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High blood pressure affects more than 25% of all British adults.
The condition, also known as hypertension, exerts extra stress on the blood vessels and vital organs.
But making small changes to your diet could reduce your risk of disease.
According to biochemist David Williams, biochemist, celery is a great addition to your shopping list.
A cup of celery a day – about 110 g – could reduce the risk of high blood pressure, he added.
One of the chemical constituents of celery, 3-n-butylphthalide, increases the diameter of the blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure, Williams said.
The chemical is responsible for giving celery its distinctive smell and taste.
"If you have high blood pressure, your diet is one of the main ways to lower your blood pressure without drugs," Williams said.
"Combined with appropriate lifestyle changes and targeted nutritional support, changing your diet can not only lower your blood pressure, but also significantly improve your overall cardiovascular health.
"Doctors at the University of Chicago, studying the oriental custom of using celery as a food for lowering blood pressure, have discovered that celery contains chemical 3-n-butylphthalide.
"It smooths the muscles lining the blood vessels, which increases the diameter of the vessels and facilitates blood flow at lower pressures.
"Using the recommended oriental doses to reduce mild cases of hypertension, we eat about four ounces of celery [about a cup of chopped celery] Daily. You should start seeing the results after only a week or two.
Celery also contains polyphenolic antioxidants in its stems.
Polyphenols can improve cardiovascular health and lower blood pressure by releasing the endothelial lining of blood vessels.
Other foods rich in polyphenols include dark chocolate and green coffee beans.
High blood pressure increases the risk of certain life-threatening complications, including heart attacks and strokes.
Common symptoms of hypertension include chest pain, headache or the presence of blood in the urine.
People over the age of 65 are most at risk for hypertension.
But reducing the amount of salt in your diet is a great way to prevent the disease.
All British adults over 40 must check their blood pressure at least every five years.
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