Last Updated on 10 July 2025 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic
Hypertension (HTN) is the medical term for high blood pressure. It is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard and contributes to atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries), besides increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Approximately 1 billion adults globally (1) are affected by Blood Pressure / Hypertension (HTN). This common medical condition is characterised by persistently elevated blood pressure (BP) (2) and is the principal cause of cardiovascular diseases and premature death. (1) A natural approach can help to prevent hypertension with lifestyle improvement leading the way to better heart health.
HTN is a multifactorial disease with dietary, lifestyle, environmental and genetic risk factors including (1) (2)
- high salt intake and an unwholesome diet
- being overweight or obese
- smoking
- sedentary behaviour and lack of exercise
- stress and specifically, work-related stress
- depression and anxiety
- family history
- ageing
With many factors coming down to lifestyle choices, simple and effective lifestyle improvement is a cornerstone of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and blood pressure control. (3)

Essential Exercise
While there is no escaping genetics and family history, physical inactivity is a major modifiable lifestyle risk factor associated with cardiovascular disease. (4) The right kind of exercise is extremely effective at reducing blood pressure. Tai Chi has especially good evidence, found to be better than brisk walking in reducing several cardiovascular disease risk factors. (4) Both aerobic and resistance exercises have been proven to reduce blood pressure (BP) effectively. (5) In fact, after an exercise session, BP decreases, and this decline continues for up to 24 hours, known as post-exercise hypotension. (5) For those short on time, 2-3 days per week has got you covered. Keep in mind that exercise sessions can either be continuous for 30 minutes or be composed of 3 x 10-minute sessions to reach the daily total. (5)

Make a Healthy Dish in a Dash
The DASH and Mediterranean diets are the 2 standouts for managing hypertension, with these diets found to be more effective in older adults and hypertensive persons. (6) DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension and is a popular recommendation amongst medical practitioners.
Since high sodium intake is the leading cause of increased hypertension (1), the DASH dietary pattern recommends a low sodium diet and a typical 2000-calorie eating plan comprised of (7)
- 4-5 servings of fruits per day
- 4-5 servings of vegetables per day
- 2-3 servings of low-fat dairy products per day
- 7-8 servings of grain products (preferably whole grains) per day
- 2 or fewer servings of meats, poultry, and fish per day
- 4-5 servings of nuts, seeds, and legumes per week
Similarly, the Mediterranean diet increases plant-based foods reduces intake of animal products and takes a whole foods approach. While these eating styles work well as a template for general dietary advice, our Nutritionists and Naturopaths can assist with personalised adjustments to these guidelines, for example, tailoring the diet for weight management, gluten and dairy alternatives or concurrent health concerns such as diabetes.

Supplement Support
Seeing red isn’t always considered a good thing but when it comes to matters of the heart, rich red hues in our dietary sources provide potent sources of nutrients. Beetroot containing nitrates, tomatoes as a source of lycopene, catechin-rich foods and beverages like berries and red wine (3) all offer a daily dose of Food as Medicine.
Dietary practices aside, there is a myriad of natural medicine interventions with an affinity for cardiovascular health. Blood pressure can be lowered by several nutraceuticals including magnesium and vitamin C. (3) Several herbal medicines are recognised amongst Naturopaths and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners alike for their cardiotonic properties, with Hawthorn berries having been used in China for the treatment of HTN for thousands of years. (8)

At the Heart of the Matter
If you are seeking better management of hypertension, your heart is in the right place. Talking with a Naturopath will no doubt rekindle your desire for better heart health.

These Wellness Blogs may also interest you. Click HERE or HERE or HERE
Our Amazing Naturopaths at Brisbane Livewell Clinic
Shella Hall (Sunshine Coast and online)
Amy Angus (Wavell Heights and online)
Jen Strachan (Cannon Hill and online)
Nicole Odlum (Wavell Heights and online)
Locations We Service – Naturopathy
Naturopath Caloundra
Naturopath Wavell Heights
Naturopath Cannon Hill
Naturopath Sunshine Coast
Naturopath Noosa
Naturopath Brisbane Northside
Naturopath Brisbane
Naturopaths Brisbane
Brisbane Naturopaths
Naturopathy Brisbane
Naturopaths Near Me
Best Naturopaths Near Me
Best Naturopath Near Me
Natural Therapies Brisbane
Therapists Brisbane
Relevant Naturopath links
- How Naturopathy Can Help You Recover Your Health
- Seeing a Naturopath: The Ultimate Guide
- Naturopaths
- Guide to Seeing a Children’s Naturopath
- How a Naturopathic Practitioner Can Support Your Health
- The 6 Naturopathic Principles that Protect a Naturopath’s Patients
- ADHD Naturopath
- Brisbane Wellbeing
- Natural Dispensary Brisbane
- Achieving Good Health With A Holistic Approach
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – How a Naturopath Helps
Why You May Wish to Consult a Naturopath
Gut Health
- Leaky Gut Syndrome – Symptoms, Causes and Gut Repair Support
- Naturopath for Gut Health
- Solving Gut Issues by Treating SIBO
- SIBO Test Brisbane
- Daily Ritual Gut Health
- 6 Digestive Problems that Cause Weight Gain
- How Stool Testing Helps IBS Sufferers Part 1: Digestive Markers
- How Stool Testing Helps IBS Sufferers Part 2: Microbial Markers
- Can Irritable Bowel Syndrome Cause Weight Gain?
- Gut Health with Parasite Cleanse
- Natural Parasite Cleanse Australia
- The Gut-Brain Connection to Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection: How to Feed Your Brain
- Controlling Constipation and Bloating
- How Stool Testing Helps Find the Causes of IBS and Other Digestive Health Problems
- Gut Health Specialist Brisbane
- Gut Microbiome Testing Australia
- Gut Health Test Australia
- Probiotics for Thrush
- What is Leaky Gut Australia?
- Daily Ritual Gut Health: Finding Your Best Daily Rituals
- Addressing SIBO for Gut Health Improvement
- Gut Health, Diet & Nutrition
- Improve Your Gut Health Brisbane
- Naturopath Gut Health
- IBS-Friendly Slow Cooked Porridge
- L-Glutamine: A Solution for Gut Health Issues
- Understanding Appetite Regulation
Perimenopause and Menopause
- 3 Lifestyle Changes Women Need to Make After 40
- Guide for a Happy Menopause
- Menopause Clinic Near Me
- What is Menopause?
- Perimenopause
- Acupuncture for Perimenopause and Menopause
- Managing Menopause
- Strategies for Preparing for Perimenopause
- Finding Relief from Menopausal Symptoms with Naturopathy
- Brain Fog and Menopause
- Early Menopause: Preparation and Management
Hormone Health
- Hormonal Imbalance
- Hormone Testing Brisbane
- Find Reliable DUTCH Test Providers Near Me and Look After Your Hormones
- Take an At Home Hormone Test – DUTCH Hormone Package
- Hormonal Health and Thyroid Issues
- PCOS and the Insulin Connection
- Identifying Insulin Resistance
- Looking at Luteal Phase Deficiency
- Experiencing Painful Periods? Here’s What Might Be Causing It
- Test Cortisol at Home
- Cortisol Test Australia
- How to Get Hormone Levels Checked in Australia
- Blood Analysis Cost in Australia
- Reducing your Body’s Toxin Burden to Improve your Hormone Health
Thyroid Issues
- When You Suspect You Have Thyroid Issues
- Subclinical Hypothyroidism: When You Suspect You Have a Thyroid Issue
- Thyroid Disorders from a Naturopathic Aspect
- Thyroid Health for the Winter Months
- Thyroid Disease: A Brief Guide to Common Disorders
- Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s
- Thyroid
- How Hyperthyroidism Can Affect Your Health
- Hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease
- Naturopath Herbs for Thyroid Health
Detox and Cleansing
- Heavy Metal Toxicity: Strategies for Detoxing
- Detoxing Your Lifestyle, Not Just Your Body
- How Long Does It Take To Detox Heavy Metals From The Body?
- Heavy Metal Detox for Kids
- Naturopathic Detox Cleanse
- Naturopath Detox
- Do I Need a Heavy Metal Detox?
- Heavy Metal Detox Australia
Insomnia and Sleep Health
- Save Your Sleep with What You Eat
- Insomnia Linked to Mineral Deficiency
- Solving Insomnia: Naturopathy’s Five-Step Solution
- 5 Ways Insomnia Can Affect Your Life and What You Can Do About It
- Natural Treatment for Insomnia
- Naturopathic Remedies for Insomnia
- Enhancing Sleep Quality with Natural Strategies
Autoimmune Conditions
- Naturopathy for Autoimmune Disorders
- Thyroid Health for the Winter Months
- Naturopathic Management of Acid Reflux Disease (GERD) and Weight Gain
- A Naturopath’s Guide to Managing Psoriasis
Mental Health, Stress, Anxiety and Depression
- The Gut-Brain Connection to Mental Health
- The Gut-Brain Connection: How to Feed Your Brain
- Treating Depression with Naturopathy: What You Should Consider
- A Naturopath’s Guide to Improving Mental Health
- Naturopathic Anxiety Medication
- Naturopath Anxiety
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): How a Naturopath Helps
- Pyrrole Disorder
- Breathing for Anxiety: How to Get Anxiety Relief Through Breathing Techniques
- Stress and How It Manifests
- Brain Fog: Causes And Some Treatments
- A Tasty Egg Curry for Stress and Anxiety Relief
- Warm Brussel Sprouts Super Salad for Increased Energy and Stress Relief
Women’s Health
- Women’s Health
- Naturopath Women’s Health
- Women’s Health Week: It’s All About Women’s Wellness and Wellbeing
- Treating Vaginal Thrush the Natural Way
- The Lowdown on Low Libido
- Experiencing Painful Periods and What’s Causing Them
- Regulating Menstrual Cycles with Chaste Tree
- Painful Periods and Naturopathy
- Preventing Post-Pill Acne
- PCOS and Gut Microbiome Health
- Helping Cardiovascular Disease in Women
- Health and Fitness Strategies for Women
Fertility and Pregnancy
- Pregnancy
- Pre-Pregnancy Fertility Care with Naturopathic Nutrition
- Fertility Naturopath Brisbane
- Acupuncture and Naturopathy for Pre-Conception Care
- Pregnancy Care and Naturopathy
- Maximising Nutrition Before and During Pregnancy
- Getting Quality Sleep in the 3rd Trimester of Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Wellbeing and Naturopathy are Great Partners
- Naturopathy for the Management of Constipation During Pregnancy
- How a Prenatal Naturopath Can Transform Your Pregnancy
- Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
- Keeping Calm About Colic
- Foods for Fertility
Men’s Health
- Men’s Health
- The Sperm Health Decline
- Better Prostate Health with Natural Medicine
- Naturopathy and Men’s Health
- Support Your Thyroid Health Naturally
- Men’s Health Supplements
- Understanding Postpartum Depression in Fathers
- Healthy Eating Guide for Men
Children’s Health
- The Importance of Naturopathic Care for Children
- Omega 3 for Child’s Health
- Find Your Children’s Naturopath at Brisbane Livewell Clinic
- Guide to Seeing a Children’s Naturopath
- Naturopath for Children and Teenagers
- Symptoms of Heavy Metal Toxicity in Toddlers
- How Naturopaths Can Improve Study Stress and Anxiety for Your Child
DNA Testing
- DNA Testing & Personalised Medicine
- DNA Testing Brisbane
- DNA Testing Brisbane, Australia
- Methylation Test Near Me
- Testing Functional Medicine
- Genetic Methylation Test Brisbane
- DUTCH Test Providers Near Me
- Full Genetic Testing Australia
- MTHFR Gene Test – Understand Your Genetic Health with Expert Guidance
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Food Intolerances and Allergies
- 7 Useful Strategies for Overcoming Food Intolerance
- Hayfever and the Gastrointestinal Immune System
- Food Intolerance, Hypersensitivity, and Allergies Explained
- Everything You Need to Know About Food Intolerance
- Food Allergy Testing Near Me
- Food Intolerance Testing Brisbane
- Food Allergy Testing
- Food Intolerance Testing
- Food Intolerance Testing Package
- How to Get an Allergy Test in Australia
- Food Intolerance and Food Allergies: Why are they so Different?
Weight Loss
- Can Irritable Bowel Syndrome Cause Weight Gain? (IBS)
- Naturopathy for Weight Loss
- Natural Weight Loss for Summer
- A Naturopathic Approach to Achieving an Ideal and Healthy Weight
- Intermittent Fasting: A Naturopath’s Guide to Success
- Weight Loss Naturopath
- Kick-Start Weight Loss: 5 Science-Backed Tips
- Combining Therapies for a Healthy Weight
- Naturopath’s Weight Loss Programme
Nutrition and Mineral Deficiencies
- Nutrition and Naturopathy: Healthy Diet
- Optimising Nutrition for Skin Health
- The Seriousness of Sugar
- The Importance of Mindfulness and Meditation in Natural Medicine
- Nutrition Deficiency: Visible Body Look Signs
- Helping Cardiovascular Disease in Women
- Sports Nutrition and Your Ideal Protein Requirements
- Creating a Healthy Diet for Good Health and Wellbeing
- Maximising Nutrition Before and During Pregnancy
- Nutrition and Naturopathy: Healthy Diet
- Combining Therapies for a Healthy Weight
- Intermittent Fasting: A Naturopath’s Guide to Success
- Iron Deficiency and Anaemia: When Things Go from Bad to Worse
- Naturopathic Medicine: What You Need to Know
- National Herbal Medicine Week
- The Role of Nutrition and Naturopathy in Wellbeing
- Clinical Nutrients
- Mood & Food
- Food as Medicine: Exploring Natural and Herbal Options
- Maximising Macronutrients – Spotlight on Carbohydrates
Parasites
- Natural Parasite Cleanse Australia
- Parasites from Traveling
- Natural Treatments for Those Pesky Parasites
- Clean Your Body of Parasites
- Parasite Cleanse
Chronic Fatigue / Exhaustion / Tired
- Treatment of Chronic Fatigue
- Combat Chronic Fatigue with this Delicious Curry
- Chronic Fatigue Treatment Brisbane
- Adrenal Fatigue: Stress and Burnout Management
Healthy Eating
- Eating Healthy for you and our Planet
- Plant Based Eating From Around The World (The Middle East)
- Chickpea Pancake Recipe: A Great Diabetic Breakfast
- Exploring the Benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms
- Staying Fit and Eating Right After 60
- Fermented Foods
Naturopath Health Screening
