One dried fruit, which contains more potassium than bananas, could help to lower blood pressure levels.
A delicious dried fruit could help lower blood pressure due to its potassium content. This sweet treat is known to contain more of the mineral than bananas.
High blood pressure is a potentially dangerous health condition believed to impact roughly one-third of British adults, though many remain unaware they suffer from it. Also known as hypertension, it means that the heart must exert additional effort to circulate blood throughout your system.
Consequently, this places additional pressure on the heart alongside other vital organs and blood vessels over time, potentially resulting in permanent harm. It also contributes to numerous severe health complications and ailments, such as cardiac disease, renal disease, strokes, heart failure, and cardiac arrests.
Dietary choices represent one contributing factor to elevated blood pressure, with salt-rich foods being particularly problematic. However, whilst salt can elevate your blood pressure, certain foods can fortunately assist in reducing it – including one delicious dried fruit variety.
Salt elevates blood pressure because sodium prompts the body to retain water. The British Heart Foundation clarifies this process, stating: “If we eat too much sodium, water is pulled back into our bloodstream. The more water in our blood vessels, the higher our blood pressure gets.”
Reducing your salt consumption represents one method to help decrease your blood pressure, though there is also an approach to limit salt’s impact on the body.
Potassium is a mineral present in specific foods that can counteract some difficulties caused by excessive sodium consumption, meaning consuming potassium-rich foods can prove beneficial.
The American Heart Association (AHA) highlights the significance of potassium-rich foods in managing high blood pressure. It explains: “Foods that are rich in potassium are important in managing high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, because potassium lessens the effects of sodium. The more potassium you eat, the more sodium you lose through urine.”
It further clarifies the benefits, stating: “Potassium also helps to ease tension in your blood vessel walls, which helps further lower blood pressure.”
While bananas are commonly recognised for their potassium content, offering about 330mg per 100 grams, there is another fruit that surpasses them.
Dried apricots boast a remarkable 1,162mg (or 1.1g) of potassium per 100g. Experts at health retailer Holland and Barrett weigh in on the discussion, noting: “Since dried apricots contain potassium, they may be able to reduce blood pressure levels. Studies have shown that potassium could reduce high blood pressure in patients with hypertension (high blood pressure).”
In addition to their potential in lowering blood pressure, dried apricots are associated with enhanced heart health, better vision, stronger immune function, and a reduced risk of diabetes.
What counts as high blood pressure?
On its website, the NHS explains that blood pressure readings are given as two numbers, with the first number higher than the second (for example, 130/80). If you are under 80 years of age, you are usually considered to have high blood pressure if your reading is either:
- 140/90 or higher when checked by a healthcare professional
- 135/85 or higher when checked at home
If you are aged 80 or over, you’re usually considered to have high blood pressure if your reading is either:
- 150/90 or higher when checked by a healthcare professional
- 145/85 or higher when checked at home
You can either check your blood pressure with an at-home kit or you can ask your GP or pharmacy to check it for you. If you have any concerns about your blood pressure, you should speak to your GP.