Reducing blood pressure

[Dodie66]

How long does it take to reduce blood pressure ? I have been told mine is slightly raised just over 140/90 and I need to try and reduce it by cutting down on salt, caffiene etc and getting exercise, I also have to redo the readings in a few weeks and they will review in 6 months, did you manage to get yours down using lifestyle and diet changes and how quickly did I go down? Thanks

Regular walks and a glass of beetroot juice every night. Got mine down from 162/104 to 124/72 in about 6 weeks.

What @OneOpenPlumOrca says! Beetroot juice is a bit of an acquired taste but I sip my glass while I'm watching TV in the evening and I don't really notice it. My BP was only slightly raised, but it's normal now.

The walking should be fairly brisk. You could even try Couch To Five K - I'm 50 and never thought I'd manage it but I'm only five runs from the end of the programme now, running for 25 minutes at a time, which I hadn't done since I left school!

That's interesting about beetroot juice. Do they all taste similar or is one brand a better taste?

DH mixed his beetroot juice with a little orange juice. How long did it take to have an effect for you lot? It doesn’t really seem to have worked for him.

I had high blood pressure and was prescribed tablets. As I hate taking tablets, I joined a gym, got fit and lost a shedload of weight. Got made redundant and decided to retire early, blood pressure dropped slightly due to the lack of stress from that. But I'm still on the tablets. Doctor says it's probably a hereditary thing for me.

@AutumnFroglets the brand I get (Beet It) contains 10% apple juice. I've tried another brand as well, but they both tasted very similar.

@olderbutwiser I checked my BP within a couple of weeks of starting to drink beetroot juice regularly, and it had already come down into the normal range (this was before I began C25K), and it's stayed there for a couple of years now. I think it works quickly (within hours) but you need to drink it regularly to maintain the effect. As I understand it, the nitrates in beetroot juice dilate blood vessels, which lower blood pressure. However, there are different causes of high blood pressure and if the raised blood pressure is due to a factor that doesn't respond to nitrates, then it won't work.

Tried beetroot juice but didn't like the taste.. do the tablets work as well

You can absolutely reduce it with lifestyle changes, but your age is important here too? Beetroot, liquorice etc. Coffee, alcohol and cigarettes all shove it up, keep hydrated. However, if you live a lifestyle that is fairly healthy it may just be genetic. Don't worry, it is barely over guidelines.

*mirrensidhe are you staying beetroot makes it go up? *

other posters are saying beetroot juice makes it go down.
I checked it yesterday and it was higher, the GP said if it goes above 179/119 and doesn’t go dow to get an appointment. Not that high yet, I’ll try the beetroot juice. I quite like beetroot. Due to other health conditions I find it difficult to exercise a lot but have started doing walks . Thanks everyone for your advice

ToplessWordle
how much beetroot juice do you drink each day? Just wondered what the recommended amount is? Thanks

I have about 200ml, I don’t measure it but a litre bottle lasts 5 days.

Reading with interest. I’m still 185/100 with tablets!

I’m overweight, but not obese. I walk a lot and have been doing Zoe for 8 months so diet is pretty good. I feel so down about it.

Will try beet root juice!

One small glass/tumbler - I haven't measured it, but would imagine that it contains 150 - 200ml.

Thanks everyone for your advice. Ordered beetroot juice from Tesco. Delivery tomorrow and will try it. Luckily I love beetroot 🙂🙂