Blood Pressure – Natural Solutionsby
Margaret Durst Previously by Margaret Durst: Zinc
High blood pressure is one of the most common health concerns in America, affecting over 50% of those over the age of 65. Because high blood pressure usually causes no symptoms until complications develop, it is known as the “silent killer”. High blood pressure triples your risk of having heart attacks. It also increases your chances of having a stroke. From a natural point of view, high blood pressure is the result of improper diet. The standard American diet tends to be too high in foods that clog the veins, arteries, and organs of elimination. Changing the diet to a more natural one with more fruits and vegetables, more fiber, healthy oils, lower salt, and leaner cuts of meat helps to lower blood pressure. In addition to dietary changes, it is usually helpful to clean the organs and tissues responsible for eliminating metabolic waste so that the organs that are responsible for cleaning our blood can actually do so. A natural approach to lowering blood pressure includes omega 3 fatty acids which have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease along with lowering LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, inhibiting platelet aggregations, and lowering blood pressure.
Hawthorn is an herb that is effective for lowering blood pressure. It works by dilating arteries supplying blood to your heart, therefore, increasing blood supply to the heart muscle, improving the metabolic processes in your heart, and helping your heart to function more effectively. Hawthorn is also helpful in preventing heart rhythm disturbances. Another favorite herb for blood pressure is olive leaf. It helps to maintain blood pressure within a normal range while promoting healthy arteries, normal heart rhythm and antioxidant activity. Diuretics are a common medical treatment used to lower blood pressure; however most diuretics tend to have side effects such as decreased potassium levels, elevated blood sugar levels, unusual bleeding to bruising, skin rashes, hair loss, muscle weakness, headaches and digestive complaints. More natural diuretics are the herbs dandelion and parsley which are also high in potassium and tend not to have the side effects of the pharmaceutical diuretics. Another way to lower blood pressure is to thin the blood. Conventionally aspirin is used. A study by a major medical university showed that 100 IU of vitamin E was 4 times as effective as aspirin without the side effects of aspirin. A combination of vitamin E and omega 3 oils is considered more effective and considerably safer than aspirin. Nattokinase is worth mentioning as it works for some. It is an enzyme that eats fibrin, a blood protein that form clots. Natto has a prolonged action that works in 2 ways. The first is to prevent abnormal blood coagulation and the second is to dissolve existing clots. Good side effects of nattokinase include some ability to inhibit atherosclerosis, and also to strengthen bones due to its vitamin K content. These are just some of the natural ways to deal with blood pressure. There are many more including regular exercise and stress management. Most importantly, there are natural solutions for you to use to lower your blood pressure and be healthy.
June 13, 2012 Margaret Durst owns The Green House, a vitamin, herb and health food store in Mason, Texas. Copyright © 2012 Margaret Durst
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