Although high blood pressure can have serious consequences -- it increases your risk of heart disease -- you can make dietary changes to address the condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, 31 percent of Americans have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Consuming healthy foods such as kelp may help you reduce your blood pressure due to the nutrients it provides. Consult a doctor before attempting to address any medical problems with supplements.
Low in Calories
Eating kelp may help you lower your blood pressure if you eat it in place of higher calorie foods, as kelp is low in calories. A 100 g serving of kelp provides just 43 calories, which is much less than other types of vegetables. For instance, a 100 g potato contains 136 calories. Eating low-calorie foods can be helpful for blood pressure management because being obese or overweight can increase your risk of hypertension. If you switched from eating a 100 g jacket potato to 100 g of kelp each day, you'd save 651 calories weekly, enough to lose nearly 1/5 of a pound from that change alone.
Lack of Saturated and Trans Fat
Kelp is low in fat, as each 100 g serving contains just .6 g of total fat. The seaweed contains minimal levels of saturated fat and trans fat, both of which can increase your cholesterol levels. As MayoClinic.com explains, having high cholesterol is a risk factor for high blood pressure, so eating kelp in place of fattier foods may help you reduce your blood pressure.
Low in Sugar
Kelp is low in sugar. Each 100 g serving of kelp contains just .6 g of sugar, which can be beneficial if you're trying to manage your blood pressure. A May 2010 study from the journal "Circulation" found that increased intake of sugar was associated with increases in blood pressure, so replacing high-sugar snacks with kelp may help to reduce your blood pressure.
Moderate Sodium Content
Kelp isn't low in sodium, which can be problematic for managing blood pressure. A 100 g serving of kelp contains 233 mg of sodium, which is 10 percent of the daily suggested intake of 2,300 mg. If you already have high blood pressure, MayoClinic.com suggests reducing your daily sodium intake to 1,500 mg, so a 100 g serving of kelp would contribute 15.5 percent of this amount. Too much sodium can increase your blood pressure, so watching sodium intake is vital for blood pressure management.
Low Potassium Content
One way to counteract the effect of sodium is to consume adequate levels of potassium, as this nutrient can help balance the amount of fluids in your body. Unfortunately, kelp is low in potassium, with just 89 mg. The daily suggested intake of potassium is 2,000 mg, so this serving contains less than 5 percent of that amount and may not be high enough to affect your blood pressure.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; High Blood Pressure Facts; March 2011
- USDA National Nutrient Database: Seaweed, Kelp, Raw
- LIVESTRONG.COM MyPlate: Calories in 100 g Jacket Potato
- Mayo Clinic; High Blood Pressure (Hypertension); March 2011
- PubMed Health; Tips For Losing Weight; October 2009
- American Heart Association; Knowing Your Fats; September 2010
