease in hypertension. That’s because potassium can mitigate the effects of sodium, sending sodium out of the body through urine instead of staying in the body to damage vessels.

Beets

A study in the Journal of Hypertension found that consuming about 1 cup of nitrate-rich beet juice could help reduce blood pressure. Nitrate converts to nitric oxide, which in turn helps improve the function of blood vessels by widening the vessels allowing greater blood flow.

Lemons

Multiple studies have linked lemons and lemon juice to improvements in hypertension. Benefits are derived from minerals in lemons and citric acid found in all citrus fruits.

Dried apricots

Diets high in potassium may help in controlling blood pressure.Potassium helps widen the blood vessels and assists the kidneys in excreting excess sodium from the body.Apricots, a nutrient-rich fruit, are often found in dried varieties and can be used in making trail mix, to add some sweetness to a salad, or alone as a snack.Apricots provide 378 mg of potassium in ½ cup. One study found that individuals who consume dried fruit, in general, are more likely to see improvements in systolic blood pressure. So make it a habit to add a handful to your daily routine.

Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate has been found to help reduce blood pressure via its high content of flavonoids. A 2021 study assessing flavonoid intake and its impact on gut microbiome found that participants with the highest consumption of flavonoid-rich foods such as dark chocolate (as well as red wine, berries and tea) had the lowest systolic blood pressure.

Coffee

A 2023 study in the journal Nutrients found that three or more cups of coffee a day may help lower blood pressure. The study found that these benefits are most likely due to the compounds found in the coffee bean. However, other studies have associated moderate (2 cups or more) coffee consumption with an increased risk of cardiac-related death in individuals with severe hypertension (the risk was not seen in individuals who drank one or fewer cups daily). If you love coffee, consider your personal risk factors before diving into multiple cups a day. Determining how well you metabolize caffeine (a nutrigenomics test can help with this) and assessing how severe your hypertension is may help guide how much coffee your body can handle safely.

Almonds

A 2014 study compared two groups of individuals. One group consumed their typical diet, while another added 50 grams (about ½ cup) of almonds a day for one month. After the study, the almond-eating group had greater amounts of antioxidants in the blood, better blood flow and lower blood pressure. In addition to almonds, pistachio, and walnut consumption has also been associated with lower blood pressure.

Celery

Studies show that celery consumption may help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress leading to a reduction in cardiac risk factors, such as high blood pressure.

Spinach

Similar to beets, spinach is a nitrate powerhouse. Studies show that just 1 cup of leafy greens daily, like spinach (as well as kale, swiss chard, arugula, collard greens and bok choy), can significantly reduce the risk for heart disease. These studies often cite improvements in blood pressure as a critical component.

Apples

Like dark chocolate, apples (specifically their peels) are abundant in flavonoids, which have been shown to improve blood pressure. Studies show that the more deeply hued the peel is, the more flavonoids the apple contains.

Wild salmon

Lean proteins play a role in reducing blood pressure, and wild salmon is one of the best options to consider due to its high content of omega-3 fatty acids. One study found that having 3 grams of omega 3’s a day (approximately a 4-5 ounce piece of salmon) could help lower blood pressure, and having more, the authors noted, may provide even more benefit for someone with hypertension. Other sources of omega 3’s include chia and flax seeds and walnuts.

Extra virgin olive oil

A 2020 study in the journal Nutrients referred to olive oil as “ the optimal fat choice in the management protocols for hypertension in both healthy and cardiovascular disease patients.” Olive oil is high in polyphenols and oleic acid, which may help reduce overall risk factors, like blood pressure, for heart disease.

Pistachios

Multiple studies have found benefits to several components of heart health when pistachios are part of the diet.Pistachios have also been found in studies to make an impressive impact on reducing blood pressure, with one systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials linking pistachio consumption with reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Yogurt

A 2021 study found that yogurt could help reduce blood pressure due to its high concentration of micronutrients calcium, magnesium and potassium, which are all associated with a lower risk of hypertension.

Pumpkin seeds

This fall snack should be a year-round treat if you have high blood pressure. Pumpkin seeds are high in magnesium, a mineral found to help in controlling blood pressure. A 2019 animal study found that rats with 4% pumpkin seeds or pulp had 20% lower blood pressure than rats on the control diet.

Cinnamon

Add some blood pressure-friendly ingredients to your spice cabinet. A 2021 randomized controlled trial found significant reductions in systolic blood pressure when 1500 mg of cinnamon was added to the diet for 90 days. In addition to cinnamon, other roots like turmeric and ginger may also play a beneficial role in blood pressure management.

Oregano

Oregano is an excellent addition to eggs, sauces, dressings and poultry. It’s also great for your blood pressure. A 2021 study analyzed herbs and spices combined with blood pressure response. The study found that individuals that consumed the most herbs and spices had lower blood pressure readings 24 hours later.

Garlic

Love garlic? So do your arterial walls. One study found that individuals with lower blood pressure levels were more likely to have garlic in their diet.

Blueberries

The compound that gives blueberries their deep hue is the same one demonstrated in studies to lower blood pressure. Authors noted that the benefits to blood pressure were seen just two hours after eating blueberries.

Foods to avoid for high blood pressure

Limiting certain foods may also help in controlling high blood pressure.

First, individuals with hypertension are recommended to limit sodium intake to about 1500 mg or less per day. That’s the equivalent of a little over ½ tsp. You can manage this by limiting your intake of processed and ultra-processed foods and processed red meat products.

You can also look for low-sodium versions of canned foods such as soup, cheese, bread, tomato juice, pickles, condiments, frozen foods and deli meats. You should also limit consumption of products with added sugar, such as sugar-sweetened beverages, baked desserts and candy. Finally, since even moderate alcohol consumption was found to be a significant risk factor for hypertension, you may want to limit it or avoid it altogether.

In addition to diet, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management and weight loss, as well as limiting alcohol and quitting smoking, can also go a long way in controlling high blood pressure.