If you have hypertension, your doctor will tell you to cut back on sodium. In fact, you need to aim for less than 1,000mg per day.

If you are overweight, then you will also be advised to lose weight, exercise and reduce stress.

These are both primary lines of defense towards getting your blood pressure regulated, and protecting you from further complications.

Myself and other experts agree that you must also monitor your risk for inflammatory conditions that can arise from hypertension. If your blood pressure is high, and had been for a while, then there’s a good chance your arteries are inflamed, which increases your risk for a coronary event…like a heart attack.

To reduce your risk, and to naturally adopt a “cleaner” and more nutritious diet, add the following foods to your daily meal plan:

1) Onions – add raw or cooked to meals twice daily.
2) Garlic – 1 clove or 400mg. per day of allicin
3) Omega 3’s – 1500-3,000 mg of EPA DHA
4) Plant Sterols – found in plant-based foods such as legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains and of course fruit and veggies.
5) Chocolate – I’m all for a good piece of dark chocolate – 1-2 small squares (size of a stamp) a day keeps the doctor away.
6) Red Wine – keep it to 4-6 oz. per day of anti-oxidant rich Pinot Noir.
7) Leafy Greens – try kale, arugula, spinach and chard for yummy salads and side dishes. Colorful Fruit – red grapes, pomegranate, blueberries, acai, goji berries, cranberries and tomatoes are also loaded with powerful antioxidants.
9) Magnesium-rich foods – whole grains, soybeans, avocado, beets and raisins. Or as a supplement take 400-600 mg. per day.
10) Olive Oil – this contains healthy monounsaturated fats which help to raise good cholesterol and less inflammatory than hydrogenated fats found in processed foods.

Limit your intake of pro-inflammatory foods such as sugar, caffeine, red meat and high-fat dairy.

For yummy recipes, visit www.maxlifetherapies.com