THIS Cheap Fruit Could Lower Your Blood Pressure Better Than Low-salt Diet; Know How Bananas Benefit Your Heart

Heart attacks and strokes are among the most common causes of death across the world. According to experts, there are many lifestyle and diet changes along with medication that prevent heart issues caused by high blood pressure. However, you can lower your hypertension in a natural and completely effective way.

According to a new study conducted by the University of Waterloo, eating foods like bananas—loaded with potassium—may be more effective than just reducing your salt or sodium intake alone. A single banana can be bought for as little as Rs. 10 from your local market.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects around one in four adults, or 220 million adults across the world. However, a concerningly low percentage, estimated at only 12 per cent have their blood pressure effectively controlled. According to doctors, apart from being the leading cause of coronary heart disease and stroke, it also causes other serious conditions like chronic kidney disease, heart failure, irregular heartbeats, and dementia.

"Usually, when we have high blood pressure, we are advised to eat less salt," said Anita Layton, professor of applied mathematics, computer science, pharmacy, and biology at the University of Waterloo and the Canada 150 Research Chair in Mathematical Biology and Medicine. "Our research suggests that adding more potassium-rich foods to your diet, such as bananas or broccoli, might have a greater positive impact on your blood pressure than just cutting sodium."

Both sodium and potassium are important electrolytes that your body needs to maintain fluid balance and nerve and muscle function, as well as blood pressure levels.

"Early humans ate lots of fruits and vegetables, and as a result, our body's regulatory systems may have evolved to work best with a high potassium, low sodium diet," said Dr. Melissa Stadt, in Waterloo's Department of Applied Mathematics and the lead author of the study.

Previous research has found increasing potassium intake can help control blood pressure. However, in this study, to understand how increasing potassium intake controls blood pressure, the team developed a mathematical model. The model identifies how the ratio of potassium to sodium impacts the body. It showed men develop high blood pressure more easily than premenopausal women. However, men were also more likely to respond positively to an increased ratio of potassium to sodium.

According to scientists, models like this one can help identify how different factors impact your body quickly, at a low cost, and ethically.

Other good sources of potassium that have a positive effect on your blood pressure and heart health include avocados, dried apricots, kidney beans, and various nuts.

Also, dark chocolate—packed with cacao—contains flavonoids, an antioxidant that is extremely essential for reducing blood pressure.

A few ways to naturally lower hypertension with a few tweaks in your lifestyle include:

Eating food with probiotics - consumable live bacteria—has been linked to healthier blood pressure.

According to experts, extra pounds cause heart muscle injury.

Daily and regular physical activity can be as beneficial to your heart as medication in some cases.

While everyone has some stress in their lives, prolonged anxiety and depression can raise your blood pressure and keep it higher longer than is healthy. One way to relax your mind, body, and blood pressure is by doing meditation and practicing yoga.

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