Foods to Lower Blood Pressure during Pregnancy

Among the many complications that a women suffers while getting ready to give birth to a new life, one of them is high blood pressure. As soon as a woman conceives, the body automatically starts preparing itself for accommodating the growing baby. This preparation involves many changes, and one of such changes is increased blood flow in the body to cater to the need of the growing baby. While a slight amount of increased blood pressure is somewhat alright, a drastic increase in the same can result in hypertension, which if left unattended, can harm both the expecting mother and the baby. Women who are becoming a mother for the very first time have more chances of suffering from high blood pressure, which is also referred to as gestational hypertension. However, you must get yourself checked thoroughly at regular intervals so that you don't develop preeclampsia, which is a serious condition of elevated blood pressure, which can prove fatal for both the mother and the baby.

Yes, it is true that pregnancy can be a little difficult at times, and that the mother needs to be under constant care and attention to keep a check on her and the baby's health. However, that doesn't mean that you have to panic and get worried about every thing… and such a thing is noticeable in most of the 'first time mothers'! 



You need to realize that you are helping a new life develop within you, which is a blessing in itself. If there are any health complications, then your body is prepared to deal with that as well! As this article focuses on high blood pressure during pregnancy, we shall talk about this very problem only! While a doctor is always there to help you, there are many things that you can also do to lower your elevated blood pressure to normal. This includes taking adequate rest, staying happy and eating the right foods to lower blood pressure during pregnancy! 



Food Items which can Lower the Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

There are many natural ways to lower blood pressure, and one of those ways is to eat foods that can naturally help you lower the elevated blood pressure during pregnancy, or even otherwise! Before we list out the food items which can be helpful to maintain a healthy blood pressure, you must consult your doctor before consuming them in case you have allergies or some other issue with the particular food item. However, these food items if consumed in the proper amount shouldn't be a problem, but do check with your health specialist just in case. So what are the foods to lower blood pressure during pregnancy? Have a look!

DASH Diet
The famous diet for hypertension known as the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) consists of many food items in prescribed quantities that can contribute in lowering blood pressure naturally. This diet consists of a balance of vitamins, minerals, and necessary nutrition so that your body is fully nourished. The DASH diet recommends that each food group should consist of a 2000 calorie per day servings. Have a look at some of the food items included in the DASH diet that can help lower blood pressure levels during pregnancy.

• Whole grains including brown rice, brown bread, whole wheat pasta and so on: 7-8 servings
• Fresh and healthy vegetables like carrots, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, celery etc: 5-6 servings
• Healthy fruits like apples, oranges, all types of berries, water melon, grape fruit etc: 4-6 servings
• 2-3 servings per day of dairy products like milk, yogurt, cheese etc. (low fat of course), also helps in lowering blood pressure.
• Lean meat, fish and poultry items: 2 or less servings
• Legumes, nuts and seeds: 4-5 servings weekly
• Sweets: Less than 5 times in a week
• Fats (no trans fat) and Oils: 2-3 servings in a day

Potassium
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that ideally your diet should include 4700 mg of potassium daily. Consuming too much of it can cause various health issues related to your kidney. One of the benefits of consuming potassium is that it also helps in lowering the effect of sodium in the body. Below mentioned is a list of food items rich in potassium.

• Bananas
• Tuna
• Spinach
• Oranges
• Fat free Yogurt
• Green Peas
• Mushrooms
• Sweet Potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Potatoes
• Skimmed Milk
• Prunes
• Pears
• Almonds and raisins
• Dates
• Figs
• Apricots

Calcium
A pregnant women should also consume adequate amount of calcium as it is needed for the growth of the baby. If the amount of calcium is insufficient, then the body first caters to the need of the baby and then the mother. For this, the calcium is taken from the bones of the mother, which may lead to osteoporosis. Not only this, calcium rich foods also help in lowering the blood pressure of the body. It is important for a pregnant women to eat about 1500-2000 mg of calcium on a daily basis. Have a look at the food items rich in calcium mentioned below.

• Low fat cheese
• Skimmed milk
• Eggnog
• Dark green leafy vegetables
• Celery
• Yogurt, plain or fruit
• Salmon
• Almonds
• Peas
• Milk shakes
• White beans
• Brussels sprouts
• Tofu
• Sesame seeds
• Broccoli

Magnesium
Not only does magnesium help in lowering high blood pressure during pregnancy, it also plays an important role in relaxing and repairing the tissues of the body. Studies show that it also helps in preventing premature contractions of the uterus. A pregnant women needs about 300-400 mg of magnesium per day depending upon her age. Below mentioned are the food items rich in magnesium.

• Soy milk
• Broccoli
• Beans
• Whole wheat bread
• Oatmeal
• Cashews
• Brown rice
• Chinook salmon
• Tofu
• Halibut
• Okra
• Oysters
• Nuts

Apart from consuming the above mentioned foods to lower blood pressure during pregnancy, one must also keep a check on their daily sodium intake. Too much of sodium in the diet can also elevate the levels of blood pressure in the body. Therefore make sure that you stay away from the processed food items, or even junk food items for that matter! It is advisable to consume less than 2 tsp of sodium everyday. So, minimize your sodium intake as much as you can. Always check the ingredients and the nutrition chart to determine what you should eat and what you should not. Not taking too much of stress would also help in keeping your blood pressure within the normal range. I mean we all know how the levels shoot up when we take stress, right? So just celebrate your pregnancy and enjoy the experiences that will help you realize what exactly being a complete woman is. Take care.