‘Whole grains, fruits lower blood pressure’
Mrs Funmi Lawal, a Dietician with Wuse General Hospital, Abuja, has advised hypertensive patients to eat the right foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, to lower their blood pressure. Lawal said on Monday in Abuja, that whole grains had more fibre and nutrients than refined grains. According to her, lifestyle intervention is the first line of treatment and the foundation for treating hypertension. “You can control your blood pressure by maintaining a healthy weight; and focus on whole grains because they have more fibre and nutrients than refined grains. “For instance, use brown rice instead of white rice; whole-wheat pasta instead of regular pasta and whole-grain bread instead of white bread. “Look for products labelled 100 per cent whole grain or 100 per cent whole wheat. Grains are naturally low in fat; so, avoid spreading on butter or adding cream and cheese sauces.’’ In addition, she recommended the inclusion of legumes, nuts, lean poultry, fish, and low-