Eating For Health

Has your health care provider told you that you have high blood pressure? You’re far from alone. Nearly half of U.S. adults— 48.1% or 119.9 million people —are living with high blood pressure , according to the CDC . Because hypertension raises the risk of heart disease and stroke , finding the right eating pattern can be one of the most powerful tools for protecting your long‑term health. Each year, U.S. News & World Report evaluates dozens of diets. For 2025–2026, they highlight the eating patterns most effective for lowering blood pressure , improving overall wellness. Let’s break down what high blood pressure is, what foods help, what to avoid, and which diets experts say rise above the rest. 💓 What Is High Blood Pressure? High blood pressure ( hypertension ) occurs when the force of blood pushing against artery walls is consistently too high. Over time, this damages blood vessels and increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and more. Hypertensi...

According to the University of Southern California , almost half of Americans over the age of 20 have high blood pressure.   This means an astounding 122 million Americans.   Unfortunately, as you get older it is more likely to have blood pressure increase.   Many people don’t even know they have high blood pressure or hypertension.   The American Heart Association notes at first there are “no obvious symptoms to indicate something is wrong, but HBP can lead to heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.”    A relative was asking what they could do diet wise to help lower their blood pressure.   We had already discussed the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension).   (See:   Best Diets for Healthy Eating in 2024 .) and physical activity.    Diet wise, they were cutting back on sodium and increasing potassium foods but were wondering if there were anything else like any drinks that could help lower blood pressure?  ...

Google “blueberries and health” and you will see article after article about the health benefits of blueberries.   My sister sent me one titled, 7 Science-Backed Benefits of Blueberries .   Growing up I often went blueberry picking with my grandparents.      My grandmother then made blueberry muffins, blueberry pie and blueberry sauce.    Little did I know that wild blueberries were especially healthy.        What are some of the health benefits of blueberries?          Heart health:   Blueberries help lower your bad LDL cholesterol while increasing your good, HDL cholesterol.   Additionally, blueberries help lower your blood pressure.   The antioxidants in blueberries help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.   To read more about blueberries and heart health, go to Heart Health . Improve brain function :   Studies on older adults have found that eating bl...