What smells do you think of when you think of fall? Pumpkin spice, naturally! You are most likely thinking of the spices in pumpkin spice mix, which include cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg, among a few others. You probably think of warm apples and maple leaves as well. The simmer pot recipe in this article ties in all of those scents to make your home smell like a cozy, fall evening. 

What Is A Simmer Pot?

Simply put, a simmer pot is an assortment of ingredients that you combine together in water inside a large pot over medium-low heat to simmer for several hours. While the pot is simmering, the ingredients release a concentrated aroma into the air, filling your house with good smells. You know how a pot of soup can fill the home with a tasty aroma? Well, the same thing happens with a simmer pot. It’s a much healthier version of an air freshener spray or plug-in, many of which contain harmful chemicals. 

Scent is integral to setting the ambiance and creating a specific mood. An interior designer makes sure to decorate well and set lighting to establish the right feel and atmosphere, right? Well, you can set the fall mood in your home by filling it with the aroma from a fall simmer pot. 

Why You’ll Love This Simmer Pot

If you visit home stores, or almost any store for that matter, during the holidays, you probably see a lot of holiday-themed candles. Sugar cookie delight, apple cider, and cinnamon pine cones are all popular candle scents. Although candles are great, there is something more homey about creating your own scent with natural ingredients. Plus, you know that the simmer pot will not release any harsh chemicals or faux fragrances into the air. 

What you will smell is a delightfully warm scent that lasts for a couple days. You can warm this simmer pot recipe for one day and wake up still smelling that intoxicating fall scent the following day. 

How To Make A Simmer Pot

The good news about simmer pots is that you can be very creative with your ingredient blends. If you enjoy more cloves than cinnamon sticks, use more of them! Having control over the amount of each ingredient allows you to have certain scents be more dominant than others. Alternatively, you can keep an even measurement for ingredients to create a uniquely cohesive and balanced simmer pot aroma. The exact measurements we used, including instructions, are detailed below. 

DIY Fall Simmer Pot

Ingredients:

• 1/2 orange, thinly sliced
• 1/2 lemon, thinly sliced
• 1 apple, thinly sliced
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 3 bay leaves
• 4 star anise
• 9 whole cloves
• 1 sprig rosemary

Instructions:

• Fill a medium-sized pot halfway with water and place it over medium heat. 
• Add the ingredients to the pot once the water starts to warm up. Stir in the ingredients and bring the liquid to a simmer (about five to 10 minutes).
• Reduce the heat to low and let simmer for at least two hours. Keep an eye on the water level and add more if it starts to get too low. 
• Remove from heat and leave uncovered for hours to let the aroma fill your home.

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Most people cut off parts of vegetables and fruits and discard them. Everything from carrot peels to squash ends can end up as food waste. Ac cording to Zero Waste Memoirs, as much as 40% of food grown and sold in the United States ends up as waste. People don’t utilize every inch of their produce items, but you can help change that statistic by putting your scraps to good use. Trust us when we say that it’s well worth the effort. 

Some methods are more obvious, including composting vegetable scraps or recycling them in the right trash can. It may surprise you to learn that you can make an all-natural food dye or aromatic, flavorful vegetable stock with food scraps. With a little extra effort and culinary creativity, you can make sure that things don’t go to waste. Read on to learn how you can reduce food waste by reusing vegetable scraps. 

Boil Them Into A Broth

It’s always a good idea to have broth in your kitchen because you can use it in so many dishes. From soups and stews to risotto and casseroles, there are so many ways to use broth. Rather than purchasing sodium-rich broths from the store, make your own using vegetable scraps. It is very easy to do and you can customize the flavor based on the scraps you add to the pot. Plus, you get to control the salt content, which is great if you have high blood pressure. Place the scraps in a pot and cover them with water. Garlic, bay leaf, and other aromatics can add flavor, so don’t be afraid to add them. Cook the broth for 10 minutes or so and then strain through a fine mesh sieve. Store the broth in glass jars in the fridge or freezer, depending how soon you are going to use it. 

Use Them To Grow New Vegetables

If you have enough of a vegetable’s leftover, like the base of a bunch of celery, you can use it to start the growth of new plants. You can even sprout from a large avocado pit! It seems difficult, but it is quite easy and very rewarding. To grow vegetables from scraps, you need to trim off the end of the vegetable. That allows the vegetable to take up fresh water and start to regenerate roots. Once you trim the vegetable, place it in fresh water and set it somewhere that receives natural light. In time, you should see growth, but make sure that the base of the vegetable end is touching water, and change the water when it gets cloudy.

Compost Them

Composting is a great way to put your food scraps to good use. This process uses the scraps and other organic materials to make a natural fertilizer that you can use to enrich soil. In doing so, you reduce the amount of food waste that ends up in landfills. Plus, composting also decreases the amount of methane emitted into the atmosphere. There are many ways to compost, but the easiest way is to collect your scraps in a small bucket or container. You then dig a shallow hole in the ground, add the scraps from the bucket into the hole, chop them up with a shovel, and cover with dirt. Ideally, you bury the food scraps next to plants you’re growing to encourage healthier growth. You can compost produce, grains, coffee grounds, and eggshells, but don’t compost meat, dairy, liquids, food wrappers or plastic. 

Use Them To Make A Natural Dye

Get creative and colorful with your vegetable scraps by transforming them into a natural dye. Instead of using the dye for fabric, though, use it for coloring other foods to create a cheery meal. For example, use the dye to color everything from homemade pasta to hard-boiled eggs. Use beets and bell peppers to make red and orange dye, depending on their color. You can use yellow bell peppers or turmeric to create a yellow dye. Use spinach for green and red cabbage to make purple dye. There are many recipes for this online, but the simplest way is to blend the food scraps with water in a blender and then strain the liquid. Just make sure to wash the blender between dyes to get the richest colors. 

Pickle Watermelon Rinds

This is more specific, but watermelon rinds are some of the most wasted parts of any fruit. This is especially saddening because they contain a lot of valuable nutrients. Save watermelon rinds and pickle them to create a crunchy, satisfying snack. Just simmer the rinds in a mixture of vinegar, water, sugar, and salt until they soften. Then you can store them in an airtight jar or container in the fridge until you want to enjoy them. Get creative with other spices or seasonings, such as ginger, peppercorns, cloves, and cinnamon, to liven up the pickled rinds.

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Sometimes, you want to enjoy a pasta dish without having to simmer a sauce for an hour. This recipe actually comes together very quickly. Once the pasta finishes cooking, you have to act quickly, which is why all of your ingredients need to be prepped. And by “prepped,” we mean that you have to chop some parsley and thinly slice some garlic.

Remember that scene in Goodfellas? You know the one when Paulie is finely shaving the garlic cloves with a razor blade? Well, you don’t need to shave the garlic that thinly, but you want to get it as thin as you can. If that means that you need to use a mandolin because you don’t trust your knife skills, so be it! The thin garlic slices get luxuriously soft in the warm oil, but you have to make sure that you don’t cook them too much. If you let the garlic slices crisp up, then your pasta will have a slightly bitter flavor that you cannot undo.

Believe us when we tell you that your house will smell like garlic and chili flakes when you make this dish. If the smell of garlic is off-putting to you, this is not the dish for you. But that signature garlic smell is beautiful and romantic, even if garlic breath is not. For your pasta, you can use spaghetti, fettuccini, bucatini, or whatever long noodle you enjoy. Just make sure you cook the noodles al dente!

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Apples are some of the best fall produce items. They are as crisp as the chilly nights and deserve all of your love and attention. Eat them fresh, bake with them, add them to smoothies or juices, and add them to salads. When you don’t feel like eating them, why not rub them on your skin? Okay, maybe don’t do that, but you can use classic apple pie spices in a homemade sugar scrub. 

There’s never been a better time to pamper yourself. The cold weather contributes to dryer skin, so you need to hydrate it and lock in that moisture. Additionally, you have to remove any dead skin cells or bacteria, and that’s where the exfoliating powers of brown sugar and coconut oil come in. These natural exfoliators are not too abrasive, making them excellent if you have sensitive skin. 

If you already have a dynamite skin routine and flawless skin, perhaps this apple spice sugar scrub would be an excellent gift for family or friends. Everyone can use a pick-me-up for their skin, and we’ve detailed the standout ingredients of the scrub below. You already know the benefits of brown sugar and coconut oil for the skin, but you may not be aware of how the following ingredients nourish the skin.

Nutmeg

This classic baking spice has a heavenly aroma, but it also has natural astringent properties. Anyone who suffers from hormonal or cystic acne can benefit from astringent ingredients. Nutmeg is a natural exfoliator, but it also provides moisture as it exfoliates, making it excellent for people with dry skin. Nutmeg is also great for anyone with dull skin, as it helps to brighten skin tone and improve overall complexion. 

Cinnamon

Known for the woody flavor and sweet aroma, cinnamon has always been a featured ingredient in traditional medicine. It contains an array of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, but it also contains antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. People with dry skin can benefit from cinnamon because works to enhance blood flow to the skin, moisturizing the skin in the process. It also works to remove dead skin cells to give your skin a smoother appearance. It’ll be looking supple in no time!

Cloves

Cloves may be one of the most classic holiday spices. The aroma is strong and wonderful, and so are the health benefits. According to several studies, cloves exhibited antibacterial and anti-fungal properties against acne and pimples. Because cloves are very pungent, you have to be very careful around the eyes. The high antioxidant levels in cloves make them excellent for maintaining healthy collagen levels. These antioxidants fight the effects of premature aging by combating inflammation and oxidative stress on the skin. 

DIY Apple Spice Sugar Scrub

Ingredients:

• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1/4 cup unrefined coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons apple pie spice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 teaspoons vanila extract
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions:

• Add all of the ingredients to a medium-sized glass mixing bowl. As you mix all of the ingredients, the coconut oil will begin to break down, becoming less clumpy. 
• Once the ingredients are thoroughly combined, transfer the scrub to a small Mason jar and screw on the lid. Store in a cool dry place and use within 3-4 weeks. 

How To Use:

• Jump into the shower and wet your body. Use a generous dollop of sugar scrub and begin massaging your skin, or focus on dryer areas. 
• Rinse immediately and pat dry once you exit the shower. 

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The skin and hair care industry is saturated with beard products. From oils to balms and shampoos to scrubs, it can be difficult to pick which products are best for you beard. The biggest question about beard care is: What is the difference between beard oil and beard balm? Both moisturize the beard, but the answer to this question depends on personal preference.

Why Should You Use A Beard Balm?

If you want to look like Scruffy McScruffins with an unkempt wiry beard, don’t use beard balm. If you rock a medium-length or large bushy beard, beard balm is going to become your new best friend. Because balm is more viscous than oil, it sits on your beard and skin for a lot longer. Since your skin doesn’t absorb it right away, this creates for long-lasting moisture and extra shine. It also encourages a healthier beard.

Juniper Berries For Your Skin

The juniper tree produces berries that contain potent antioxidants and plant compounds. One ounce of juniper berries delivers 10% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin C, which helps protect cells from free radical damage. The natural antibacterial properties also help to moisturize skin and fight any irritations or dryness. Men with dry skin under their beards (commonly known as beardruff) can rejoice because juniper berries help to condition and soften the skin.

Cinnamon For Your Skin

Does the skin under your beard lack moisture? Time to use the beard balm in this article because it has the one-two moisturizing punch of juniper berries and cinnamon. Cinnamon works to moisturize the skin by improving blood flow to the skin’s surface. Additionally, it works to remove dead skin cells, which can accumulate under the beard and cause dryness.

Cloves For Your Skin

Cloves are commonly used in holiday recipes because they offer a rich, aromatic flavor. They also have a long history of medicinal use in various cultures. The antimicrobial properties of cloves may be effective at combatting the growth of several bacterial strains on the skin. According to several studies, clove oil helped inhibit the growth of Escherichia coil, which is a clinical bacterium that is resistant to many antibiotics.

Juniper Spice Beard Balm

Ingredients For Juniper Infused Oil:

• 2 tablespoons dried juniper berries
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• juniper twigs
• 1 cup carrier oil of choice (jojoba oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil, or coconut oil)

Ingredients For Beard Balm:

• ½ cup juniper infused oil
• ¾ ounce beeswax
• ½ ounce refined Shea butter
• 8 drops juniper berry essential oil
• 8 drops fir needle essential oil
• 4 drops cinnamon leaf essential oil
• 4 drops clove bud essential oil

Instructions For The Juniper Infused Oil:

• Add the juniper berries, cinnamon stick, cloves, and oil to a pint-sized glass jar with a lid.
• Before you screw on the lid, fill the jar with juniper or conifer twigs, but make sure to leave an inch of space at the top of the jar.
• Place the jar in a cool, dry place for 4-6 weeks to allow the infusion to happen. Once this time passes, stain the solids through a cheesecloth or fine mesh sieve. Store the infused oil in a glass jar.

Instructions For The Beard Balm:

• Add the infused oil and beeswax to the top of a double boiler. Stir until the beeswax melts and then add the Shea butter. Mix gently until it melts and then remove from the heat.
• While the heated mixture is cooling, stir in the essential oils.
• Carefully pour the mixture into jars or tins. Allow the mixture to harden for several hours.
• Use once a day after washing your beard.

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September 21st marks a special day, one that allows the aroma of ancient herbs and spices to fill the room and delight taste buds. We are, of course, talking about National Chai Day, which celebrates the bold and comforting flavor of an Indian beverage that dates back roughly 5,000 years. It’s a wonderfully spicy beverage that has become popular all over the world.

What Exactly Is Chai?

Masala chai is Hindi for “mixed-spice tea,” but Westerners have come to know this simply as chai. While there isn’t a set recipe, the common chai mixture contains cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and peppercorns, although many people like to add turmeric or nutmeg. Chai is simply a spice mixture, but Indians began adopting British-style tea practices by boiling the spice mixture with milk and sweetener in the early 20th century. The chai tea that is found in Western culture typically contains sugars or additives, differentiating it from the traditional chai tea that has been used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.

How Does It Taste?

Chai tea is very aromatic and has a spicy flavor that awakens the palate. The slight pepperiness from the ginger and peppercorns is complemented by the earthy undertones of the cinnamon and cloves. Because of the robust flavor, chai tea is often sweetened or tamed by adding it to coffee or black/green tea.

Benefits Of Chai Tea

Excellent For Digestion

Most teas are beneficial for the digestive system, helping to regulate bowel movements or maintain gut health. The ginger, which works to deliver oxygen to organs and improve circulation, is largely responsible for benefitting digestive health. Black pepper assists the pancreas with producing digestive enzymes that act as catalysts to accelerate the break down of fats and proteins.

Supports Immune Health

Cardamom, one of the featured spices in chai tea, has been used in traditional Tibetan medicine for centuries. Due to the high vitamin C content, cardamom is beneficial for immune health. Cardamom comes in two varieties, green and black. It is advantageous to obtain chai tea that contains black cardamom because it is praised for the expectorant and antiseptic properties. Then again, green cardamom works to expel mucus and clear the sinuses. Both varieties have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that assist the immune system in fighting bacteria and viruses.

Aches & Pains

Most of the spices in a chai blend contain anti-inflammatory properties, helping to alleviate aches or pains commonly associated with arthritis. Studies have shown that the ginger and cloves in chai can reduce inflammation, from muscle or joint pain to mild headaches.

The standard chai tea is made with chai spice and loose black or green tea. Traditionally, chai tea is brewed with hot water and warm milk (or plant milk), because the milk adds a creaminess that beautifully tempers the powerful chai spices. Don’t be chai, make the following chai recipes and enjoy the flavors!

Homemade Chai Tea Recipe

This is not your average chai tea mix that you get at a coffee shop. This warming tea aids digestion, soothes the throat, and is delicious!

Click here to make the recipe.

Overnight Chai Steel Cut Oats

Breakfast on-the-go is a mere five minutes away now that you have this chai-spiced overnight oat recipe. There is no cooking necessary!

Click here to make the recipe.

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Both men and women are affected by decreased libido. Whether it is age or underlying health conditions, roughly 32% of women and 15% of men lack the desire to have sex on a regular basis. When it comes to boosting your libido, all you need are the right foods to help you get back in the mood.

Having a decreased libido can be attributed to low testosterone, depression, stress, sexual dysfunction, being overweight, drug or alcohol use, or even sleep apnea. Most men with sleep apnea don’t realize that it can decrease testosterone levels. Low testosterone levels can also be the result of a poor functioning endocrine system.

Women can have low sex drive because of sociocultural influences (stress, media images, job, etc.), relationship issues, thyroid problems, fibroids, or edometriosis. Birth control pills and other forms of pregnancy prevention, which affect hormones, can also negatively affect a woman’s desire to have sex.

For both sexes, increasing the libido can often mean that lifestyle changes need to be made. A lot of foods in the Standard American Diet have been linked to decreased libido, primarily due to the hormones, antibiotics, and processed ingredients. Excess consumption of sodium-rich foods, which can lead to high blood pressure, can also decrease blood flow to sexual organs. Dairy products often contain synthetic hormones (phtalic acid esters), which negatively affect estrogen and testosterone levels. Finally, caffeine can increase cortisol levels and induce stress that decreases libido.

How To Increase Libido Through Food

Bananas

Bananas contain bromelain, which is an enzyme that helps to reverse impotence in men and naturally increase the libido. Additionally, bananas are great sources of potassium and B-vitamins, which help to boost overall energy levels.

Cloves

Men in India have been using cloves to help treat sexual dysfunction for centuries. According to a study in the journal of BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, clove extract helped to boost sexual activity in male rats. Cloves can also help to get rid of bad breath, which can’t hurt your love life. You can also combine the use of cloves with nutmeg or saffron for more libido-boosting benefits.

Vitamin C-Rich Foods

Vitamin C is one of the most important nutrients when it comes to collagen production, which naturally declines with age. The fact that your skin may not be as firm can make it difficult for men to maintain an erection, and may lead to looser vaginal walls in women. Boost collagen levels by eating vitamin C-rich foods like kiwis, bell peppers, parsley, Brussels sprouts, guavas, or citrus fruits.

Ginseng

A research study on ginseng was conducted to test its libido-boosting properties. The women in the study took ginseng for one month and 68% experienced dramatic improvement in their sex lives and libido. It is best to drink ginseng tea, as opposed to drinking energy drinks that claim to have ginseng. You don’t want the extra chemicals and sugar from energy drinks, which can decrease sex drive.

Watermelon

If you are looking to naturally boost your libido with a refreshing food, start eating watermelon. Although it is 92% water, the remaining 8% of nutrients are essential for sexual health. Watermelons contain citrulline, a phytonutrient that the body converts to arginine, which helps to boost nitric oxide levels in the body and relax blood vessels. This is essentially what erectile dysfunction medications do.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek, which is available in herb and essential oil form, has been known to help increase male libido. The consumption of fenugreek has also been associated with balanced testosterone levels. It is better to cook fenugreek to avoid the bitter taste.

Finally, make sure that you are sufficiently hydrated because dehydration is a common cause of decreased libido. If you want to avoid vaginal dryness, fatigue, dull sexual desire, and headaches, drink your water, people!

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There are lots of herbs that have healing properties. Some of these herbs are very beneficial for people with parasites or parasitic infections. While taking these herbs is a very holistic approach to eradicating parasites from the body, they can be effective and much safer for your body than conventional medicine.

Most of these herbs are beneficial for your immune system. Boosting your immune system is one of the best ways to combat an infection, so eating other immune-boosting foods (lemons, berries, green vegetables, kiwis, garlic, onion, chilies, or guavas) can help to speed up that process. Depending on the parasite or infection, you may have to experiment with the herbs below.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a powerful, immune-boosting herb that helps the body in many ways. It has anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and worm-expelling properties. Eating fresh turmeric will be more beneficial, and pairing it with black pepper and virgin coconut oil helps the body absorb it more easily.

Cayenne Pepper

Incredibly rich in vitamin C, cayenne has antifungal properties that work to kill parasites, fungi, and mold in your body. Additionally, cayenne works to improve circulation and helps your body absorb other herbs that you consume.

Papaya

Eating sugar is not conducive when trying to fight parasites. Even though papaya has natural sugars, it also helps to destroy parasitic worms, including tapeworms and other intestinal worms. You can actually soak the papaya peel in apple cider vinegar for one day and then consume 2 ounces of this liquid for 4 days to help eradicate parasites.

Thyme

Helping to stimulate the thymus gland, thyme contains antibacterial properties that work to inhibit parasite growth. Thyme also helps to awaken the body’s natural defense system, while killing intestinal microorganisms.

Oregano Oil

Containing powerful antifungal, anti-parasitic, and antiviral properties, oregano oil is full of antioxidants that help to fight free radical damage. It also helps to reset the microbial environment in the intestinal tract.

Garlic

Garlic has been known to treat intestinal parasites for quite some time. It works to kill harmful microorganisms and encourages the removal of heavy metals from the body.

Clove

Clove is actually the only herb that can effectively kill parasite eggs. Using clove essential oil helps destroy eggs that worms lay in the intestinal tract. It is most effective when used with wormwood or black walnuts.

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Garlic should be a staple in everyone’s kitchen. It has some pretty amazing health properties and adds a distinct flavor to a variety of dishes. When you purchase a lot of garlic bulbs, you don’t want the cloves to rot. If you are worried about rotting cloves, you can easily turn fresh garlic into homemade garlic powder.

What You’ll Need

In order to transform your garlic cloves into garlic powder, you’ll need a few things. You will need a sharp knife to peel the cloves, a mandolin slicer (or very sharp knife and excellent knife skills), a blender/spice grinder, and a dehydrator (or you can use your oven at its lowest temperature).

The first step to making your garlic powder is peeling the garlic cloves. Then you need to slice them very thinly. If you have chef quality knife skills, thinly slice them with a sharp knife, but using a mandolin may prove to be much faster and easier. Once you have your thin garlic slices, it’s time to spread them out on your dehydrator sheets. If you don’t have a dehydrator, an oven at the lowest temperature will do the trick.

In order to keep the garlic raw, you need to keep your oven below 150 degrees F. If using a dehydrator, it takes about 12 hours, but it should only take a few hours in the oven. Spread the garlic slices evenly across a baking sheet and insert in the oven at the lowest temperature. Make sure to check your garlic slices frequently so that they don’t burn. You don’t have to worry about this in dehydrator.

Once you see that the garlic slices are nice and crisp, remove them from the heat and let them cool. After they have cooled, blend them in your blender or spice grinder for about 30 seconds. Store this powder in a glass jar and use to season your food.

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So you want to lower your high blood pressure. You are not alone. High blood pressure or hypertension is an extremely common condition that affects nearly everyone at some point. Poor dietary choices, obesity, chronic stress, lack of exercise, or high alcohol consumption are some of the causes that lead to high blood pressure or hypertension. Fortunately, it is easily detectable and you can start working on how to lower it.

What is High Blood Pressure?

The heart has to work to pump blood through the arteries. If the arteries are narrow and the heart has to pump more blood, the person will likely have higher blood pressure because of the restricted blood flow. A person with a blood pressure reading of 140/90 mm Hg or higher is considered to have high blood pressure. If you don’t take action and treat high blood pressure, there is a higher risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or even having kidney failure.

High Blood Pressure in Men and Women

1 in every 3 American adults has high blood pressure and women are just as likely to develop it as men. High blood pressure affects more men under age 45 than it does women. Between the ages of 45 and 54, the percentage of men and women with hypertension is roughly equal, but the percentage of women increases after age 55. The reason the for the increased percentage of women with high blood pressure in later years is because estrogen levels fall after menopause. Women and men can develop high blood pressure similarly via physical inactivity, poor eating habits, obesity, or high salt intake. Contraceptive pills may increase a woman’s risk for high blood pressure, so check it regularly if on a birth control pill.

Tips to Lower High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

1. Lower Salt Intake

When your diet has a high amount of salt in it, your body will hold extra water, which increases blood pressure. In addition to avoiding salt, it’s best to steer clear of fast foods, processed foods, or canned foods. Use salt-free seasonings, or Himalayan or sea salt in low amounts. A salt alternative, which is more beneficial to the body, is Dulse. Dulse flakes are the perfect salt substitute for those on a low salt diet. Dulse provides sodium and potassium, which is an essential sodium-balcancing mineral. Both sodium and potassium work together to provide proper fluid balance inside and outside each cell. Additionally, keep a heart-healthy diet, which avoids hydrogenated ingredients, high fat content, and incorporates fresh fruits and vegetables.

2. Lower Stress

This may seem like it is easier said than done, but there are many ways one can easily reduce stress. First, identify what makes you stressed and then eliminate it or channel that energy towards something like yoga, meditation, or tai chi. You can also increase your daily intake of magnesium, as it helps to naturally lower stress. You can take a magnesium supplement, or you can incorporate magnesium-rich foods like bananas, avocados, spinach, raw almonds, pine nuts, cashews, lima beans, chickpeas, or Swiss chard into your diet.

3. Lemon

Lemon juice is high in vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that helps neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals. Lemon keeps blood vessels soft and loosens things up, which can help reduce your blood pressure. Do not drink bottled lemon juice or anything from concentrate, as it can have sweetener or added sugars. Take the juice of half a lemon, mix it in a cup (8oz) of warm water, and drink in the morning on an empty stomach.

4. Garlic

With garlic, you get a whole bunch of health benefits in addition to lower pressure. Raw or cooked garlic has blood pressure lowering effects, and can help reduce cholesterol levels. Garlic stimulates nitric oxide production by relaxing your blood vessels. Your recommended daily garlic intake should be at least 1-2 crushed cloves. Why crushed cloves? This creates hydrogen sulfide, which promotes proper blood flow, removes gas, and decreases pressure on the heart. Always remember fresh garlic can be more beneficial for the body. Once the garlic is cut, the hydrogen sulfide rapidly loses its potency and will all but disappear within an hour of chopping.

5. Exercise

A little exercise goes a long way to helping reduce high blood pressure. It’s important to exercise daily, as this can reduce stress and promote healthy circulation. Don’t go overboard when you begin exercising, though. Start off by incorporating a daily walk into your routine. Make a scheduled time every day to exercise and stick to it. Once exercise becomes regular you can work out at different times, but a consistent workout time helps you to get in the habit at first. If you are limited by knee, hip, or back injuries, try swimming, yoga, rebounding, or using a recumbent bike. Aim for 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity 3-4 times per week if you want to lower blood pressure or cholesterol.

6. Restore Alkalinity

You may be wondering what alkalinity is. If you have a poor diet or eat lots of sodium, chances are that your body’s pH balance is heavily acidic. It’s best to avoid alcohol, sugar, meat, processed foods, and grains because these are the top 5 acid forming foods. To keep your heart healthy and lower blood pressure it’s ideal to have a neutral pH balance. You can do this by incorporating alkaline foods into your diet. Eat dark leafy greens, organic apple cider vinegar, berries, peaches, or root veggies like beets and turnips.

7. Black Seed

Black seed, or black cumin, has been known as a powerful cure for almost everything. You get a two for one with black seed because it helps to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. There are many anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that strengthen the immune system and reduce high blood pressure. You can also take 1 teaspoon of black seed oil and mix it with fresh fruit juice or herbal tea. You can also take the 1 teaspoon by itself if you don’t mind the taste.

High blood pressure is something that you can easily avoid if you take the right steps. It doesn’t have to be an inevitable condition. You can easily use some or all of the tips above to start living a healthier, more energetic life.

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