Q. I was taking metoprolol to control my blood pressure but it wasn’t working well enough. My doctor added lisinopril, which only helped a little. Amlodipine was included in the mix and it has brought my blood pressure into the range my doctor wants. But these drugs make me tired and dizzy and I have swollen ankles and an annoying cough.
Are there any natural ways to control blood pressure? I have heard that celery might help. Any truth to that?
A. Some foods block the same enzyme (ACE) as lisinopril, although they don’t seem to cause the chronic cough that such medications (ACE inhibitors) often trigger. These include the fermented milk product called kefir, pomegranate and hibiscus. Other foods that may also help lower blood pressure include beets, celery seed, Concord grape juice and chocolate.
We offer more details on these and many other nondrug approaches to lowering blood pressure in our Guide to Blood Pressure Treatment. To determine whether a natural approach is working, it is important to monitor blood pressure regularly and talk with your doctor about what you are doing. Simply adding a few foods to your diet might not be enough to get your blood pressure into the optimal range, but losing weight, exercising, learning relaxation techniques and breathing skills might all combine into a way to manage your blood pressure naturally.
