Ancient Spice Helps Balance Blood Pressure

You’re probably tired of hearing about the importance of maintaining healthy blood pressure. And who could blame you?

Every time you pick up the paper, check your email, or turn on the TV, there's another advertisement for some risky blood pressure drug promising to lower your blood pressure.

The only problem? That long list of potential side effects, including stomach issues, problems in the bedroom, and even insomnia.1

Now, don't get us wrong, sometimes a prescription is necessary; however, we've found that in most situations, blood pressure can be effectively lowered through a combination of lifestyle changes and the right natural remedies. One of these natural remedies is the ancient spice cardamom.2

Cardamom is a plant native to India. Its flavorful seeds have been a staple in Indian cuisine for centuries. But there's more to this potent plant than its rich flavor. You see, cardamom has also been used in Ayurvedic medicine to fight diabetes, prevent cancer, and even gum disease.3 Now, we know it can help you balance your blood pressure, too.

Safely Lowered Blood Pressure in Clinical Study

In a recent study, researchers gave 20 participants with high blood pressure 3 grams of cardamom powder daily for 12 weeks. All participants provided blood samples every four weeks to measure their antioxidant levels during the research period, indicating the cardamom was being absorbed and working.

Researchers concluded that cardamom therapy significantly decreased all participants' systolic (top number), diastolic (bottom number), and average blood pressure. Their systolic blood pressure sank 19 points!

Even better? Most folks saw their blood pressure drop into the normal range without any side effects.

Additionally, the results showed that cardamom increased participants' total antioxidant levels by 90 percent, indicating that the spice positively affected the body.4

How Does Cardamom Work?

Cardamom works against high blood pressure because it's loaded with potent antioxidants. These antioxidant molecules help shield your cardiovascular system from inflammation at the root of many blood pressure issues.5,6,7

Additionally, this spice is a natural diuretic, meaning it helps your body process and remove excess fluid. Excessive fluid can increase the stress and pressure on your heart and blood vessels, increasing your systolic blood pressure.8

Cardamom also works as a natural calcium channel blocker to decrease heart pressure. Finally, it relaxes blood vessels to promote better blood flow and balanced blood pressure.8

How to Use Cardamom

Cardamom is available as a cooking spice, tea, and supplement. Research shows that 3 grams of a cardamom supplement would help you achieve a therapeutic dose to support balanced blood pressure.

Of course, cardamom isn't the only all-natural blood pressure helper. You can also try cocoa polyphenols or grape seed extract, which have been shown to lower blood pressure significantly. As always, check with your doctor before starting a new supplement or stopping a current medication.

The Best Blood Pressure-Lowering Diet

It's estimated that 80 percent of high blood pressure is caused by lifestyle choices, such as unhealthy eating patterns, lack of exercise, and weight gain. Therefore, your diet and lifestyle are the most effective first-line treatments for high blood pressure.

Since your diet directly affects your blood pressure levels, it's important to consider which foods raise or lower them. In most people, lowering salt intake reduces blood pressure. As you cut back on salt, increase your potassium intake to see even better results! Doctors recommend lowering sodium below 1,500 mg daily if you struggle with high blood pressure.

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is one of the most effective. It's filled with fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, whole grains, healthy fats, and very little sugar and alcohol.9

Exercise is Crucial

The evidence suggests that exercise is as effective as some medications, especially when weight loss is involved. Doctors recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-high-intensity aerobic exercise per week. Resistance training is also important.

But don't let these recommendations put you off regular exercise. As we always say, get moving, even if it's only a walk around your neighborhood. The research is clear that regular daily movement is helpful to your health.