MAINTAIN NORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE NATURALLY

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MAINTAINING NORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE NATURALLY.

Here are some top tips for lowering blood pressure naturally: 



Lose weight

People who are overweight are likely to have high blood pressure. For every two pounds of weight you lose, your blood pressure should drop one point. Eat a healthy whole-food based diet as outlined on the Akea website and you should be able to lose weight steadily without having to go on a starvation diet. By taking a top quality food-based supplement such as our very own Akea Essentials you will also be upping your intake of important nutrients and super-nutrients, many of which are important for blood vessel and heart health. 

Get regular exercise

People who exercise regularly are much more likely to have healthy blood pressure levels than sedentary people. Even a brisk walk for 30 minutes three or four times weekly can lower blood pressure significantly. Exercise also improves the circulation and reduces stress, both of which should help keep blood pressure down.

Keep salt levels low


Too much sodium raises levels of blood pressure so avoid salt-packed fast foods and instead flavor your food with salt-free tastes such as herbs, garlic, and lemon.

Keep potassium levels up


Your potassium intake needs to be adequate to keep blood pressure healthy – potassium is high in fruit and vegetables. Bananas, apples, avocados and apricots are all especially good sources of potassium.

Get enough magnesium and calcium


These are required together for the proper relaxation and contraction of muscles including those lining the blood vessels and those in the heart. Green leafy veg, nuts, and tofu are especially good sources of both minerals. You may also benefit from a supplement containing both.

Drink plenty of water


It's easily forgotten, but it helps keep blood pressure down so remember to drink several glasses of the stuff we so often take for granted, but which is actually totally miraculous, daily.

Reduce stress by treating yourself


Treat yourself to a massage, yoga, reflexology, aromatherapy, glass of wine with friends, a meditation course, or whatever it takes. Don't feel guilty about enjoying yourself – if you are happy you will spread the joy, which is a service to society as well as your blood vessels.

Eat porridge


It has been well-established from clinical studies that eating oatmeal regularly can lower blood pressure, most likely due to its fiber content. Porridge manufacturers have even been granted permission by the FDA to claim this fact on their packaging, so it MUST be true.



Detoxify


Hypertension can be one of many symptoms of toxicity, according to renowned cardiologist William Lee Cowden, M.D. He uses daily saunas and a vegetarian diet with garlic and cayenne supplementation, and has found that patients can come off blood pressure medication after a few days of the treatment because toxins which can cause high blood pressure are excreted from the body.

Practice skin brushing


Dr Cowden also reports that a toxic lymphatic system can cause high blood pressure and recommends a regime of deep breathing and dry skin brushing ten minutes daily for 3 weeks. Our lymph system is an interesting and often-forgotten place where a lot of our toxic garbage collects – watch out for more about keeping your lymph system clean in an upcoming blog!

Get the heavy metals out


Heavy metals such as cadmium and lead from pollution cause high blood pressure, according to studies including one in the Journal of the American Medical Association (1996). Zinc, vitamin C, garlic, and cilantro all help to chelate (bind to and remove) heavy metals so include foods rich in these regularly. Vitamin C and zinc are also used to make collagen which keeps blood vessels strong and flexible.

Eat garlic


Garlic is well-known for lowering blood pressure, as supported by a great many clinical studies. One study of 432 subjects over three years showed that regular use of garlic reduced the risk of a second heart attack by 30 percent in year 2 and 60 percent in year 3. That's got to be worth a bit of garlic breath. Garlic, as enjoyed so plentifully in many Longevity Hot Spots, gives flavor and punch to all kinds of dishes including salads, pasta, meat and fish, stir fries, soup, casseroles, and tsatsiki.

Eat watermelon


Watermelon contains citrulline, which raises levels of nitric oxide, which helps keep blood vessels dilated – also good for men with erectile dysfunction, making watermelon a good Man Food.

Give your heart CoQ10


Coenzyme Q10 is used by heart muscle cells to make energy and has also been found to reduce blood pressure. CoQ10 is high in organ meats and chicken.

Consider hawthorn


Extracts from both the fruit and leaf are used clinically in Germany to lower blood pressure, with a study of 40 patients by Schmidt et al of Cologne showing that taking hawthorn extract for 8 weeks resulted in a drop in blood pressure from an average of 171/115 to 164/110. Consult a medical practitioner if you wish to try using hawthorn.

Eat magical mushrooms


Maitake and reishi mushrooms have both been found in studies to lower blood pressure.

Avoid the blood pressure raisers


Sugar, salt, smoking, excess alcohol, caffeine, refined carbs, fatty meats and fried foods can all raise blood pressure so keep these to a minimum. Be aware that some pharmaceutical drugs also raise blood pressure, such as NSAIDs, corticosteroids, nasal decongestants, and MAO inhibitors.





And finally…remember, if you take steps to lower your blood pressure, you are also taking steps to improve your overall health and you should notice the difference not just in your blood pressure levels but in how you feel.