Doctor also suggest eating more fruit and vegetables and fewer foods high in saturated fat. However, there are other foods which people can add to their to reduce hypertension.
Experts have suggested a diet high in protein could be a lower risk of developing high blood pressure.
High protein foods include beans, lentils, nuts, mackerel, pulses, tuna, turkey and chicken.
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine – BUSM – found participants consuming the highest amount of protein has a 40 per cent lower risk of having high blood pressure compared to those who didn’t eat high levels of protein.
High blood pressure can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and heart attack.
Researchers analysed protein intake of healthy participants from the Framingham Offspring Study and followed them over the 11-year period.
They found adults who ate more protein had lower blood pressure after four years of follow up.
Experts said protein could play a key role in the long-term prevention of high blood pressure.
A further study by researchers from the University of East Anglia, found people who eat high levels of amino acids – which are found in meat and plant-based protein have lower blood pressure and arterial stiffness.
This means adding spinach, meat, fish and dairy products – food high in protein – could be beneficial.
Experts even believe the link could be as strong as cutting salt intake, exercising, cutting down on alcohol and stopping smoking.
Researchers investigated the impact of seven amino acids on heart health.
They analysed data from 2,000 women with a healthy BMI, looked at their diet and compared it to their blood pressure – and blood vessel stiffness.
They found the women who had eaten the highest amount of amino acids had lower measured of blood pressure – and arterial stiffness.
The experts did stipulate that the food source was important – with plant sources of amino acids associated with lower blood pressure and protein intake from animal sources associated with lower levels of a arterial stiffness.
Dr Amy Jennings, from UEA’s North Medical School said: “Increasing intake from protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, dairy produce, beans, lentils, broccoli, and spinach could be an important and readily achievable way to reduce people’s risk of cardiovascular disease.”