Battling hypertension or just looking to avoid issues in the future? Our latest blog post gives you all you need to know about the best herbal teas for blood pressure management.
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A whopping one-third of people in the UK have high blood pressure, according to Blood Pressure UK. Left unmanaged, this can lead to serious health complications, including heart attacks or strokes.
Unfortunately, high blood pressure often occurs without symptoms, at least at first. It’s why doctors often take patients’ blood pressure as part of a general check-up – the earlier an issue is detected, the better.
The good news is that high blood pressure is both treatable and preventable. If necessary, your doctor can suggest medication. But this is a condition that can often be managed through lifestyle changes.
Quitting smoking, reducing your alcohol intake, and getting moving regularly can all help to reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure – or help you lower it if yours is already high.
Stress and lack of sleep can also contribute to high blood pressure, so finding ways to get a good night’s sleep and manage the ups and downs of everyday life can also help.
And, of course, your diet has a major role to play in your cardiovascular health. Eating too much salt can raise blood pressure – and there’s a lot of salt in processed, pre-prepared foods. In contrast, getting lots of fruits and vegetables in your daily diet can help you keep your blood pressure down.
That’s because plants are great sources of vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients. This includes nitrates and potassium, both of which help to lower blood pressure.
So, you want to make sure your plate is packed full with delicious veggies to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level. And you can get even more plant-based goodness into your diet by drinking herbal tea.
Some herbal teas may even help to lower blood pressure directly. These are some of the best herbal teas for blood pressure management.
1. Chamomile
One of the most popular herbal teas, chamomile is well known for soothing stress and helping us relax. If your stressful lifestyle is putting you at risk of hypertension, chamomile’s calming properties might be a bonus.
Drinking chamomile tea may also help to reduce the levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood, reducing your risk of developing narrowed arteries, which can lead to high blood pressure.
Plus, chamomile’s relaxing effects mean it can help us get a good night’s sleep – another way to reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure.
Enjoy chamomile and other calming herbs in our NutraRelax blend – a perfect choice for anyone battling stress or sleepless nights.
2. Green Tea
Green tea is an absolute powerhouse of polyphenols – plant-based compounds that help to support our health. It’s one of our favourite herbal teas for its many health benefits, including protecting your cardiovascular system.
When it comes to managing your blood pressure, green tea helps in several ways. Firstly, it reduces the amount of fat you absorb from your food, helping to keep your blood lipid levels in the healthy range.
Secondly, it lowers LDL cholesterol levels – the type of cholesterol involved in atherosclerosis. And thirdly, green tea helps to relax the blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily.
3. Garlic
Garlic’s popular association with blood has more to do with keeping vampires away than looking after your heart. But this pungent herb is one of the best-known traditional remedies for cardiovascular issues, including high blood pressure.
Studies have found that garlic can have a significant effect on blood pressure, reducing both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. It also helps to relax the arteries, reduce cholesterol levels, and help blood flow more easily.
Granted, garlic may not be your first thought when choosing a nice cup of tea. We probably wouldn’t suggest drinking it on its own either. But combining garlic with other herbs can give your herbal tea a delicious depth of flavour. And the hot water mellows the taste too, leaving it significantly less pungent than when you eat it raw.
4. Cinnamon
Another great herb for high blood pressure is cinnamon. The flavourful bark gives a comforting sweetness to any herbal tea blend and its health benefits make it an ideal choice for anyone concerned for their cardiovascular health.
Cinnamon reduces both diastolic and systolic blood pressure, especially when taken regularly over three months or more. It appears to relax the blood vessels, helping blood to flow more easily.
Plus, cinnamon can reduce the lipid levels in our blood, lowering LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. In turn, this helps us avoid narrowed arteries and keeps blood circulating around our bodies.
5. Holy Basil
Also known as tulsi, holy basil is native to India and an important herb in Ayurvedic medicine. An adaptogen, it helps our bodies cope with stress – excellent if you are trying to juggle a busy lifestyle.
Because it helps us manage stress and reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression, holy basil can support us in getting a restful night’s sleep. In turn, this reduces the chances of developing high blood pressure.
Holy basil also acts to reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels. And studies have shown that it can significantly lower blood pressure in hypertensive adults.
6. NutraLipid
Green tea, garlic, cinnamon, and holy basil are just some of the ingredients in our NutraLipid blend, a herbal tea aimed at supporting your heart health.
This tea also contains other herbs that help to protect your cardiovascular system, including hawthorn berries, turmeric, fenugreek, and artichoke leaf.
It’s our tea of choice for anyone looking to maintain a healthy blood pressure.
