Simple food change 'lowers blood pressure' in 2 hours - and it's not cutting salt

A study has revealed that a simple dietary switch could be the answer for those battling with high blood pressure. Sometimes called the 'silent killer', hypertension can lead to serious health issues if left untreated.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, can stealthily wreak havoc on the body, leading to catastrophic health issues such as heart disease, strokes, kidney damage, and even impaired vision. Without noticeable symptoms, many people remain unaware of the condition until it manifests in severe health complications.

Tim Spector, the brains behind the Zoe app and a professor of genetic epidemiology at King's College London, suggests that we can all benefit from upping our intake of potassium, which aids in expelling salt from our system, and boosting our fibre consumption. "Eating 5g more fibre a day can reduce blood pressure by twice as much as reducing salt," he advises.

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While it's widely acknowledged that salt exacerbates high blood pressure, recent findings have also highlighted the power of beans, particularly darker varieties like red kidney and black beans, in preserving vascular health. Researchers at the University of Manitoba in Canada found that consuming red kidney beans resulted in lower blood pressure within two hours, in contrast to eating rice.

Dark-coloured beans, like red kidney and black beans, pack a punch for blood pressure health, with dieticians noting their significant benefit on blood vessels, reports Surrey Live.

Dietician Dr Linia Patel endorsed convenient canned beans too, saying: "Canned versions of beans provide the same benefits as dried, and you save on overnight soaking."