A lot of people believe that your diet can have medicinal powers. They say there are certain foods that lower blood pressure. This belief comes in two forms: specific foods that have these abilities and overall diets that have a healthy effect.

In the first category are specfic foods, many of them that are not part of a normal diet. These include celery root, grapeseed extract, apple cider vinegar, beetroot juice, chocolate and many others. Some of these have been scientifically tested and shown to lower blood pressure in some people. However, the effect is usually minor and often of short duration. So these are not really practical hypertension treatments.

The second category is the overall diet. Diet can play a significant role in controlling blood pressure. The most important thing about diet is to avoid processed foods and eat a balanced diet of whole, natural foods. A healthy diet is a sure way to lower blood pressure but it’s a long-term process, not an overnight remedy.