People who have high blood pressure are often prescribed numerous medications to treat the condition. For those wishing to try and reduce their blood pressure using natural methods, there are some great ways to help yourself.

Here are a few examples of natural ways to reduce your blood pressure.

1. Pay attention to nutrition

It is important that you understand the ingredients in the foods that you eat. Aiming to limit your sodium intake to less than 400mg per day can help lower your blood pressure.

2. Get enough potassium

Foods with potassium help to balance the sodium in your body. Many fruits contain high levels of potassium and can help, including bananas, prune juice, raisins, mangoes, kiwi, oranges, pears and honeydew melon. Add enough fruits to your diet to balance your sodium intake, and you will see your blood pressure go down a bit.

3. Whole grains help a whole lot

Whole grains are heart healthy, and this is in part due to the fact that they can help to reduce blood pressure. Adding in Omega-3 fatty acids can also help.

4. Certain herbs can help

There are certain herbs that are known to have a reducing effect on blood pressure. These include cinnamon, basil and garlic. Each of these helps blood vessels to dilate, which helps lower your blood pressure.

5. Reduce alcohol intake

For those who do enjoy having a few drinks, cutting back can help to reduce your blood pressure. When you limit yourself to about two drinks per week, you will see your blood pressure come down.

6. Cut out all refined sugars

When you eliminate refined sugar from your diet, you not only lose weight but you also will have a lower blood pressure.

7. Quit smoking

Smoking is a known cause for high blood pressure. If you want to reduce your blood pressure, it’s time to quit now. If you are having trouble quitting, then consult your physician regarding strategies, programs and even medications that may help.

8. Get more exercise

Physical activity is known to help reduce blood pressure. It can also be a big help if you are trying to control your weight. When you exercise, your blood pressure will usually come down naturally.

9. Get plenty of rest

Getting enough sleep is important for controlling your blood pressure. When you sleep your blood pressure goes down. Growth hormones also help to heal your body and control your blood pressure, so make sure you are getting plenty of good rest.

The bottom line is that, in order to reduce your blood pressure using natural measures, it all comes down to diet and exercise, and having a healthy lifestyle. If you do have high blood pressure, it is important to consult with your doctor before you stop taking any prescribed medications and using natural methods, but, in most cases, patients and doctors can work together for effective results.