Naturally Lower Blood Pressure with Papaya

“Let thy food be thy medicine.”  If Hippocrates could see us popping pills made in a laboratory for treating the high blood pressure we get from a poor diet, hope would likely be lost. These drugs—like many allopathic remedies—come with side effects, safety hazards, and lighter pocketbooks. Meanwhile, there are numerous ways to naturally lower blood pressure, with food and dietary changes being the most beneficial. One such food that has been shown to be a fantastic hypertension aid is papaya.

Papayas are High in Potassium

We’ve already extolled the natural benefits of papaya leaf extract. It’s anti-inflammatory, breaks down proteins and aids digestion, and strengthens the immune system. An article in an issue of Phytotherapy Research also says that a compound in papayas can also naturally lower blood pressure, and may have a future in an anti-hypertension treatment plan.

About 1 in 3 American adults experience high blood pressure today due to smoking, obesity, salty diets, and other poor lifestyle choices.  Hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and heart disease, which is responsible for 1 in 4 deaths in America. The outlook seems bleak.

There are easy (and cheap) solutions, however, for treating high blood pressure. One papaya contains 781 mg of potassium, a mineral and electrolyte that helps control blood pressure. In fact, the American Heart Association recommends we each get 4,700 mg of potassium a day to regulate our blood pressure.

The authors of the article in question studied the effects of papaya extract on the blood pressure of laboratory animals. Author A. E. Eno declared the fruit contained anti-hypertensive properties and more research was necessary to determine if the effect would be seen in humans. Luckily, the Food and Drug Administration hasn’t approved papaya extract as a pharmaceutical product yet, as a number of questionable products would likely cloud the market. Instead, they’re too busy making money off of pharmaceutical drugs while chastising natural solutions.

Naturally Lower Blood Pressure with Papaya and Other Foods

Papayas are easy fruit to incorporate into your diet. Try eating or juicing it like any other fruit or adding it to salsas, smoothies, and parfaits. If you want a potent papaya leaf extract supplement, there are certainly some available. Consuming the fruit is a great way to experience the benefits papayas have to offer, but taking a supplement can be much simpler and oftentimes more effective.

Needless to say, papayas aren’t the only home remedies for high blood pressure. Coconut water, black tea, watermelon extract, and hibiscus tea are all great foods that help lower blood pressure. Instead of turning to questionable pharmaceuticals, naturally lower blood pressure simply by eating.

Additional Sources:

National Center for Biotechnology Information

LiveStrong