Half of all Americans have high blood pressure (30% of adults worldwide) with the leading cause being atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the arteries). The good news is that we have the power to get it under control, starting with what we eat. Adding fresh fruits and vegetables is a great place to start, and juicing is a great way to get a lot in a small, tasty package. Try my best juice for lowering blood pressure to see how delicious being good to your body can be!
What’s In This Article?
What is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure is when the normal pressure inside your arteries, driven by the heart pumping blood through your circulatory system, is elevated. While blood pressure typically varies throughout the day, high blood pressure is when levels are consistently higher. This condition is also called hypertension.
Blood pressure is quantified as a measurement of the two different levels of pressure in the body: systolic and diastolic. According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure is defined by levels higher than 130/80 mmHg (systolic/diastolic) (1).
Causes and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
Causes of High Blood Pressure
Clinically, there are two types of high blood pressure/hypertension: Primary/Essential and Secondary. The causes for each are a little different. Primary hypertension is typically caused over many years with atherosclerosis (plaque buildup on the artery walls) as the primary cause, which is a direct result of high cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.
Secondary hypertension is a result of an underlying medical condition or drug consumption. This type typically comes on suddenly and with greater physical force than essential hypertension (2).
Some of the associated conditions are:
- Thyroid problems
- Kidney disease
- Lack of exercise
- Consumption of various medications such as pain relievers, cold and cough medicine, and birth control pills
- Tumors of the adrenal gland
- Illicit drug use, particularly cocaine and amphetamines
- Sleep apnea
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
One of the concerning things about high blood pressure is that it’s typically symptom-free, outside of the aforementioned 130/80 mmHG reading. It’s for this reason it’s called a “silent killer”. There are relatively few hypertension sufferers who experience the following symptoms of high blood pressure (3):
- Headaches
- Nosebleeds
- Heart palpitations
What Kind of Juice is Good for High Blood Pressure?
This recipe is a high-blood-pressure knockout! Starting with the beets. These beauties hold high levels of nitrates, which once converted to nitric oxide in the gut, both widen and relax your blood vessels. Why is this important? Relaxed, wide vessels make it easier for blood to travel, thus lowering blood pressure.
Red raspberries step into the blood pressure-lowering game with potassium. This mineral is proven to lower blood pressure and is essential for healthy heart function. These berries also contain anthocyanins, which are shown to increase levels of the ever-important nitric oxide discussed above.
Carrots contain substances called phenolic compounds, p-coumaric and chlorogenic are two, that may help relax blood vessels and reduce overall inflammation. Chronic inflammation is known to raise blood pressure by damaging blood vessels.
Polyphenols in apples are good for lowering oxidized levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol, a molecule that hardens arteries and impacts blood pressure. Herbs like parsley again bring those nitrates so key to lowering blood pressure and improving blood flow.
Studies show that ginger reduces blood pressure by acting like a natural calcium channel blocker and ACE inhibitor, both of which help relax blood vessels. The curcumin in turmeric helps lower inflammation and increase nitric oxide production. Limes are thought to help reduce blood pressure thanks to their citric acid and bioflavonoids.
Great Juicer for Fruits and Vegetables
I made Blood Bathe using the Kuvings REVO830 juicer. It handled it like a dream because it’s such a great juicer for fruits and vegetables! Make cold-press juice quickly and a whole lot more!
- Minimal Chopping
- Dual-Feed Produce Hopper
- Makes Smoothies, Nice Cream, and Nut Milk
- Super Quiet Operation
- Ability to Run Non-Stop for 45 Minutes
- 15-Year Warranty
- Can Clog on Pineapple and Soft Fruits
- Doesn't Fit Under Some Cabinets
- Requires Consistent Feeding
The Kuvings REVO830 does something the juicing industry isn’t used to – make cold-press juice FAST. Experienced juicers know that cold press and fast typically don’t go together, but the REVO830 makes it happen thanks to its dual-feed produce hopper.
How? By greatly eliminating the need to chop the vast majority of ingredients. It does this by having one side handle large items like oranges, beets, and apples while the other does long produce, such as carrots, celery, greens, and cucumbers. Basically, if it fits in either chute just pop it in!
But the REVO830 doesn’t just make great juice fast, it also does sorbets, nut milk, smoothies, and nice cream. It has a rugged upgraded motor that is very quiet with the ability to run non-stop for up to 45 minutes.
This model is backed by an incredible 15-year warranty. I absolutely recommend the Kuvings REVO830 for any home juicer. It’s one of my go-to’s, and I love it!
Here’s The Recipe!
Print
Blood Bathe
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 32 fl oz 1x
Ingredients
- 4 Beets
- 1 1/2 pint Red Raspberries
- 2 Carrots
- 2 Apples
- 1 Handful Parsley
- 3 inch Thumb Ginber
- 3 inch Thumb Turmeric
- 1 Lime
Instructions
- Scrub the beets, carrots, ginger, and turmeric.
- Rinse the raspberries (carefully, as they’re fragile).
- Core the apples (optional).
- Rinse and pat dry the parsley.
- Peel the lime (optional).
- Run the ingredients through your juicer and enjoy!!!
Notes
I don’t core my apples before juicing them. This fact is something that I get a lot of worried comments about from folks citing cyanide poising via apple seeds.
Here are the facts: Apple seed DO contain a small amount of cyanide. However, you would need to eat and meticulously chew up and swallow anywhere from 150 to several thousand seeds (depending on the apple variety) to be at risk.
So, juicing a few apple cores for a typical single-serving juice recipe isn’t going to lead to poisoning. Definitely do what feels right for you, but now you know why I don’t typically core my apples before juicing. No matter what you do, always remember to Stay Juicy!!! 🙂
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Category: Juicing for Health
Keywords: blood pressure, juicing for blood pressure, beet juice, carrot juice
More Juicing Recipes to Lower Blood Pressure
Looking for more ways to address hypertension? Add these juicing recipes to lower blood pressure to your better body toolkit!
- Make it a one-two punch with my Juicing to Lower Cholesterol and Blood Pressure recipe!
- Who knew this liquid pumpkin pie recipe could help with hypertension?
- Try some Real Fruit Punch to help lower your blood pressure!
Post a comment below if you try this recipe. We’d LOVE to hear from you!
