Cut your blood pressure ...with flaxseeds
HIGH blood pressure is the number-one risk factor for death and disability worldwide, killing nine million people each year.
It puts strain on your heart, can damage sensitive blood vessels in the eyes and kidneys and can cause bleeding in the brain.
Many doctors consider increased blood pressure a natural result of ageing, just like grey hair and wrinkles — after all, more than one in four adults in the UK has high blood pressure. But we’ve known for nearly a century that blood pressure can remain stable throughout life, or even decrease after middle-age.
Commonly prescribed blood pressure pills can reduce the risk of heart attack by 15 per cent and the risk of stroke by about 25 per cent, but in one robust study, three portions of whole grains a day were shown to help people achieve this same benefit without medication.
Patients who consumed a few spoonfuls of flaxseeds every day for six months lowered their blood pressure to a degree that could be expected to result in 46 per cent fewer strokes and 29 per cent fewer instances of heart disease over time. This is one of the most potent changes ever to come from dietary intervention, and is two to three times more effective at lowering blood pressure than exercise (not that you shouldn’t do both).
It’s one reason why flaxseeds hold a vital place in my Daily Dozen (overleaf). Sprinkle a spoonful over cereal, soups, salads and stews every day.