From our parents to our grandparents, uncles and aunts we all must have come across them talking about taking BP tablets and how high blood pressure/ hypertension affects them. Hypertension is caused when there is an imbalance in the doshas of our body- Vata, pitta and kapha. This can cause both high and low blood pressure. With the help of ayurveda, and a personalized approach we can make informed decisions when it comes to our lifestyle choices and food habits to maintain good health. This exploration will discuss what to eat and avoid and other practices to manage high blood pressure.  

Ayurvedic diet for high blood pressure 

As usual a balanced diet is important to stay healthy as the body requires all the vitamins and minerals equally. But there are a few things to look out for.  

Foods to include:

• Vegetables: Especially carrot, radish, amla, bitter gourd, Pumpkin 

• Fresh fruits: Black grape, pomegranate, apple, pineapple 

•  Wheat, green chana, maize.  

• Cold milk 

• Quinoa, brown rice and other whole grains  

• Lean proteins: fish and poultry  

• Healthy fats like avocado and olive oil 

• Spices: Turmeric, cumin and ginger  

Foods to avoid: 

• Excessive sodium/ salt intake. 

• Processed and packaged foods  

• Fried and fatty foods  

• Alcohol 

• Caffeine  

Herbal remedies for Hypertension 

Nature has answers for the majority of the diseases, offering us a wide range of herbs and spices with health benefits.  

• Arjuna: This herb is known for its properties of protection cardio health. 

• Brahmi: This aids in managing stress related blood pressure and calms the nervous system.  

• Ashwagandha: This helps in adapting the body to stressors and strengthens it. 

• Jatamansi: An herb that is proven to improve the heart’s function and regularize heart rate.  

• Sarpa Gandha: This is considered one of the many natural remedies that aid in managing blood pressure.  

Lifestyle practices 

This is one of the major causes of hypertension in today’s world. The fast-paced environment and busy schedule create stress which has a significant impact on blood pressure. Practicing yoga, meditation and breathing exercise will help in releasing the buildup stress.  

Including 30 mins of physical activity in your everyday routine like walking, yoga, gym helps in having a rested sleep and relaxes the whole body.  

With all these holistic approaches and a few changes in our routine, we can manage blood pressure the natural way. Along with ayurveda and right guidance we can overcome the obstacles that we face in our lives and stay healthy.