Free radicals are chemicals in your body that are produced when you are exposed to the sun, alcohol, tobacco smoke and pollution. Antioxidants are natural substances that can stop cell damage caused by free radicals. If you have high blood pressure, your doctor might recommend that you increase your consumption of foods containing antioxidants. Do not take any dietary supplements without the advice and supervision of your doctor.
What is High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the amount of force that it takes to move your blood through the blood vessels in your body. Your doctor can measure it with a device called a sphygmomanometer, or blood pressure cuff, and a stethoscope. When you have your blood pressure taken, you will be given two numbers: the top, or systolic, number indicates the amount of pressure present when your heart contracts, and the bottom, or diastolic, number indicates the amount of pressure present when your heart is resting. Ideally, your blood pressure should be less than 120/80. If it is higher than that, you may have hypertension, or high blood pressure.
How Do Antioxidants Help?
One of the benefits of antioxidants is that they can help restore elasticity to your blood vessels. The more elastic, or flexible, your blood vessels are, the less pressure your heart needs to exert to pump your blood. This can lower your blood pressure. Although consuming antioxidants can help your blood pressure if it is high, they are not a substitute for blood pressure medication. Do not stop taking any medication that your doctor has prescribed without talking to him first.
Foods Containing Antioxidants
Red wine is a good source of a type of antioxidant called polyphenols. A daily glass of red wine may contribute to heart health, but excessive alcohol consumption can be harmful. Ask your doctor whether drinking red wine would help lower your blood pressure. A variety of fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants. Strawberries and citrus fruits contain vitamin C; watermelon, pink grapefruit and tomatoes contain lycopene; carrots, pumpkin and peaches contain beta carotene, and vitamin E is contained in leafy green vegetables. Cereals, nuts and eggs also contain antioxidants.
Dangers of High Blood Pressure
Hypertension is sometimes called "the silent killer," because it often causes no symptoms. If you do have high blood pressure, you may be at risk for heart failure, stroke and kidney failure. For this reason, it is important for adults to have their blood pressure checked every two years if previous readings have been normal, and every year if previous readings have indicated prehypertension or hypertension.
