Blood Pressure Controlled Naturally

NATURAL BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL

High blood pressure can benefit from a natural approach. Implementing a non-drug regime requires the supervision of a health care practitioner, especially for those people already taking prescribed drugs. The scientific literature reports that the following diet and lifestyle changes are effective:

• cigarette smoking and tobacco chewing cessation                                                     
• periodic juice fasting (esp. with carrot, celery and beets) 
• vegetarian (high fiber) diets
•  stress reduction techniques (biofeedback, meditation, relaxation response, etc.) 
• aerobic exercise 
• weight loss programs 
• food allergy detection and elimination 
• balancing blood levels of amino acids 
• balancing trace minerals (especially calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc and copper)
• avoidance of salt, sugar, caffeine and alcohol 
• oral and intravenous chelation therapy to rid the body of excess toxic heavy metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, etc.)

Vegetarian diets are generally higher in calcium, magnesium, potassium, complex carbohydrate foods, essential fatty acids, fiber and antioxidants. These are the nutrients thought to be the most important for normalizing blood pressure.

Eating more of the following foods also helps reverse high blood pressure:  celery, garlic, onions, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, almonds, milled flax seed, green leafy vegetables, broccoli and citrus fruits. Studies have shown that eating as little as 4 ribs of celery daily can lower blood pressure by as much as 14%. The ingredient of celery responsible for lowering blood pressure is 3-n-butyl phthalide.

There are a large number of nutritional supplements that have been reported to help control blood pressure naturally.

These include calcium, magnesium,   potassium,   coenzyme Q10,   garlic, vitamin C,   flax seed oil,   fish oils,   evening primrose oil and tryptophan.

Hawthorn (crataegus oxyacantha) is one herb that has traditionally been used around the world to lower blood pressure, reverse angina and help lower serum cholesterol levels.

Another herb that helps lower blood pressure naturally is coleus forskohlii, a memberof the mint family which comes from India, Nepal and Thailand. Its active component, forskolin, lowers blood pressure and can improve angina, congestive heart failure, eczema, asthma, glaucoma and psoriasis. Other herbs that are helpful in controlling blood pressure includecayenne, chamomile, valerian, fennel, parsley and rosemary.

Watch out for licorice root. It contains glycyrrhetinic acid, which, in excess, can produce high blood pressure in susceptible individuals. Phenylalanine should be avoided since it can elevate blood pressure in some people. Phenylalanine is found in large amounts in the ubiquitous artificial sweetener, aspartame. For more information on natural blood pressure control measures, see your health care provider.