Monday, August 3, 2009

Ten Diet Tips to Help Lower Blood Pressure

By Esther Dacanay

Many treatments for high blood pressure focus solely on treating the symptoms, however there are alternatives such as diet and nutrition which focus on the underlying cause of this disease. There are some forms of hypertension that if diagnosed in its early stages can be reversed without the use of medications if a strict diet is taken seriously and followed on a daily basis. Everyone, whether experiencing hypertension or completely healthy will benefit from the dietary and nutritional guidelines listed below.

1) High Fiber - Low in Fat - This diet consists of plenty of oat bran, fresh fruits containing pectin such as apples, bananas and melons as well as vegetables such as peas, beets, cabbage, carrots, broccoli, prunes and spinach.

2) Get Rid of Salt - The intake of salt causes the body to retain fluids which in turn increases blood pressure. Therefore, lessening or eliminating the amount of salt ingested can alleviate or prevent high blood pressure from occurring. In addition, it is very important that you read food labels carefully as many products contain salt. Look for words such as "na" or "sodium" as well as monosodium glutamate which is commonly found in soy sauce, canned soups and vegetables, diet soda and even ibuprofen medications.

3) No Sugar - Some studies show that ingesting white sugar can increase sodium retention and can also stimulate adrenaline production, which can cause blood vessel constriction.

4) No Blowing Smoke - Studies show that smoking can cause high blood pressure, but not only that, all things smoke are bad for you. Apparently, studies show that even smoked or aged cheeses and meats are bad news right along with animal fats, gravies, broths, processed foods and CHOCOLATE!

5) Say Yes to Celery - Studies indicate that celery stalks contain highly beneficial elements that assist in lowering blood pressure if eaten or juiced on a regular basis. For centuries, Chinese physicians and folk healers have used celery oil and seeds as a treatment for high blood pressure.

6) Watch Those Oils - It goes without saying that hydrogenated fats or margarines are definitely bad news. However, not all oils are bad. Olive oil, flaxseed oil and fish oils are known to have highly beneficial properties in aiding the ailing body.

7) Wheres the Beef - Although red meat is not recommended to be in the diet on a regular basis, coldwater fish and lean white meats are highly recommended and beneficial for patients with high blood pressure.

8) Garlic - Research has shown that garlic contains healing properties that not only aid in lowering blood pressure, they also decrease cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Unfortunately, many people do not ingest enough garlic on a regular basis to benefit from it, so an odorless capsule is highly recommended. Furthermore, it is important to note that onions also contain many of the same healing properties as garlic.

9) Become a Vegan - Recent research studies show that people who live a strict vegetarian lifestyle have significantly lower blood pressure than those who partake in meat in their diet. Many people experiencing hypertension can decrease this disease by implementing more vegetables and less meat into their daily diet. Furthermore, adopting a vegan diet is the most effective, rapid, safe and permanent way to eradicate high blood pressure.

10) The Dash Diet - This diet plan was formulated specifically for those with high blood pressure. The medical community has recognized that hypertension is a serious disease that can damage other life giving organs in the body. This why the Dash Diet is one of the first treatments recommended in treating high blood pressure. This phenomenal diet is recognized and endorsed by organizations such as The American Heart Association, The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the as well as the U.S. Guidelines for the Treatment of High Blood Pressure.

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1 comment:

Phil Barnhart said...

Another blog - discussing blood pressure remedies talked about a study in the journal Hypertension. It showed that two cups (500 ml) of beet juice lowered blood pressure by approximately 10 points. In research from The London School of Medicine and Peninsula Medical School, ingestion of dietary nitrate contained within beet juice reduced blood pressure within one hour of drinking the juice and lasts up to 24 hours.