Winter Special Soup That Lowers Blood Pressure Naturally When Eaten Regularly

Come winter, and you would notice how blood pressure rises, increasing the risk of heart disease. However, according to experts, with careful planning, you can easily reverse it by exercising regularly

and following a balanced diet. In cold weather, one of the most comforting – and heart-healthy vegetables is tomatoes, and eating their soup daily Tomato soup is packed with potassium, lycopene, and vitamin C, all of which help regulate blood pressure. However, it is best to choose a low-sodium or no-salt-added version, as canned tomato soup is typically high in sodium, which can raise blood pressure and contribute to high blood pressure.

How does tomato soup lower blood pressure?

Tomato soup is highly nutritious and is low in calories. However, it is loaded with macro nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which help regulate your blood pressure in many ways:

Potassium

Tomatoes are a powerhouse of potassium, which counteracts sodium's effects, relaxing blood vessel walls and promoting sodium excretion through urine. According to doctors, you must aim for 3,500 to 5,000 mg daily, which you can get naturally from foods like leafy greens, beans, bananas, and avocados, as it helps balance fluids and relaxes arteries, reducing cardiovascular strain. When you eat tomato soup, it relaxes and widens blood vessels by countering the effects of calcium, which causes blood vessels to narrow. Potassium also prevents arterial stiffness as it reduces calcification.

Lycopene

It is a powerful antioxidant that protects your blood vessels from damage caused by free radicals. Lycopene keeps your blood vessels flexible and helps produce nitric oxide, which blocks the harmful angiotensin-converting enzymes.

Vitamin C

Tomatoes are a great source of vitamin C, which is also an antioxidant. According to doctors, vitamin C prevents nitric oxide from being inactivated by free radicals and helps the kidneys excrete more sodium.

How to choose the right tomato soup?

According to the American Heart Association, for most adults, the daily consumption of sodium should not be more than 2,300 mg, with an optimal goal of no more than 1,500 mg per day from all sources. And so, to better achieve these goals, opt for “low-sodium”, “reduced-sodium”, or “no-salt-added" if you are buying packets that are easily available in most grocery stores. When choosing these brands, make sure to read the Nutrition Facts label to ascertain how much sodium you are consuming per serving; it may be more than you think. However, to better control sodium intake, make your own tomato soup. However, it may not necessarily mean low-sodium, depending on the recipe you use.

How to make heart-healthy tomato soup at home?

For a heart-healthy tomato soup, you need to focus on using fresh tomatoes, low-sodium broth, healthy fats like olive oil, and herbs for flavour instead of excess salt or heavy cream.

Ingredients

• Three to four ripe tomatoes
• 1 medium onion
• Three cloves of garlic
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• A teaspoon of dried oregano (optional)
• A teaspoon of salt
• Some pepper

How to make

• Heat olive oil in a large pot and sauté chopped onion until soft. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
• Add tomatoes, some water, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer covered for 15-20 minutes until tomatoes are softened.
• Remove from heat and blend until smooth using an immersion blender or a standard blender after letting it cool slightly.
• Season with more pepper if required
• Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil.