Beans

Irregular Blood Pressure

Your blood pressure rises with each heartbeat and falls when your heart relaxes between beats. As a woman, you may have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure. Beyond genetics, your lifestyle plays a role. If you are 20 pounds or more overweight and if your diet is one that is higher in saturated fats, sugar, sodium, and alcohol you set yourself up for a greater risk. A healthy lifestyle in which you are active and paying attention to your food choices can help decrease your chances of having a stroke or other preventable chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease.

Food Fix: Beans. Sodium gets most of the blame for hypertension, but it's actually the combination of high sodium intake and low intake of micronutrients calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Beans contain solid amounts of all three minerals; choose low-sodium or dried beans to help your heart out even more. Get your bean fix on with this recipe for a 7 Bean Salad. Garnished with parsley and topped with shaved Parmigiano, this is a simple dish to prepare alongside any protein, perfect for a picnic, or enjoyed as a complete meal.