However, one often-overlooked factor includes your morning routine, which is important to support or hinder your blood pressure goals.
Here are a few expert-recommended morning habits that can set the tone for a healthier day ahead.
Include potassium in your breakfast
Potassium is among the major nutrients that help balance sodium in your body and support vasodilation, which lowers blood pressure naturally. According to experts, following the DASH, or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, diet, low in sodium, can deliver thrice the potassium as compared to the average diet.
Foods like Greek yogurt, apricots, orange juice, cantaloupe, bananas, and kiwis are a powerhouse of potassium.
Avoid your screens
If you wake up and start scrolling on your phone to check messages or even news, it is time to rethink, as it increases stress levels. According to studies, news consumption can increase anxiety, stress, and mental fatigue, thereby affecting your blood pressure levels.
Other acute stressors include text messages that may have heated information, which leads to a temporary rise in blood pressure as well. And so, it is better to get up, go for a short walk, do meditation, take a warm bath, or listen to soothing music.
Be outdoors
Spending more time in nature can ease your high blood pressure. According to experts, the combination of reduced stress, increased movement, and feelings of enjoyment is behind low hypertension levels.
Experts believe morning sunlight supports the production of vitamin D, which plays a role in blood vessel flexibility and blood pressure regulation. It also regulates your circadian rhythm, which is important for maintaining healthy blood pressure.
Work on your breathing
Experts recommend practising deep diaphragmatic breathing, which activates your parasympathetic nervous system. This leads to an immediate effect on your blood pressure, as well as your stress. According to studies, breathing exercises lower blood pressure and decrease heart rate. You can also try doing meditation that helps regulate your breathing.
Cut down on caffeine
While you may have your cup of morning coffee, make sure to have it in moderation. Experts say too much caffeine causes a lot of issues, including triggering short-term spikes in blood pressure by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system and constricting blood vessels.
For most people, one to three cups of coffee do not impact their blood pressure, as it is a rich source of heart-healthy compounds like chlorogenic acid, which have been shown to lower blood pressure and may balance out the impact of caffeine.