Candice Smith, a dietitian for Greater Western Australian Health Service has some tips for managing high blood pressure (hypertension) naturally through a combination of diet and exercise.

Her prescription: eat a low salt, mostly vegetarian diet and limit fats while doing at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week.

Walking to the corner shop for 10 minutes will burn around 160 kJ more than driving to the corner shop for some low fat milk! Having diet yoghurt 3 times a week instead of a full fat yoghurt can save around 1755 kJ - this is about the same amount used to mow the lawn or in gardening for one hour!

She also recommends that keep your Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24.9. (more information on BMI)

Source.

Have high blood pressure? Perhaps a good dose of housework is just what the doctor ordered.

Published in the August issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, a new study found that normal household chores such as cleaning the house, washing the car or even yard work may be effective in helping to control hypertension.