Who's hungry for some sweet goodness that can lower blood pressure?
If you've read our recipe posts on spinach or sweet potatoes you already know that vegetables and roots are superfoods that can lower your blood pressure and improve your heart health. But did you know some sweet treats can also lower blood pressure? To crave your sweet tooth hankerings, this week we’re focusing on bananas!
A banana a day keeps the heart doctor away!
Bananas are high in potassium and low in salt. Because of this they are officially recognized by the FDA for their ability to lower blood pressure and protect against heart attack and stroke. One Indian study has shown that just two bananas a day can reduce your blood pressure by 10 percent! Bananas are also recommended by the DASH Diet. The fact that they are also incredibly tasty is just icing on the cake!We’ve collected some of the best recipes for banana smoothies, pancakes, bars and more. Each of them has their own unique, sweet attraction. All of them will help you in your fight against hypertension. Give them a try!Tasty Classic Banana BreadDelicious Banana Quinoa PancakesGingersnap-Banana Frozen Yogurt Amazing Banana-Hazelnut SmoothieDelightful Banana Walnut Oat Bars Sources:
1. Gazit T, Gutman M, Beatty AL. Assessment of Hypertension Control Among Adults Participating in a Mobile Technology Blood Pressure Self-management Program. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(10):e2127008, https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.27008. Accessed October 19, 2022. (Some study authors are employed by Hello Heart. Because of the observational nature of the study, causal conclusions cannot be made. See additional important study limitations in the publication. This study showed that 108 participants with baseline blood pressure over 140/90 who had been enrolled in the program for 3 years and had application activity during weeks 148-163 were able to reduce their blood pressure by 21 mmHg using the Hello Heart program.) (2) Livongo Health, Inc. Form S-1 Registration Statement. https:/www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1639225/000119312519185159/d731249ds1.htm. Published June 28, 2019. Accessed October 19, 2022. (In a pilot study that lasted six weeks, individuals starting with a blood pressure of greater than 140/90 mmHg, on average, had a 10 mmHG reduction.) NOTE: This comparison is not based on a head-to-head study, and the difference in results may be due in part to different study protocols.
2. Validation Institute. 2021 Validation Report (Valid Through October 2022). https://validationinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Hello_Heart-Savings-2021- Final.pdf. Published October 2021. Accessed October 19, 2022. (This analysis was commissioned by Hello Heart, which provided a summary report of self-fundedemployer client medical claims data for 203 Hello Heart users and 200 non-users from 2017-2020. Findings have not been subjected to peer review.)