High blood pressure is a life-threatening condition if left untreated. Fortunately, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can lower a person’s reading. Diet plays an essential role in achieving this. In addition to eating heart-healthy foods, research suggests taking certain supplements can help.

Here are three such supplements:

Potassium

Potassium is a mineral that helps to counteract the effects of sodium on blood pressure. Consuming too much sodium is one of the leading causes of high blood pressure. A meta-analysis of over 30 studies found that potassium may help to prevent and control high blood pressure. As Holland Barrett reports, while most people can get all all the potassium they need from eating a balanced diet, potassium supplements are sometimes recommended for people with high blood pressure, along with a low-sodium diet.

In addition, a meta-analysis of fifteen randomised trials found that potassium supplementation is associated with reduction of blood pressure in patients who are not on antihypertensive medication and the effect is significant in hypertensive patients.

Antioxidants are compounds that are thought to play a role in boosting heart health

NHS

According to Holland and Barrett, a person should not exceed more than 3,700mg of potassium supplementation a day as this could trigger stomach ache and diarrhoea.

CoQ10

Coenzyme Q10 (also known as ubiquinone) is an antioxidant that helps a person’s cells produce energy.

Antioxidants are compounds that are thought to play a role in boosting heart health such as protecting against heart disease, explained the NHS.

In an analysis of clinical trials, CoQ10 brought down diastolic blood pressure by up to 10 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and systolic blood pressure by 17 mm Hg.

Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure are the numbers used to measure blood pressure.

The former measures the pressure in a person’s blood vessels when their heart beats.

Diastolic blood pressure measures the pressure in a person’s blood vessels when their heart rests between beats.

Holland and Barrett recommends taking one capsule a day, preferably with a meal.

Garlic

Garlic may be a popular cooking ingredient but evidence suggests it can also help to lower blood pressure.

One meta-analysis revealed that garlic significantly lowered both diastolic and systolic blood pressure in randomised clinical trials.

While garlic can be consumed raw or in supplement form, one study found that aged garlic extract supplement may reverse the buildup of deadly plaque in arteries and help prevent the progression of heart disease – a major risk factor associated with high blood pressure.

Holland and Barrett recommends taking one capsule a day, preferably with a meal.

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