Popular snack cuts 'silent killer' risk lowering chance of heart disease and stroke

Dr Chris Steele shares diet tips on reducing blood pressure

Eating a certain healthy snack daily could significantly lower your risk of a “silent killer” condition. According to studies, a specific fruit could help bring down blood pressure levels, and reduce the chances of a heart attack or stroke.

High blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension, is a dangerous yet often symptomless condition. High blood pressure can lead to heart attacks and strokes, with one in three people across the UK thought to suffer with the condition.

However, many will be unaware they are living with the condition, experts believe.

The British Heart Foundation warns: “If you have high blood pressure, you may not even know about it - that's why high blood pressure is often called the ‘silent killer’.

“There are rarely any signs or symptoms, so millions of people with high blood pressure don’t even know they have it.” Luckily there are ways to lower your blood pressure, including by adding certain foods to your diet, reports the Mirror.

Studies have shown that eating potassium-rich foods could help bring down blood pressure (Image: Getty)

Various studies show that eating foods rich in potassium can help bring blood pressure down. This is because potassium both helps remove sodium from the body as well as easing tension in your blood vessel walls.

According to a 2022 study carried out by scientists in Holland, eating foods high in potassium can help cancel out the impact of high sodium levels that can lead to high blood pressure. The findings suggest that the impact was particularly successful in women.

Find out about the symptoms you need to watch out for and get health advice with our free health newsletter from the Daily Express

The study, which was published in the European Heart Journal, analysed data from almost 25,000 British people, participants who regularly ate potassium-rich foods were found to have a 13 percent less chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke.

Bananas are high in potassium, meaning that eating this healthy snack could help you lower your hypertension risk and therefore your risk of heart attacks and stroke. 100 grams of banana contains around 358mg of potassium.

Other foods rich in potassium, which you therefore might want to eat more of, include leafy greens, salmon, tuna, beans, apricots and avocados.

Symptoms of hypertension are often unclear. However, there are certain unchangeable factors as well as changeable lifestyle habits that can increase your risk.

According to the British Heart Foundation, the risk factors include if you:

• Are over the age of 65
• Have someone in your family with high blood pressure
• Smoke
• Drink too much alcohol
• Eat too much salt and not enough fruit and vegetables
• Don't get enough exercise
• Are overweight, especially around your midsection.

Those living in deprived areas may also be at higher risk of high blood pressure, as well as those who are of black African or black Caribbean descent. Changes to diet or activity level can impact your blood pressure, with a healthy diet and regular exercise helping to lower risk.