Ask the Professional: Effective treatments for High Blood Pressure

Posted by | April 19, 2010 | Blog | No Comments

Nutritionist: Healthier Lifestyle Effective in Managing High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure or Hypertension is another one of the diseases that has resulted, in part, from the standard American diet (SAD).
You can continue using the band-aid approach, or you can start addressing the cause and control the outcome for a healthier you.

Avoid:
– Trans fat from refined vegetable oils (partially hydrogenated oils), or solidified vegetable shortening as margarine
– The “4 whites” – enriched flour, sugar, rice, table salt
– All artificial sweeteners (Aspartame – an Excitotoxin, can elevate blood pressure)
Note: Read this book “EXCITOTOXINS: The Taste That Kills”, by Dr Russell Blaylock
– All processed foods, because they contain preservatives, mold inhibitors, and MSG

These are poisonous substances for anyone, and especially for those suffering from High Blood Pressure. They can cause inflammation (swelling of cells walls), and interfere with normal elimination of fluid from the body.

An important factor in prevention and treatment of high blood pressure is to maintain an optimal weight by:
– eating a healthy and balanced diet
– getting enough sleep and rest
– maintaining a healthy balance of work and relaxation to combat and reduce stress (relax by doing something you enjoy)
– exercising regularly (such as short periods of walking or swimming); and whenever possible walk rather than drive

Dietary and lifestyle changes are needed for a long-term solution to keep your blood pressure in check and to achieve cardiovascular fitness.

“A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association lends support to the emphasis on lifestyle changes. Researchers found that many people with hypertension were able to stop taking their blood pressure medications if they reduced their salt intake and lost weight. The trial included 975 volunteers, ages 60 to 80, who were taking blood pressure drugs. The 390 normal-weight participants received either counselling to reduce their salt intake or no dietary advice. The other 585 people, who were overweight, were divided into four equal groups. People in the first three groups were asked respectively to lose weight, reduce salt consumption, or do both. The fourth group received no special instructions. After three months, the researchers began to gradually withdraw the subjects from their blood pressure drugs.
More than two years later, the people assigned to both weight loss and salt reduction were only about half as likely to have high blood pressure, require an antihypertensive drug, or have cardiovascular problems as those who made no changes. People who only lost weight or reduced salt were each a third less likely to have high blood pressure, require an antihypertensive drug, or have cardiovascular problems than those who didn’t make any lifestyle changes.”
Read more here: http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions/articles/harvard_70_HT0107.html

Drink:
Plenty of water to keep you hydrated and help flush toxins out of the body

Eat:
• fresh, raw vegetable and fruits (eat 2-3 servings from each colour: red, orange and yellow, green, blue and purple)
• a good quality protein with every meal (animal or vegetarian)
• whole grains
• raw and unsalted seeds and nuts (NO peanuts)
• cold pressed flaxseed oil on your salad

Season your foods with:
Parsley, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, garlic, chilli peppers, cayenne, turmeric, horseradish

Supplement with:
• Vitamin C plus Bioflavonoid
• Calcium and Magnesium (1:2 ratio)
• Coenzyme Q10
• Essential fatty acids – EFAs
• Garlic
• GLA
• Zinc

Extra Notes:
Morning Juice: Carrot Juice and bee pollen, with kelp and a pinch of both cayenne and turmeric
Note: Avoid bee pollen, if you are allergic to bees.
Non-alcoholic drink as a nightcap: Chamomile tea; valerian juice or tea; or a warm magnesium drink

If you are taking medication, consult with your doctor before making any change.

Flora Zorn, R.H.N.
Registered Holistic Nutritionist

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