Fruits, vegetables, and seafood: a natural reservoir of blood pressure for people with hypertension

**tomato**

Lycopene in tomatoes aids digestion and has a diuretic effect, which can improve appetite.

The flavonoids in tomatoes have significant effects in lowering blood pressure, stopping bleeding, and promoting diuresis.

Tomatoes are very high in inorganic salts and are a high-potassium, low-sodium food, which is beneficial for the prevention and treatment of hypertension.

Tomatoes are rich in B vitamins, including rutin, an important substance that protects the heart and blood vessels and helps prevent high blood pressure.

Therefore, tomatoes are an excellent food therapy for patients with hypertension and coronary heart disease.

Tomatoes can be eaten raw as a fruit, or cooked as a vegetable, added to soups, or used as a side dish.

**onion**

Modern medical research has found that the prostaglandins contained in onions can directly act on blood vessels, causing them to dilate, reducing the resistance of peripheral blood vessels and coronary arteries, and also antagonizing catecholamines and other pressor substances, thereby promoting a decrease in blood pressure.

Animal pharmacological experiments have shown that the active ingredients in onions can promote kidney urination and sodium excretion, and can regulate the release of adrenaline neurotransmitters in the body, thereby lowering blood pressure.

Therefore, onions are a healthy vegetable for middle-aged and elderly people, especially those with cardiovascular diseases.

**garlic**

Modern nutritional studies have shown that garlic contains far more potassium than sodium. White garlic contains 362 mg of potassium and 19.6 mg of sodium per 100 grams of edible portion, with a potassium factor of 15.41; purple garlic contains 437 mg of potassium and 8.3 mg of sodium per 100 grams of edible portion, with a potassium factor of 52.65. Both are considered high-potassium, low-sodium foods.

Practical data also proves this point.

According to reports, German scientists treated 80 patients with hypertension using garlic, and all of them experienced a stable decrease in blood pressure.

British medical experts claim that the active ingredients in garlic have the ability to dissolve blood stasis in the body and can be used to treat high blood pressure accompanied by coronary heart disease, coronary artery thrombosis, etc.

Studies have also found that patients with coronary heart disease who take garlic oil for 5 months can reduce their cholesterol by 10% and triglycerides by 21%.

Diabetic patients are prone to coronary heart disease and cerebral thrombosis, while allicin can lower blood sugar, so it has a preventive effect on coronary heart disease and thrombosis.

Garlic also has a blood pressure-lowering effect due to the presence of a glycoside.

**spinach**

Traditional Chinese medicine regards spinach as a good medicine, believing that spinach can generate blood, promote blood circulation, stop bleeding, and remove blood stasis.

Clinical practice has shown that regular consumption of spinach can promote blood circulation, nourish blood and moisten the intestines, and regulate the middle and lower qi.

Modern medical research shows that spinach contains a variety of nutrients, including protein, fat, carbohydrates, crude fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, carotene, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

In my country, it is common practice to wash fresh spinach, blanch it in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, remove it, chop it, and mix it with a little sesame oil, salt, and MSG. This is used to treat symptoms such as high blood pressure, dizziness, headache, red eyes, irritability, constipation, and hemorrhoid bleeding.

**Chrysanthemum greens**

Studies have found that garland chrysanthemum is rich in nutrients, including protein, fat, carbohydrates, crude fiber, carotene, various vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. It also contains various amino acids such as threonine, alanine, leucine, and phenylalanine, as well as asparagine, volatile oils, and choline.

It contains a relatively high amount of iron and calcium.

Chrysanthemum greens are rich in dietary fiber, which can promote digestion, relieve constipation, and lower cholesterol.

The volatile oils and choline in garland chrysanthemum have a blood pressure-lowering effect.

**corn**

Modern research shows that eating more corn can prevent the occurrence of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and myocardial infarction, and has the effect of delaying cell aging and brain function degeneration.

In some regions of my country and developed Western countries, corn was once excluded from the dining table; however, due to the discovery that corn has good preventive and therapeutic effects on hypertension, coronary heart disease, and arteriosclerosis, it is now highly favored in many European and American countries and has become a popular health food.

Corn is a high-quality food for patients with hypertension. Due to its significant effects of harmonizing the stomach, stimulating appetite, promoting urination, and clearing damp heat, it is especially suitable for patients with hypertension of the spleen deficiency and liver hyperactivity type or phlegm turbidity type.

To lower and stabilize blood pressure, hypertensive patients can not only eat more cornmeal and corn oil, but also boil corn silk into a soup to drink as tea.

However, because corn lacks some essential amino acids, it is not suitable to eat alone for a long period of time. It can be mixed with beans, wheat, etc. to improve its nutritional value.

**Black fungus**

Modern research shows that black fungus is a high-potassium, low-sodium food, which is beneficial for people with high blood pressure.

A type of nucleic acid substance in black fungus can significantly reduce the cholesterol content in the blood. Black fungus can inhibit the rise of blood lipids, prevent lipid deposition in the myocardium, liver, and aortic tissues, and can significantly reduce or delay the formation of atherosclerosis. At the same time, black fungus has an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation.

Black fungus is a health food for people with high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, and hyperlipidemia.

**mushroom**

Mushrooms are delicious and nutritious, and are recognized worldwide as a health food that is high in protein, low in fat, low in calories, and high in vitamins.

Mushrooms contain nutrients such as protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, iron, iodine, copper, zinc, potassium, and magnesium. They are sweet in taste and neutral in nature, and have the effects of replenishing qi and benefiting the stomach, as well as moisturizing dryness and relieving rashes.

It is suitable for people with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, loss of appetite, physical weakness and fatigue.

Modern medical research shows that mushroom extract can lower blood sugar and serum cholesterol levels, and has the effect of preventing arteriosclerosis.

**mushroom**

The fat in shiitake mushrooms is mainly unsaturated fatty acids, with more than 80% being linoleic acid, which is an important substance for lowering blood pressure, lowering blood lipids, and preventing atherosclerosis.

The nucleic acid substances such as lentinan contained in shiitake mushrooms can promote the decomposition and excretion of cholesterol, and continuous consumption can lower cholesterol and triglycerides.

In addition, shiitake mushrooms are a high-potassium, low-sodium food, which is very beneficial for stabilizing and lowering blood pressure and protecting blood vessels.

Therefore, patients with hypertension, arteriosclerosis, old age and frailty, and tumors should eat shiitake mushrooms regularly.

8. Which fruits are beneficial for people with high blood pressure?

**hawthorn**

Hawthorn has a significant, stable, and long-lasting effect in lowering blood pressure.

Hawthorn has health benefits for cardiovascular diseases; moreover, various preparations made from hawthorn have been used both domestically and internationally to treat hypertension, coronary heart disease, hyperlipidemia, and other conditions with significant results.

Therefore, middle-aged and elderly people with cardiovascular diseases can regularly consume hawthorn and its products to enhance the body's defense function.

**Jujubes**

Middle-aged and elderly people can drink a cup of jujube tea every day to prevent disease, strengthen their bodies, and prolong their lives.

For thousands of years, the proverb "Eat three dates a day and you'll never look old" has been widely circulated among the people. It is not only very true, but also aptly expresses the health benefits of red dates.

Fresh dates are rich in nutrients, especially carotene and vitamins B₁, B₂, C, E, and nicotinic acid, earning them the reputation of "natural vitamin king".

In particular, red dates contain a large amount of vitamin C and vitamin P. Every 100 grams of edible portion of a date contains up to 243 milligrams of vitamin C, which is extremely rare among fruits. Moreover, it is extremely high in vitamin P, with every 100 grams of edible portion of a date containing more than 3,300 milligrams of rutin, making it the highest among all fruits. Therefore, dates are also known as "rutin dried fruit".

Vitamin C and vitamin P can improve the function of human capillaries and play an important role in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

The vitamin C and vitamin P in jujubes are bound together and can work synergistically.

Jujubes contain rutin and other components, which can not only effectively lower serum cholesterol levels but also lower blood pressure.

Therefore, for middle-aged and elderly patients with hypertension, eating jujubes is more beneficial than taking rutin tablets. Regularly consuming jujubes can not only help lower blood pressure, but also prevent the occurrence of hypertensive encephalopathy, cerebral hemorrhage, and stroke.

**persimmon**

According to traditional Chinese medicine, persimmons are sweet, astringent, and cold in nature.

Its functions include moistening the lungs and promoting the production of body fluids, clearing heat and stopping bleeding, and astringing the intestines and strengthening the spleen.

It is used to treat cough due to lung heat, diarrhea due to spleen deficiency, hemoptysis, hematochezia, hematuria, and hypertension.

Modern medical research shows that persimmons and their processed form, dried persimmons, are both high-potassium and low-sodium foods. Regular and moderate consumption can have a good preventive and therapeutic effect on hypertension.

The tannins in persimmon juice and the flavonoids extracted from persimmon leaves can lower blood pressure and increase coronary blood flow, thus helping to maintain normal myocardial function.

**strawberry**

Strawberries are cool in nature, sweet and sour in taste, and non-toxic. They have the effects of moisturizing the lungs and promoting body fluid production, clearing heat and cooling blood, strengthening the spleen and relieving alcohol intoxication, and lowering blood pressure.

Strawberries contain nutrients that are easily absorbed by the human body, making them a nutritious fruit suitable for the elderly, children, the sick, and the weak.

Strawberries have certain nourishing and conditioning effects on the stomach and intestines and anemia.

Besides preventing vitamin C deficiency, strawberries also have good effects on preventing and treating arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, and cerebral hemorrhage.

The vitamins and pectin in strawberries can help improve constipation and treat hemorrhoids, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

**kiwi**

Kiwifruit is soft, juicy, sweet and sour, and rich in nutrients, including protein, fat, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, and iron.

In addition, it contains 12 essential amino acids for the human body.

Its vitamin C content is 19 to 33 times higher than that of apples and 22 to 139 times higher than that of pears.

Modern medical research shows that kiwifruit juice can prevent the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines and can lower serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Regular consumption of kiwifruit and its products can help prevent and assist in the treatment of diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, and cancer.

Besides being eaten fresh, kiwifruit can also be processed into juice, jam, wine, and preserves.

However, it is not suitable for people with chronic enteritis.

9. Which aquatic products are beneficial for people with high blood pressure?

**kelp**

Modern medical research shows that kelp has the effects of lowering blood pressure, strengthening the heart, and resisting atherosclerosis.

Experimental studies have found that reducing the calcium content in the diet can cause an increase in blood pressure, and a consistently low-calcium diet is one of the important causes of hypertension.

Modern pharmacological studies have shown that kelp contains laminine, which has a hypotensive effect. Some reports indicate that kelp has been used in China to produce the drug "Laminine" for clinical use in lowering blood pressure.

**grass carp**

Grass carp is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which are beneficial to blood circulation and make it a good food for cardiovascular patients.

Fish gallbladders are forbidden as they are poisonous and should not be eaten.

The poisoning process mainly involves the toxins acting on the digestive and urinary systems, causing gastrointestinal symptoms, liver and kidney failure in a short period of time. It is often accompanied by cardiovascular and nervous system lesions, causing cerebral edema, toxic shock, and even death. There is no specific treatment for grass carp bile poisoning, so it is not advisable to use grass carp bile for treatment. If it must be used, it should be done with caution.

**Crucian Carp**

Japanese scientists have pointed out that "patients with high blood pressure should eat more fish while reducing their salt intake, which can lower the likelihood of stroke caused by high blood pressure."

"Generally speaking, the meats we eat, such as beef, mutton, and fatty pork, are rich in cholesterol and saturated fatty acids, while fish are rich in unsaturated fatty acids."

In addition to helping control blood lipid levels, the intake of unsaturated fatty acids is also very beneficial for blood pressure.

The mechanism by which fish prevent hypertension may be through promoting sodium excretion, directly lowering blood pressure, protecting blood vessel walls, or through the participation of essential amino acids in various mechanisms of blood pressure regulation.

Clinical practice has proven that crucian carp meat is effective in preventing and treating arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and coronary heart disease.

**Ribbonfish**

Ribbonfish is rich in magnesium, which has a good protective effect on the cardiovascular system and helps prevent cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and myocardial infarction.

**Wuchang Fish**

Medical professionals believe that regular consumption of Wuchang fish can help prevent diseases such as anemia, hypoglycemia, hypertension, and arteriosclerosis.

Wuchang fish is suitable for braising or steaming; small fish are suitable for making crispy fish, but people with chronic dysentery should avoid eating them.

**Dried Shrimp**

Modern medical research shows that eating more calcium-rich foods can lower blood pressure and prevent cerebrovascular accidents.

Dried shrimp not only helps improve the appetite of people with high blood pressure, but it is also beneficial to their health.

It is important to note that dried shrimp must be blanched in hot water before consumption, and the water used for blanching should not be consumed.

This is because the surface of shrimp shells is covered with a high amount of salt and contains many potent carcinogens, therefore, they must be processed before consumption.

**Sea cucumber**

Sea cucumbers have certain unique characteristics in their composition, namely, they are low in cholesterol and relatively low in fat. They are a typical high-protein, low-fat, and low-cholesterol food, making them an excellent food therapy for patients with hypertension, coronary heart disease, hepatitis, and the elderly. Regular consumption is very beneficial for treating diseases and strengthening the body.

**abalone**

Abalone can nourish yin, soothe the liver, and strengthen the kidneys. It can also regulate adrenal gland secretion and has a bidirectional effect on blood pressure regulation.

After soaking and cleaning the abalone, it must be cooked in an earthenware pot or clay pot to preserve its freshness.