What to drink to lower blood pressure quickly

If you have high blood pressure, a balanced diet is key to managing the condition — including what you drink.

In the United States, about 120 million adults have hypertension or high blood pressure. About a quarter of these cases are being managed correctly.

Managing your blood pressure includes lifestyle strategies, a balanced diet, and medication. Some drinks, including juices, may help lower blood pressure quickly.

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What to drink to lower blood pressure quickly 

Some drinks may help lower your blood pressure, and some may do it quickly.

A 2017 study on fruit and vegetable juices and their effect on cardiovascular disease found that certain juices, such as beetroot (beet) juice, could lower blood pressure quickly.

And a study from 2018 suggested that vegetable juices high in nitrates, such as beetroot juice, decreased diastolic blood pressure in as little as 2 weeks.

Can drinking lemon juice reduce blood pressure?

Research on the effects of lemon juice on blood pressure shows mixed results. Some studies say lemon juice can help lower blood pressure, but evidence is very limited.

For example, one 2020 study concluded that lemon juice is a cost-effective way to lower blood pressure in people with hypertension. And a 2023 study in animals suggested that citric acid and lemon juice can have an antihypertensive effect. However, there are very few human studies on the topic.

If you have high blood pressure and are considering including lemon juice in your diet, talk with a doctor or healthcare professional first.

Drinks that may help manage high blood pressure

Evidence suggests that certain fruit and vegetable juices and natural drinks may help lower and manage your blood pressure.

Beet juice

A 2019 study found that drinking about 70 milliliters (mL) of beet juice per day for 4 weeks could decrease blood pressure in as little as 2 weeks among healthy adults. 

The nitrates in beet juice help improve the body’s blood flow, which plays a key role in regulating blood pressure. 

Grapefruit juice

Grapefruit is known to interact with hypertension and high cholesterol medication.

However, a 2020 study states it may help lower blood pressure when combined with beet juice, as it’s said to enhance beet juice’s already positive effects.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), grapefruit juice can prevent the body from fully absorbing some drugs, resulting in too many of the drug’s ingredients remaining in your body. These can have dangerous effects on your body.

If you’re thinking about adding grapefruit to your diet and you take high blood pressure or high cholesterol medications, consider talking with your doctor or healthcare professional first.

Pomegranate juice

Pomegranate juice, which contains potassium and vitamins C and K, may aid heart health and lower blood pressure.

A 2018 study found that pomegranate juice can lower diastolic and systolic blood pressure by inhibiting the activity of angiotensin converting enzymes (ACEs). These enzymes increase blood pressure by narrowing blood vessels.

If you’re taking hypertension medications, talk with your doctor before including pomegranate juice in your diet. It could interact with the medication and lower your blood pressure too much.

Learn more about the benefits of pomegranate juice.

Hibiscus tea

Hibiscus tea is high in antioxidants and has many benefits, including lowering blood pressure. According to a small 2019 study, hibiscus tea reduced blood pressure in the study participants who drank two cups of hibiscus tea every morning for a month.

Some research on the effect of hibiscus tea on lowering blood pressure suggests it can take 1.5 hours to become effective. But more extensive studies are needed to confirm the effects of hibiscus tea on blood pressure.

Skimmed milk

Skimmed milk contains calcium and phosphorus, which may help lower blood pressure. A 2018 study found a positive association between adults who drank more skimmed milk and reduced diastolic and systolic blood pressure.

Tomato juice

A 2019 study found that drinking 200 mL of unsalted tomato juice per day helped improve diastolic and systolic blood pressure.

The effect of tomato juice on lowering blood pressure may take longer than other drinks. The same 2019 study noted that people saw a reduction in blood pressure after 1 year of drinking unsalted tomato juice.

However, the study only recorded the participants’ blood pressure after the 1-year mark, and there were no recorded changes in the blood pressure earlier than that.

Black and green tea

Both black and green tea may help lower blood pressure. But according to a 2020 review of studies, green tea had a more significant effect. However, it may take longer for these teas to become effective.

A 2020 meta-analysis of research suggests that black tea supplementation may have a positive effect on blood pressure and may be helpful for cardiovascular health when used long term.

Medications for high blood pressure

If a balanced diet, which includes these drinks, and lifestyle strategies are not enough to manage your blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe hypertension medication. 

Blood pressure medications include:

• ACE inhibitors like lisinopril (Qbrelis) and enalapril (Vasotec)
• alpha-blockers like doxazosin (Cardura)
• angiotensin II receptor blockers like candesartan (Atacand)
• beta-blockers like atenolol (Tenormin) and labetalol (Trandate)
• calcium channel blockers like amlodipine (Norvasc)
• diuretics like bumetanide (Bumex) and furosemide (Lasix)

Learn more about blood pressure treatment.

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When to talk with a doctor

If you want to add some of these drinks to your daily diet, consider speaking with your doctor, particularly if you take blood pressure or cholesterol medications. Some of the drinks listed in this article may interact with these medications.

The quickest way to manage your blood pressure is through seeking the appropriate medical management.

Online care services, including Optum Perks Online Care, may make getting treatment easier. With these services, you can submit an online form answering a few questions about your symptoms, and a US-licensed healthcare professional will respond soon after to prescribe a treatment plan.

Summary

Hypertension or high blood pressure affects about half of the adults in the United States, which is about 120 million people. However, about a quarter of these cases are well-managed.

Lifestyle strategies, such as exercise and a balanced diet, may help keep blood pressure at expected levels. Some drinks, such as beet juice, pomegranate juice, skimmed milk, and green tea, may help lower blood pressure.

Before you include these drinks in your daily diet, talk with a doctor or a healthcare professional. Some of these drinks can interact with hypertension and high cholesterol medications. 

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on many prescription medications. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.