Hypertension or high blood pressure

Blood pressure is a measure of the force that the blood applies to the walls of the arteries as it flows through them. It's normal for blood pressure to increase when you exert yourself, or when you feel stressed or anxious. But if your blood pressure is consistently higher than normal at rest, this is high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.

Garlic is regarded as an effective means of lowering blood pressure. It is said to reduce spasms of the small arteries. It also slows down the pulse rate and modifies the heart rhythm, besides relieving the symptoms of dizziness, numbness, shortness of breath, and the formation of gas within the digestive tract. It may be taken in the form of raw cloves or two to three capsules a day.

Lemon is also regarded as a valuable food to control high blood pressure. It is a rich source of vitamin P which is found both in the juice and peel of the fruit. This vitamin is essential for preventing capillary fragility.

Grapefruit is useful in preventing high blood pressure. The vitamin P content in the fruit is helpful in toning up the arteries

Watermelon is another valuable safeguard against high blood pressure. A substance extracted from watermelon seeds is said to have a definite action in dilating the blood vessels, which results in lowering the blood pressure. The seeds, dried and roasted, should be taken in liberal quantities.

Rice has a low-fat, low-cholesterol, and low-salt content. It makes a perfect diet for those hypertensive persons who have been advised salt-restricted diets. Calcium in brown rice, in particular, soothes and relaxes the nervous system and helps relieve the symptoms of high blood pressure.

Potatoes, specially in boiled form, are a valuable food for lowering blood pressure. When boiled with their skin, they absorb very little salt. Thus they can form a useful addition to a salt-free diet recommended for patients with high blood pressure. Potatoes are rich in potassium but not in sodium salts. The magnesium present in the vegetable exercises beneficial effects in lowering blood pressure.

Raw vegetable juices, especially carrot and spinach juices, taken separately or in combination, are also beneficial in the treatment of high blood pressure. If taken in combination, 300 ml of carrot juice and 200 ml of spinach juice should be mixed to make 500 ml or half a litre of the juice, and taken daily. If taken separately, one glass should be taken twice daily, morning and evening.

Recent studies have revealed an important link between dietary calcium and potassium and hypertension. Researchers have found that people who take potassium-rich diets have a low incidence of hypertension even if they do not control their salt intake. They have also found that people with hypertension do not seem to get much calcium in the form of dairy products. These two essential nutrients seem to help the body secrete excess sodium and are involved in important functions which control the working of the vascular system. Potassium is found in abundance in fruits and vegetables, and calcium in dairy products.

Antioxidants

Eating several servings of fruits and vegetables each day can ensure optimal intake of antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene, which may protect against the development of hypertension. However, studies have yet to show whether taking supplements of these nutrients is useful for hypertension.

Calcium

The DASH study mentioned above also compared a diet rich in fruits and vegetables to a diet rich in fruits and vegetables as well as low-fat dairy products. The addition of low-fat dairy products led to a greater improvement in reducing blood pressure than the typical American diet or a diet rich in fruits and vegetables alone. Some experts believe that the calcium in these low-fat dairy products is responsible for the improvement; however, given that dairy products also contain other nutrients such as modest amounts of potassium and magnesium, that conclusion is not entirely clear. In addition, studies that have investigated calcium as a supplemental treatment for high blood pressure have not been conclusive; in other words, it remains to be seen whether taking supplements of calcium will have the same effect on blood pressure as low-fat dairy products in the diet.

Coenzyme Q10

Studies including a small number of people suggest that coenzyme Q10 (a substance found in oily fish, organ meats such as liver, and whole grains) may significantly lower blood pressure, but further research is necessary to confirm its potential use for hypertension.

Magnesium

Dietary magnesium may be associated with lowered blood pressure, but most studies have failed to establish a link between magnesium supplementation and lowered blood pressure. Foods rich in magnesium include legumes, nuts, whole grains, and leafy green vegetables.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Recent studies indicate that supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), a substance found primarily in fatty cold-water fish, such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, and herring, may significantly lower blood pressure in people with hypertension. Available omega-3 supplements include eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), flaxseed, flaxseed oil, and fish oil capsules. Fish high in mercury (such as tuna) should be avoided because this may increase blood pressure.

Flaxseed Oil – flaxseed oil is good for lowering your blood pressure, protecting you from cardiovascular diseases and lowering your cholesterol, so it covers all your bases on this subject.

Potassium

Some studies have linked low dietary potassium intake with hypertension, but results of clinical trials do not suggest that supplementation with potassium lowers blood pressure. A diet high in potassium from fruits and vegetables, such as potatoes, avocados, bananas, oranges, prunes, and cantaloupe, is generally recommended.

Other preliminary studies have revealed beneficial effects for the following herbs:

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
Red Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng)

Antioxidants – make sure you have Vitamin C and E in the combination, because with the cooperation of other antioxidants, Vitamin C helps keep your blood vessels wide and flexible, and this lowers your blood pressure.
Calcium – and if you can, take Calcium in its original form, such as milk, yogurt, cheese, etc, instead of capsules.
Lower saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet
Avoid smoking
Lower amounts of caffeine, alcohol and salt
Exercise

Lose weight if overweight.
Limit alcohol intake to no more than 1 oz of ethanol per day for men (this roughly equals 2 pints of beer, 2 glasses of wine, or 2 shots of 100-proof whiskey) and 0.5 oz for women and lighter-weight individuals.
Increase and maintain aerobic physical activity (30 to 40 minutes most days per week).
Reduce salt intake to less than 2,400 mg sodium or 6,000 mg sodium chloride per day.
Maintain adequate intake of calcium (1,000 to 1,500 mg per day for adults) and potassium (approximately 2,000 mg per day for adults) for optimum health.
Improve overall cardiovascular health by quitting smoking and reducing saturated fat and cholesterol intake.
Reduce stress—since ongoing stressful circumstances, such as job dissatisfaction, may contribute to the development of hypertension, stress management may lower elevated blood pressure.

The effect of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure:

a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Sun Ha Jee; Edgar R. Miller III; Eliseo Guallar; Vikesh K. Singh; Lawrence J. Appel; and Michael J. Klag, "The effect of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials",
 for each 10 mmol/day increase in magnesium dose. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis detected dose-dependent BP reductions from magnesium supplementation. However, adequately powered trials with sufficiently high doses of magnesium supplements need to be performed to confirm this relationship.”

Cider Might Protect From Some Serious Diseases
We all know about how 'an apple a day' can 'keep the doctor away'. It seems that cider may also offer consumers health benefits, say researchers from Glasgow, Scotland. English cider apples have particularly high levels of phenolic antioxidants. Phenolic antioxidants are closely associated with cancer and stroke protection.

Red grapefruit could lower heart disease risk

Bananas...
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium
yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke

Brain behind high blood pressure
The brain, not the heart, is responsible for high blood pressure, suggests a new study carried out by the British researchers. The scientists said that hypertension, which can lead to heart attacks, strokes and kidney damage, is an inflammatory vascular disease of the brain rather than the heart, as previously thought.
They discovered that a protein located in the brain, JAM-1, trapped white blood cells, which can then cause inflammation and obstruct blood flow, leading to poor oxygen supply to the brain.

If you use herbs, do so responsibly. Consult your doctor about your health conditions and use of herbal supplements. Herbs may be harmful if taken for the wrong conditions, used in excessive amounts, combined with prescription drugs or alcohol, or used by persons who don't know what they are doing. Just because an herbal remedy is natural, does not mean it is safe! There are herbs that are poisonous such as Poison Hemlock, Jimson weed, and many more.