If you’re like many Americans, you may be looking for a good way to lower your blood pressure. Maybe you’re overweight and your heart is working a little harder, literally pumping up the volume. Perhaps you’re just stressed out or born high-strung.

High blood pressure runs in my family, and my mother, her mother, and I all have always had high resting pulses—even as kids. Every time I go to the doctor, to give blood, or anything I’m always asked if I’m nervous because my pulse is a little high. Nope, I reply, I’m just always that way, me and my mousy heart.

If you do have high blood pressure, you know that there are medications out there to control it—many of which suck, restrict you from other meds, or have crappy side effects. As with everything else, I say if there’s a natural way to fix it, try that—but always under the supervision of a doctor.

Here are some such natural ways to help lower your blood pressure. Keep in mind that high blood pressure is a pretty serious condition, and a doctor visit is a must no matter what you decide to try.

• Stop smoking and using any tobacco products. You don’t need a doctor’s advice for this one (unless you need help doing it—then by all means seek help!)—any doctor is going to tell you that this is a good idea.
• Lose weight. Again, any doctor will probably say this is a good idea—but you also may want to do so under supervision, especially if you are very overweight and strenuous exercise could put you in peril. He or she may be able to advise you on some safe ways to lose the weight—and to not have a heart attack doing so.
• Eat plenty of fruits and veggies. You knew that one already though, right? Some specific blood pressure-reducing foods include pomegranates, red grapes, milk protein, and foods that are high in fiber, such as whole grains—brown rice, whole grain bread, whole grain cereal, that kind of thing.
• Skip the sodium, caffeine and alcohol. All of these can contribute to hypertension—and therefore your high blood pressure.
• Do yoga, tai chi or another relaxation technique. These can be particularly helpful for those people who suffer from high blood pressure due to stress or anxiety.