The Vegetable That Can Help Normalize Your Blood Pressure and Kill Cancer Cells, TooPosted on June 15, 2012

Print or Save PDF

By: Dr. MercolaSource: Mercola.comMounting scientific studies have demonstrated that broccoli is one of nature’s most valuable health-promoting foods. Science has proven time after time that Mother Nature is the best physician, and food is the best medicine.

A recent study, published in the American Journal of Hypertension, adds to the mounting scientific evidence about broccoli’s noteworthy health benefits. A compound in broccoli, glucosinolateglucoraphanin, produces a metabolite called sulforaphane that can significantly improve your blood pressure and kidney function, according to this latest animal study.Sulforaphane is an organic sulfur compound found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, horseradish and arugula—but it’s highest in broccoli sprouts.

Sulforaphane has been shown to have antidiabetic and antimicrobial properties, and also kills cancer stem cells, which slows tumor growth. Researchers believe eliminating cancer stem cells is key to controlling cancer.

This is something current chemotherapies cannot do, but food can! This latest research confirms broccoli’s benefits go beyond cancer prevention.

In this 2012 study, hypertensive rats with impaired kidney function were given sulforaphane. The natural compound improved the rats’ kidney function and lowered their blood pressure by normalizing a process called DNA methylation.

The Food You Eat Actually Changes Your DNA

What is DNA methylation?

Without getting too far adrift in biochemistry, DNA methylation is the process by which a methyl group (one carbon atom attached to three hydrogen atoms) is added to part of a DNA molecule. DNA methylation is a crucial part of normal cell function, allowing cells to “remember who they are and where they have been” and is important in regulating gene expression. DNA methylation also suppresses the genes for things you DON’T want, such as viral and other disease-related genes. Abnormal DNA methylation plays a crucial role in the development of nearly all types of cancer.

Broccoli sprouts have also been shown to inhibit Helicobacter pylori (the bacteria thought to cause gastric ulcers), protect your heart, and may offer protection against UV radiation damage to your skin when applied topically. The sulforaphane from broccoli plays a role in activating more than 200 different genes. And you don’t have to consume a truckload of broccoli to reap its benefits.

In fact, a 2008 study published in PLoSfound that just four servings of broccoli per week could protect men from prostate cancer. One serving of broccoli is about two spears, so that’s only 10 broccoli spears per week.

Researchers believe hypertension (and kidney dysfunction) may result from a disturbance in DNA methylation, and it may just be that sulforaphane improves blood pressure and kidney function by ameliorating this problem. So, any food that mediates DNA methylation is very helpful toward keeping you healthy—and broccoli is one of the BEST! But if you hate broccoli, don’t fret. Broccoli sprouts aren’t your ONLY salvation if you suffer from hypertension or kidney trouble.

Hypertension is a Stroke’s Best Friend

You are generally diagnosed with pre-hypertension if your blood pressure is between 120/80 and 140/80, and anything above 140/80 is generally diagnosed as hypertension (“high blood pressure”). Hypertension is dangerous because it typically shows no warning signs or symptoms, and in its complete silence, can cause a stroke. Drugs advertised to “treat” hypertension will not change or in any way address the underlying cause of your hypertension. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that more than 85 percent of those who have hypertension can normalize their blood pressure with some basic lifestyle modifications.

The REAL Cause of Most Hypertension May Surprise You

High blood pressure is typically related to your body developing resistance to insulin. As your insulin level rises, your blood pressure rises. Most physicians—even cardiologists—do not understand the crucial connection between blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and insulin.Dr. Richard Johnson masterfully ties together the connection between hypertension, kidney disease, obesity and diabetes in his book,The Sugar Fix, which is one of the best books written on this issue. Dr. Johnson is the chief of the kidney disease and hypertension division at the University of Colorado, and I would encourage you to listen to his interview.According to Dr. Johnson, there is one major factor linking ALL of the health problems listed above: high dietary fructose.Americans on the whole are fructose addicts. It’s added to sodas, fruit juices, and nearly all processed foods lining supermarket shelves, usually in the form of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). The number one source of calories in the typical American diet is HFCS in soda, so it’s no wonder diabetes has risen to epidemic proportions. In fact, the use of high fructose corn syrup in the U.S. diet increased a staggering 10,673 percent between 1970 and 2005, according to a major USDA report. That statistic is no major surprise considering that processed foods account for more than 90 percent of the money Americans spend on their meals.

Unlike glucose, which is burned by fuel in every cell in your body, fructose, if not immediately consumed as fuel, is metabolized into fat by your liver, which can set the ball rolling toward insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. I highly recommend getting a fasting insulin level test, which must be ordered by your doctor. The level you want to strive for is about 2 to 3. If it’s above 5, then you have a problem and you definitely need to get your insulin level down as you are at risk for cardiovascular problems.

The Fructose-Insulin Connection

What is the link between fructose and blood pressure? Fructose in your diet raises your blood pressure in three key ways:

1. When your liver breaks down fructose, uric acid is produced as a byproduct. Uric acid also drives up your blood pressure by inhibiting nitric oxide in your blood vessels. Nitric oxide helps your blood vessels maintain their elasticity. When you consume large amounts of fructose, increasing uric acid levels drive up your blood pressure. If your uric acid levels are chronically elevated, you have an increased risk for hypertension, kidney disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Large amounts of fructose also place a great strain on your liver, which is responsible for most of the metabolic burden.

2. As metabolic physician and nutrition expert Dr. Ron Rosedale has explained, insulin stores magnesium. If your insulin receptors are blunted and your cells grow resistant to insulin, you can’t store magnesium, so it passes out of your body through urination. Magnesium relaxes muscles; so, when your magnesium level is low, your blood vessels will constrict rather than relax, which further raises your blood pressure.

3. Insulin causes your body to retain sodium, which in turn causes fluid retention. Fluid retention results in elevated blood pressure and can ultimately lead to congestive heart failure.

If your blood pressure is elevated and you consume a lot of sugar—especially in the form of fructose (such as high fructose corn syrup)—lowering your blood pressure might be as simple as cutting all forms of sugar and grains out of your diet. Normalizing your blood glucose levels will normalize your insulin and bring

those blood pressures down into a healthy range. I strongly advise keeping your TOTAL fructose consumption below 25 grams per day, or as low as 15 grams if you have high blood pressure, are overweight, or diabetic.

Tips for Achieving a Healthy Blood Pressure without Drugs

Besides drastically reducing or eliminating fructose consumption, there are some basic lifestyle modifications that will help optimize your blood pressure, improve your liver and kidney function, and reduce your overall risk for disease. Make sure you address each of the following:

Use exercise as a drug. Physical activity is by far one of the most potent “drug” there is, especially for increasing insulin sensitivity and normalizing blood glucose and blood pressure levels. We have developed a comprehensive fitness program that includes high intensity interval burst-type activity, stretching, and resistance training, which are all important components of a complete fitness program.

Follow a good nutrition plan that’s right for your body. It should be rich in fresh, organic vegetables, raw nuts and seeds, raw organic dairy, eggs from pastured hens, grass-fed meats, healthy fats such as coconut oil and animal-based omega-3, and plenty of fresh pure water.

Optimize your vitamin D levels. Sunlight, and the vitamin D it causes your body to produce, has a normalizing effect on your blood pressure. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.

The best source for vitamin D is direct sun exposure. But for many of us, this just isn’t practical during the winter. The next best option to sunlight is the use of a safe indoor tanning device. If neither natural nor artificial sunlight is an option, then using oral vitamin D3 supplements is your best bet. If you wish to take an oral vitamin D3 supplement, follow my dose recommendations, which are based on the latest scientific research. The only way to know your optimal dose is to get your blood tested. Ideally, you’ll want to maintain a vitamin D level of 50-70 ng/ml year-round.

For an in-depth explanation of everything you need to know about vitamin D, please listen to my FREE one-hour vitamin D lecture.

Manage your stress. Stress puts the “tension” into hypertension! The long-term activation of your stress-response system can disrupt nearly all of your body’s processes, and elevated blood pressure is one of many negative effects. Finding a way to deal with life’s everyday stressors is a necessity for good health. My preferred tool is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).

Get plenty of deep, restorative sleep each night.WARNING to Those Taking Blood Pressure Medications

I rarely recommend the use of drugs, but in some cases it may be appropriate to keep taking them as a temporary measure until you are healthy enough to wean yourself off. If you have serious hypertension, this is one of those cases.If you are on medication for high blood pressure, please do not discontinue it without consulting your healthcare provider. Stroke risk is a serious concern. As you gradually make the necessary lifestyle changes, your need for medication will lessen, and eventually you’ll probably be able to discontinue the drug altogether. It takes determination and commitment, but it IS possible—I’ve seen it many times! So keep taking your medications as prescribed, but keep eating your broccoli.

How your blood pressure normalizes within few weeks

von Dr. Johann Georg Schnitzer

In fact, your high blood pressure can be normalized within a few weeks - in a natural

way, without pills, and for good. By that, you free yourself too from the hitherto -

despite pills - high cardiovascular risk. Here you receive your practical time and

measures schedule.

Dear Reader,

holding the book "Hypertension Causes & Cure" in your hands, you own the key to normalize your blood pressure without pills. (On the Internet you can find it by the URL http://www.dr-schnitzer.de/bhd001.htm). Now it depends only on you, to make the right practical use of it.

Hypertension is the main risk factor for the cardiovascular diseases: Heart attack, stroke, embolism. Every other citizen (50 % of the population) of a First World country dies from one of them.

If your blood pressure is already elevated and only can be lowered by pills, your personal risk factor is even much higher: It's at about 95 %!

To escape from this "dead certain" cardiovascular risk, the statistics offer only not very encouraging alternatives to pass away: E.g. by (related to the total population) cancer (every 4th, 25 %); various (every 18th - anemia, meningitis, bowel infection, influenza, violence etc.); liver cirrhosis (every 43rd); accidents (every 44th); chronic bronchitis (every 52nd); suicide (every 54th); car accident (every 57th); and the only natural, acceptable one: to die of old-age (every 110th only!).

Do you own a driver's license? In this case, I'm sure you know well how important the correct tire pressure is for your safety, for your freedom from bodily harm, for your life; therefore you check your tire pressure every time taking fuel, or at least every two weeks, and correct it if necessary.

But did you know that your correct blood pressure - between 115/75 and 130/85 measured after rest - is 30 times more important for your safety, freedom from harm and life, and high blood pressure 30 times more dangerous for you, than a wrong tire pressure? Were you conscious of that? How often do you check your blood pressure? If found to be elevated, what did you do to normalize it? (Pills don't count, because not lowering the risk of sudden fatal cardiovascular events).

This book offers you the access to normalize your blood pressure in the natural way. This is possible, because it informs you about the true causes forcing your body to elevate the blood pressure, enabling you to remove them. Also the book teaches you the natural preconditions of health.

Not only, that you don't need anymore pills - too you leave the cardiovascular risk zone for good.

And that's not yet all. Everything gets optimized, that depends on an optimal function of the cardiovascular system: Your mental and physical performance, the oxygen and energy supply of all tissues and organs including your brain, the readiness for defense of your immune system against poisons, allergens, bacteria and virus infections.

Therefore, optimizing your cardiovascular system means optimizing your total health, and optimal protection against every and all chronic and acute civilization diseases and infections. It's worth your effort multiple times, to use this book as an access to such an essential knowledge.

However: Doing it only half, doesn't help much. "Wash my fur, but don't make me wet!" doesn't work. Rather valid is, what the discoverer of homeopathy, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, said to his students (physicians): "Copy it - but copy it precisely!"

Therefore I give you below a proceeding, that helps you to recapture your natural health completely, and as fast as possible. Your chances of a complete success are the bigger, the more complete your compliance is.

With my best wishes for your health and a long and healthy life,

Sincerely yours

Dr. Johann Georg Schnitzer

 

Time and measure scheduleto normalize your blood pressure

Preparatory measures (take about 2-4 weeks beginning today)

1. Daily write down your blood pressure, measured under the same conditions (after rest) at the same time of the day. Write down medications and dosages (how many pills) of daily intake. Print out your questionnaire for documentation of your starting point and recovery: http://www.dr-schnitzer.de/inquiry2e.html.

2. Read the book "Hypertension Causes & Cure" completely and carefully, the best read it twice. At the same time you organize the additional kitchen equipment and ingredients you don't have yet to practise the recipes, e.g. a household cereal grinder (best: with milling stones from Naxos basalt and magnesite); equipment to germinate grains and seeds; a rasp made from stainless steel; and germinable (= able to germinate; alive) grains and seeds: Naked oats grains (true ones, not normal oats with removed straw cover); wheat grains, spelt grains, chickpeas, lentils, green mungbeans (s. health food stores).

3. Ask your physician - in case he/she didn't propose you this therapy from the very beginning - if knowing this therapy. If not yet, propose to acquire my books available in English, to read them, and to treat you accordingly. The order page: http://www.dr-schnitzer.de/besteug1.htm. If not interested, search for another physician, having additionally studied homeopathy and natural medicine. Ask the same - and only stop searching when you have found an interested and cooperative one. Make a weekly appointment, starting from the day of your beginning with this therapy, for checking your blood pressure and haematocrit before starting with measures, and eventually for a first of the series of some small blood lettings to accelerate the efficacy of the measures.

Realization (6-10 weeks)

First week:

Only after the starting situation had been documented, but immediately after it, you start with the new nutrition. The first 1-3 days you take exclusively the "Cereal-soup-diet". Then you change to the "Schnitzer Intensive Nutrition". Daily you measure your blood pressure; as it lowers, you (resp. your physician) reduce your medication, according to your health progress.

The next 5-9 weeks:

Once per week, always the same weekday and hour, you or your physician measure your blood pressure; and, if still necessary, 80-100 ml blood are taken. Every other week the haematocrit is checked (if reduction to 41 % is reached, end of blood lettings). Cease of any medication as agreed with the physician. Continuing with "Schnitzer Intensive Nutrition".

Stabilization of the normalized blood pressure (another 6-10 weeks):

As soon as the blood pressure has become normal without medication, the phase of stabilization starts. This takes about the same time, as it has taken before to normalize the blood pressure, that means another 6-10 weeks. Now whole meal bread, made from germinable, freshly ground cereal grains, but still without spread, can be added to the "Schnitzer Intensive Nutrition". Now please fill out your questionnaire (http://www.dr-schnitzer.de/inquiry2e.html), and send it. It's encouraging to others, seeing your success, to go the same promising way. Your privacy remains completely protected (details see questionnaire).

Further conduct:

Change to "Schnitzer Normal Nutrition", but for good avoid any animal foodstuff, including milk and milk products, and avoid refined carbohydrates (sugars, refined flours and refined starch). Once per week check your blood pressure. If necessary, practize again 1 week of Schnitzer Intensive Nutrition". Light endurance sports 2-3 times a week.

If necessary, repeat this therapy plan as described.

Hint No. 1: If the diastolic blood pressure (normal = 75-85 mm/Hg) too is elevated, not only the flow resistance is higher (because of narrowed capillaries and higher blood viscosity): Additionally the whole cardiovascular system is standing under higher pressure because of an increased total blood volume (this too is caused by the denatured, not man-appropriate civilization nutrition). In such cases small blood lettings can do true miracles!

Hint No. 2: If you don't find any doctor who is willing to support you, don't worry. Most of your former fellow-sufferers could cure their hypertension without any support of a physician, as you can read in their reports to the "Hypertension Study". You are surprised why doctors aren't much interested in a hypertension curing therapy? You should come to realize: Doctors don't live upon healthy people or upon cured patients. They live upon ill patients, mainly chronically ill patients, and they are fast in declaring a profitable chronic disease to be "incurable". About 50 % of their patients are chronic hypertension patients, contributing about 50 % to their total

earnings! To learn more about this present situation, please read: "Medicus, quo vadis? Physician, whither thou goest?".

P.S. For a conveniant printout on your own printer, to share this information with patients, friends, and colleagues, an extract of this text is available as a ".pdf" file, together with the book titles containing essential information and where to get them:

<http://www.dr-schnitzer.de/begre110.pdf>

It's a two pages document (after printing, you could fold it once, getting so four pages). After your Acrobat Reader has opened it (the lines show up vertical), you proceed as follows:

1. Bring the first page (having 2 columns) on your screen.2. Click on file > print > actual page, fill in e.g. "10 copies" and print.3. Then put these copies again into your printer, in a position that allows you to

print on the still unprinted page. If it's your first time doing this, you should try it by printing only one copy, because it's different from printer to printer.

4. Now bring the second page (having again 2 columns) on your screen.5. Click on file > print > actual page, fill in e.g. "1 copy" and print. If necessary,

change the position of the remaining 9 copies in your printer and try again by click on file > print > actual page, fill in e.g. "1 copy" and print. If it prints now correctly, click again on file > print > actual page, fill in e.g. the remaining "8 copies" and print.

Further hints:

If your printer menu offers the option "automatically turn and center pages", use it; the type area will be centered, and the borders will have equal sizes. Other printers simply offer the same option as "page size"; this too should be used (put a hook there).

Paper color: If printing with colors, white paper is the best. If printing black and white, a light colored paper is more attractive - e.g. a light yellow or light orange.

The page with the book titles can be used to transmit book orders by fax.

Folding options: Folding once, the text outside, the book titles inside. Or folding twice, the text inside; in this case it can be used to order books by airmail, because the address just fits into the window of a small window envelope.

NATURAL WAYS TO MANAGE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

By Dr Mercola

Uncontrolled high blood pressure is a very serious health concern that can lead to heart disease and increased risk for stroke if left untreated. The good news is, by optimizing your dietary intake, exercising, and effectively managing your stress, the odds of normalizing your blood pressure are greatly in your favor.

The guidelines given below provide an insight into how you can naturally treat and manage high blood pressure.

Your Diet Will Raise or Lower Your Blood Pressure

Are you on a high grain, low fat regimen? If so, I have bad news for you, because this nutritional combination is a prescription for hypertension and can absolutely devastate your health.Groundbreaking research published in 1998 in the journal Diabetes reported that nearly two-thirds of the test subjects who were insulin resistant (IR) also had high blood pressure, and insulin resistance is directly attributable to a high sugar, high grain diet, especially if accompanied by inadequate exercise. 

So, chances are that if you have hypertension, you also have poorly controlled blood sugar levels, because these two problems often go hand in hand. As your insulin level elevates, so does your blood pressure.

Fructose Can Cause Your Blood Pressure to Skyrocket

The first thing you need to do is remove all grains and sugars from your diet, particularly fructose, until both your weight and your blood pressure have normalized. Eating sugars and grains -including any type of bread, pasta, corn, potatoes, or rice - will cause your insulin levels and your blood pressure to remain elevated.

This is significant because the average American now consumes 70 grams of fructose EVERY day!

Fructose breaks down into a variety of waste products that are bad for your body, one being uric acid. Uric acid drives up your blood pressure by inhibiting the nitric oxide in your blood vessels. Nitric oxide helps your vessels maintain their elasticity, so nitric oxide suppression leads to increases in blood pressure. In fact, 17 out of 17 studies demonstrate that elevated uric acid levels lead to hypertension. 

As a standard recommendation, I strongly advise keeping your TOTAL fructose consumption below 25 grams per day. Since the average 12-ounce can of soda contains 40 grams of sugar, at least half of which is fructose, this can of soda ALONE would exceed your daily allotment.

In addition, most people would be wise to also limit the amount of fructose you get from fruit to 15 grams or less, because you're virtually guaranteed to consume "hidden" sources of fructose (typically in the form of high fructose corn syrup) from most beverages and just about any processed food you eat.

Additional Dietary Considerations1. Normalize Your Omega 6:3 Ratio

Both omega-3 and omega-6 fats are essential for your health. Most Americans, however, are getting too much omega-6 in their diet and far too little omega-3. Consuming omega-3 fats is one of the best ways to re-sensitize your insulin receptors if you suffer from insulin resistance. 

Omega-6 fats are found in processed vegetable old, such as corn, soy, canola, safflower and sunflower oil. If you're consuming a lot of these oils, you'll want to avoid or limit them.

Omega-3 fats are typically found in flaxseed oil, walnut oil and fish, with fish being by far the best source. Unfortunately, most fresh fish today contains dangerously high levels of mercury. Your best bet is to find a safe source of fish, or if this proves too difficult, supplement with a high quality krill oil, which has been found to be 48 times more potent than fish oil.

2. Eliminate Caffeine

The connection between caffeine consumption and high blood pressure is not well understood, but there is ample evidence to indicate that if you have hypertension, coffee and other caffeinated drinks and foods can exacerbate your condition. Caffeine is a drug, and while it's entirely legal and widely consumed, it can have a powerful affect on your individual physiology. If

you want to eliminate caffeine from your diet, try to do it gradually over a period of days or even weeks in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms like headaches.  

3. Consume Fermented Foods

Differences in gut flora from one person to another appears to have a large effect on whether or not you develop heart disease. If your gut flora is not healthy, your risk is much greater for heart disease, as well as many other chronic health problems. The best way to optimize your gut flora is by including some naturally fermented foods in your diet, such as sauerkraut and other fermented vegetables, yogurt, kefir, and natto. An additional benefit of fermented foods is that some of them are excellent sources of vitamin K2, which is important for preventing arterial plaque buildup and heart disease.

Exercise!

Physical activity is by far one of the most potent "drugs" there is, and its side effects are exactly the kinds you want to experience.  Most comprehensive exercise regimens will produce long-term benefits in people with high blood pressure. Nearly every program should incorporate anaerobic sprint or burst-type exercises one to three times a week, as these have been shown to be even more effective than aerobic exercises at reducing your risk of dying from a heart attack.

If you are insulin resistant, you'll definitely want to include weight training in your exercise program. When you work individual muscle groups, you increase blood flow to those muscles. Good blood flow will increase your insulin sensitivity. Depending on your physical condition when you embark on your exercise program, you may need to consult with a health care professional for help increasing to the intensity required to lower your insulin level. 

Control Your Stress

One in three American adults have high blood pressure (hypertension), and just as many, if not more, battle emotional and mental stress on a day-to-day basis. 

As reported by ABC World News in 2010, one cardiologist believes the connection between stress and hypertension is undeniable, yet still does not receive the emphasis it deserves. 

My preferred method is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), an easy to learn, easy to use technique for releasing negative emotions. EFT combines visualization with calm, relaxed breathing, while employing gentle tapping to 'reprogram' deeply seated emotional patterns.

Optimize Your Vitamin D LevelsThe farther you live from the equator, the higher your risk of developing high blood pressure. And did you know that blood pressure is typically higher in winter months than in summer?

 Sunlight actually affects blood pressure in several ways:

Sun exposure causes your body to produce vitamin D. Lack of sunlight reduces your vitamin D stores and increases parathyroid hormone production, which increases blood pressure.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to insulin resistance (IR) and Syndrome X (also known as Metabolic Syndrome), a group of health problems that can include IR, elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, obesity, and high blood pressure.

Vitamin D is also a negative inhibitor of your body's renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which regulates blood pressure. If you're vitamin D deficient, it can cause inappropriate activation of your RAS, which may lead to hypertension.

Additionally, exposure to UV rays is thought to cause the release of endorphins, chemicals in your brain that produce feelings of euphoria and pain relief. Endorphins naturally relieve stress, and stress management is an important factor in resolving hypertension.

Note: Please do NOT let your doctor give you a "prescription" vitamin D. That is vitamin D2, which is synthetic, and not nearly as beneficial as the real vitamin D, which is D3 (cholecalciferol).

Supplements and Other AlternativesAlthough certain supplements may be helpful, it's important to understand they should never be used as a substitute for basic lifestyle choices that treat the real cause of the problem. Using only supplements without modifying your lifestyle is an allopathic approach not very different from using drugs. In most instances, it is not likely to be effective. Once you have made some beneficial changes to your lifestyle, you can then consider some of the following supplements as a way to further enhance your health:

Calcium and magnesium. Daily calcium and magnesium supplementation can be useful in lowering blood pressure, especially if yours is on the high end of high. However, if you avoid sugars and grains and eat for your Nutritional Type™ (see above), it's unlikely additional calcium or magnesium supplements will be necessary.

Vitamins C and E. Studies indicate that these vitamins can be helpful in lowering your blood pressure. Ideally, you'll want to get the right amount of both these nutrients through diet alone. If you decide you need a supplement, make sure to take a natural (not synthetic) form of vitamin E. You can tell what you're buying by carefully reading the label. Natural vitamin E is always listed as the 'd-' form (d-alpha-tocopherol, d-beta-tocopherol, etc.) Synthetic vitamin E is listed as 'dl-' forms.

Olive leaf extract. In one 2008 study, supplementing with 1,000 mg of olive leaf extract daily for eight weeks caused a significant dip in both blood pressure and LDL ("bad cholesterol") in people with borderline hypertension. If you want to incorporate olive leaf extract as a natural adjunct to a nutritionally sound diet, you should look for fresh leaf liquid extracts for maximum synergistic potency. You can also prepare your own olive leaf tea by placing a large teaspoon of dried olive leaves in a tea ball or herb sack. Place it in about two quarts of boiling water and let it steep for three to 10 minutes. The tea should be a medium amber color when done.

Quick tricks. Increasing nitric monoxide in your blood can open constricted blood vessels and lower blood pressure. Methods of increasing the compound include taking a warm bath, breathing in and out through one nostril (close off the other nostril and your mouth), and eating bitter melon, rich in amino acids and vitamin C.

High blood pressure is an epidemic and like obesity, your best treatment is to evaluate your lifestyle and make the necessary adjustments. In the case of high blood pressure, lifestyle changes -- with particular emphasis on normalizing your insulin levels -- can put you on the road to a drug-free, all natural return to optimal health.

5 Non-Prescription Ways to Normalize Your Blood Pressure Promoting Cardio HealthOct 31, 2013 12:13:16 PM

Usually, bringing your blood pressure back into a safe and healthy range from an abnormally high level requires medications, and we have a wide variety of safe, well tolerated, effective, and generally inexpensive medications. These are among our best tools for preventing heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, kidney disease, and death. Yet many people prefer to try to normalize their blood pressure without meds, or at least minimize their intake of prescription drugs.

It will take some effort and discipline, but you can dramatically support healthy blood pressure levels by following the steps below.* The payoff is not just improved blood pressure, but improved health and vigor, and better longevity.* Indeed, one of the best predictors of a long and healthy life is normal blood pressure; so you need to do whatever it takes (including one or more meds if necessary) to get those numbers below 135/85.

5 non-prescription steps to keep your blood pressure in the normal range include:1. Diet: The average American consumes 4,000 mg of sodium per day - almost 10 times as much as we need. This is another key reason why nearly all of us develop high blood pressure sooner or later. Eat at least 5, and preferably 9 or more servings of fresh fruit and vegetables per day. These are naturally sodium free and will bring down your blood pressure. Avoid processed food as much as possible: it's generally loaded with salt.2. Exercise: Try this experiment: check your blood pressure when you are feeling tense or upset. Then go out for a 30 to 60 minute brisk exercise session. Recheck your blood pressure about 30 minutes after you cool down; it will almost certainly be substantially lower. Outdoor aerobic exercise like walking or jogging, biking, gardening, golfing (without riding a motorized cart) or swimming are especially effective at normalizing blood pressure.3. Vitamin D: Most Americans are deficient in this crucially important nutrient, which is more of a hormone than a vitamin. Supporting your vitamin D level, either with supplements or sunshine, will promote a healthy blood pressure.* Most people need at least 2,000 IU per day of vitamin D,* and 15 to 20 minutes of “sensible sun” without sunscreen is good for your attitude and your health.*4. Green Tea: Drinking at least 3 or 4 cups of tea, especially green tea, daily will support a healthy blood pressure,* particularly if you substitute the tea for diet sodas and/or calorie rich drinks like sweet soft drinks and sports drinks.5. Omega-3: Taking a purified fish oil supplement will support healthy blood pressure levels as well,* which is just one of a number of important benefits you attain from consuming at least 1,000 mg of EPA + DHA (the key omega-3 fats) each day.In Good Health

James H. O'Keefe, MD

Posted in Omega-3 Health Tips Healthy Food Vitamin D By James O'Keefe, MD

NORMALIZE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE NATURALLY

 

      

        High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a killer.  It affects around 65 million Americans.  It is largely responsible for heart disease being the number one cause of death in America.  High blood pressure creates abnormal stress on the cardiovascular system and all body tissues.  Regulating blood pressure should be a primary goal in our quest to maintain optimum health. 

       Blood pressure is simply the pressure or force of flowing blood against the walls of the arteries and veins throughout the body.   Every time the heart beats, blood is pumped through the arterial system creating pressure against the walls of the arteries. This is called the systolic blood pressure.   When the heart rests between beats the pressure against the walls of the arteries is less.  This is called the diastolic blood pressure.  Your pulse rate reflects the number of times your heart beats per minute. The rate and strength of your heartbeat and the amount of blood that passes through the blood vessels at any one particular time against the resistance of the blood vessel walls will give you a measurement of pressure.  

       This is comparable to connecting a hose to a water outlet and turning on the water.  The water will flow at a normal rate out the open end. If you turn up the pressure, the water will flow through the hose faster and place more

pressure on the walls of the hose.  If some debris gets in the hose, the pressure will increase even more due to the blockage. 

       When your blood pressure is measured, you get a reading of systolic over diastolic. A typical reading would be 120/80.  Blood pressure guidelines from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute show normal healthy blood pressure to be 120/80 or less.  Prehypertension is 120-139/80-90.  Hypertension is 140/90 or higher.   Some researchers consider healthy blood pressure to be 115/75 as they found the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles at each increment of 20/10 over baseline 115/75.

       Blood pressure will vary considerably throughout the day in response to a variety of physical and psychological changes and challenges.  That is why it is best to take your blood pressure when relaxed.  If your relaxed blood pressure is shown to be above 120/80 on a consistent basis, there is a good chance that you have pre or full blown high blood pressure.   

CAUSES, INDICATORS AND CONTROL OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE:

The Sodium/Potassium Factor: 

       Two much sodium in the diet increases fluid retention which leads to higher blood volume and therefore increased pressure in the arterial system.   Having ample amounts of potassium in the diet helps regulate the amount of sodium in the cells by expelling excess sodium through the kidneys.  Americans tend to get too much sodium compared to potassium in the diet. 

       The RDA for sodium is around 2000 mg. per day.  The average American consumes from six to eighteen thousand milligrams of salt per day in the form of sodium chloride where about 40% of the salt is sodium and the remaining 60% is chloride.  

       This means that the average American is taking in between 2,400 mg. and 7,200 mg. of pure sodium on a daily basis. Sodium is found mainly outside the cell and potassium is found primarily inside the cell.  Potassium should be found in a ratio of approximately 2:1 over sodium in order to maintain proper fluid balance between the inside and outside of the cell.  Many Americans have a reverse ratio of 2:1 sodium over potassium. The recommended daily intake for potassium is between 3000 and 5000 mg. per day.

The Cholesterol Factor:

       Low density lipo protein cholesterol (LDL) and very low density lipo protein cholesterol (VLDL), the so called bad types of cholesterol, can oxidize and create free radical activity causing damage to the walls of the arterial system.  The body repairs the damage which can result in the buildup of plaque. Plaque buildup narrows the space through which blood can flow resulting in an increase in blood pressure. One way to guard against such oxidation is to insure that you are consuming a large variety of anti-oxidant nutrients on a daily basis.  High density lipo protein cholesterol (HDL), the so-called good cholesterol, helps to remove LDL and VLDL cholesterol by collecting it and returning it to the liver. Aerobic and resistive exercise is the best way to raise HDL levels. 

       You can lower LDL cholesterol levels in the body by moving bile through the colon and out the stool.  Bile is made in the liver from cholesterol and stored in the gallbladder. The body uses bile to break down fats in the digestive process.  Excess bile needs to be eliminated through the stole.  Since bile is largely made of cholesterol, failure to remove excess bile can result in excess cholesterol backing up into the liver and from there entering the arterial system.  This excess cholesterol may end up as deposits in the arteries. Consuming thirty to forty grams of water soluble fiber per day will insure the elimination of cholesterol waste.  Oat bran, rice bran, apple pectin, flax

fiber and psyllium are all examples of fibers that will facilitate this process.

       Many people are using prescription Statin drugs such as Lovastatin, Lipitor and Mevacor to lower cholesterol levels. Statins lower cholesterol by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA Reductase which catalyzes the production of cholesterol in the liver.  The mechanism by which Statin drugs lower cholesterol also inhibits the biosynthesis of CoQ10 in the liver.  CoQ10 is absolutely necessary for proper function of the heart. Some doctors have observed a marked increase in heart failure, among those using Statin drugs.  It even has a name, “Statin Cardiomyopathy.”  Anyone using Statins should take a COQ10 supplement.

       An extract of Red Yeast Rice contains similar compounds to that found in Statins.  Red yeast Rice extracts lower cholesterol levels by the same mechanism as Statins but because they are weaker, they don’t have the same negative impact on the liver or muscles that Statins tend to have.  Since Red Yeast Rice extracts interfere with COQ10 production just like Satins, users should supplement with COQ10.

       Cautionary note:  When Statins or Red Yeast Rice products are consumed in conjunction with Grapefruit juice, the blood concentration of their active ingredient Mevinolin is increased by up to 15-fold.  Such increases are dangerous. Don’t drink grapefruit juice when taking these products.

       Another natural substance shown to lower cholesterol is Policosanol, a lipid alcohol derived from sugar cane wax.  A number of studies show this substance to effectively lower total cholesterol, raise HDL levels and guard against LDL oxidation.  This product is well tolerated and has no significant side effects.  Policosanol is available at Milk ‘N Honey along with Red Yeast Rice extracts.

       Since most of your cholesterol is made in the liver, the amount of cholesterol obtained from the diet has

only minimal bearing on your cholesterol levels. Remember, cholesterol is only found in animal products. Triglyceride fat is more of a factor in raising cholesterol levels in your body as excessive triglycerides tend to push the liver into producing more cholesterol.  Lowering your intake of animal products will lower triglyceride fat.  All hydrogenated fats such as margarine should be eliminated from the diet.  Hydrogenated fats are man-made fats that create what are called trans fatty acids.  Trans fats are stickier than normal “cis” fats like found in butter. They encourage fatty deposits in the arteries.   These fats also make your blood clotting platelets more sticky and therefore increase the risk of stroke and heart attack. Trans fats have been shown to raise blood levels of both cholesterol and triglycerides and in general create free radicals.  Trans fats also interfere with the action of what are called the essential fatty acids.  Essential fatty acids, such as omega 3 linolenic, is vital to health.

Measuring C-Reactive Protein:

       C-reactive protein is produced in the liver and released in response to acute injury or bacterial/viral infection or other stimulants of inflammation.  C-reactive protein is a biomarker of atherosclerosis which means that its presence is indicative of destabilized plaque in the arteries. The body releases C-reactive protein into the bloodstream when blood vessels leading to the heart are damaged. C-reactive protein levels indicate the degree of inflammation occurring in the lining of the arteries. A decrease in C-reactive protein indicates there has been a reduction of inflammation which in turn can help to normalize blood pressure.

The Exercise Factor:

       Regular aerobic and resistive exercise will strengthen the heart muscle and the entire cardiovascular system.  Exercise leads to dilation of the blood vessels and will almost immediately lower diastolic blood pressure.  Exercise

creates a decrease in the resting pulse rate. It increases the level of hemoglobin and therefore facilitates better oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.  Exercise will increase HDL cholesterol, (good guys), and decrease LDL cholesterol (bad guys).  Exercise will increase the number of capillaries carrying blood throughout the body. This is very important.  A major cause of elevated blood pressure is peripheral vascular resistance.  This condition develops when small blood vessels (arterioles and capillaries) in the extremities of the body become plugged due to fibrin buildup resulting in channels of blood flow becoming blocked.  This condition results from failure to place demands on our muscular system because of inactivity.  Regular exercise helps to unblock these channels and even create additional channels which will reduce pressure. 

       Typical forms of aerobic exercise include walking, running, rebounding, swimming, biking and any other exercise that raises the heart rate above resting levels for an extended period of time.   While exercise will raise blood pressure while you’re exercising, it will lead to a lower resting systolic and diastolic pressure.  Exercise is critical to normalizing blood pressure.

Your Kidneys and Blood Pressure:

       Our kidneys have tiny ball-shaped structures called glomeruli which are composed of capillary blood vessels involved in the filtration of the blood to form urine.  Over time, the glomeruli build up scar tissue which results in a decrease in the surface area available for this filtering process.   This raises blood pressure as more pressure is needed to accomplish the same level of filtration in what has become a reduced surface area.  This scar tissue buildup results in part from kidney damage due to overloading our bodies with toxins derived from our diet, pharmaceuticals, and the environment.  Kidney disease can also increase the production of a protein called angiotensin 2.  This protein causes narrowing of the small blood vessels resulting in an

increase in blood pressure.  This protein also stimulates the release of the hormone aldosterone from the adrenal glands which raises blood pressure.  This protein is activated by an enzyme called ACE.  Many people with high blood pressure take pharmaceuticals called ACE inhibitors which block the activation of angiotensin.  Unfortunately, ACE inhibitors, like all pharmaceuticals, add toxins to the body which the liver and kidneys must filter out.  Making every effort to reduce toxic load and drinking plenty of water on a daily basis will help to prevent kidney disease and the loss of the kidneys filtering capacity. This will help protect against high blood pressure. 

Weight Control:

       The risk for elevation in blood pressure increases as weight increases.  As weight increases, the arterial system expands to facilitate blood flow to a greater area of body mass.  The heart must work harder to facilitate blood flow to this increased area.  Increase in muscle mass doesn’t generally result in increased blood pressure.   If increase in body mass is primarily an increase in fatty tissue, especially around the abdomen, blood pressure will tend to rise.  Maintaining proper weight for your body type is important to maintaining acceptable blood pressure.

Life Style Considerations: 

       Smoking will raise blood pressure.  Nicotine constricts blood vessels.  Carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke replaces oxygen in the blood and reduces oxygen delivery to your cells.  Undue, sustained stress can lead to elevation in resting blood pressure.  Excessive consumption of alcohol will raise blood pressure.  Moderate use of alcohol has been shown to reduce blood pressure.  Some women who use birth control pills experience elevated resting blood pressure.   It is wise to check your blood pressure more regularly if you fit into anyone of these categories. 

Diet and Blood Pressure:

       Like all other areas of health, diet is critical to maintaining normal blood pressure.  The quality of our diet must be a primary consideration in maintaining normal blood pressure. Our goal should be to shift from the consumption of processed and refined foods to the eating of whole foods.  Refined foods are your boxed, canned and packaged foods, along with most of your fast food restaurant offerings.  Whole foods are fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains such as rice, wheat, barley and rye berries, along with beans, nuts and seeds.  Meats and dairy products should be as unprocessed as possible.  You should strive to purchase organically grown food which will provide us with greater nutrition and freedom from chemical contamination.

Supplementation and Blood Pressure:

       Green food concentrate:  Supplementing with a high quality green food concentrate will provide much needed potassium and many antioxidants to protect the cardiovascular system and maintain normal blood pressure.  We recommend the product BarleyLife.

       Garlic:  Fresh garlic provides a collection of sulfur compounds of which allicin has been shown to be the most beneficial. When you chew a garlic clove, alliin, a primary substance in garlic, is activated by an enzyme in garlic called alliinase which produces allicin. Allicin has been shown to reduce inflammation, keep blood from clotting, reduce cholesterol, and lower blood pressure.  We recommend Garlinase 4000, from Enzymatic Therapy.  This is a one tablet per day supplement that provides close to 4000 milligrams of fresh garlic with 5000 micrograms of allicin from 11,000 micrograms of alliin. These enteric coated tablets are shown to protect allicin from being destroyed before reaching the small intestine.  This product does not cause “garlic breath.”

       Essential fatty acids:  Essential fatty acids are very much lacking in the typical American diet.  These good fats lead to reduction in inflammation, play a role in the regulation of cholesterol, keep blood platelets from sticking together and facilitate normal blood flow.  To insure you are getting these important fatty acids in your diet, we recommend using a high quality flax seed or fish oil supplement.

       Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10):   CoQ10 appears to lower blood pressure in hypertension patients by normalizing the body's sodium/potassium ratio in conjunction with other mechanisms. In human trials, an average daily dosage of 225 mg of Coenzyme Q10 caused a reduction in average systolic blood pressure from 159 to 147 mm/Hg and a reduction in average diastolic blood pressure from 94 to 85 mm/Hg within three to four months of initiating supplementation.  CoQ10 supports blood circulation and appears to facilitate the heart’s handling of blood clots. As we age, our bodies produce less and less CoQ10.  Supplementation with CoQ10 is highly recommended for anyone with high blood pressure or any type of cardiovascular problems. 

       Nattokinase:  Nattokinase is an enzyme that will break down fibrin in the blood and other body tissue.  It is derived from natto, a fermented soy bean food that is commonly eaten by the Japanese.  Fibrin is a protein that forms in the blood to stop excess blood loss associated with an injury or trauma to the body.  This protein also forms as a result of bacteria, viruses, fungi and toxins in the blood that trigger inflammation.  Under such circumstances, since there is no demand for clotting to prevent blood loss, this fibrin will circulate through the blood and stick to the walls of blood vessels.  This contributes to the formation of blood clots, slows blood flow and increases the viscosity of the blood and blood pressure.   The result is loss of oxygen to body tissue which can contribute to heart attack, stroke, and senile dementia.  While the body does produce enzymes that break down fibrin, it does not always do so efficiently, especially

as we grow older. Nattokinase has been the subject of 17 studies.  These studies have shown Nattokinase to successfully dissolve clots, facilitate better blood flow and lower blood pressure. We recommend Nattokinase under the brand name Solaray.   

       Serrapeptase: (Pronounced: Serra pep tase), is a type of proteolytic (protein digesting) enzyme. It is produced in the intestines of silk worms in order to break down the walls of cocoons.  It can also be made through the fermentation process of certain bacteria. This enzyme has been shown to effectively dissolve fibrin and plaque in the arteries and thus improve blood flow leading to reduction in blood pressure. 

      Combination products:  For the individual who doesn’t care to take a variety of supplements but still needs to be proactive in reducing blood pressure, there are products that combine various ingredients that together will promote normalization of blood pressure. One such product, called Blood Pressure Factors from Michael’s Company, combines a variety of nutrients and herbal extracts that support normal blood pressure.  Several of the herbs in this product act as vasodilators which slightly dilate blood vessels, resulting in easier blood flow and therefore a lowering of blood pressure. 

Measuring Blood Pressure:

       High blood pressure not only adversely affects cardiovascular health but the health of all body systems.  Maintaining normal blood pressure needs to be a constant goal.  It is recommended that everyone purchase a blood pressure measuring device for home monitoring of blood pressure.  These can be purchased at most drug stores. The instruments with the automatic inflatable cuff are the most user friendly.  When using this equipment, be sure to measure your blood pressure after sitting down for a few minutes and relaxing.  By monitoring your blood pressure

you will be in a position to take action when necessary to insure continued blood pressure regulation.  

How You Can Normalize Your Blood Pressure Without DrugsDecember 15, 2009 | 257,265 views

Spread the Word toFriends And Family

By Dr. Mercola

If you are not already one in three U.S. adults with high blood pressure, the odds are that without intervention, you will be, at some point in your life.

In fact, the risk of becoming hypertensive is greater than 90 percent for individuals in developed countries, according to an editorial in the Lancet.[1]The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension. Many confuse this and believe this is high blood pressure related to being tense or anxious. While this can certainly cause high blood pressure in some, anxiety is a relatively minor cause of this condition.

It’s really no surprise that hypertension is on the rise.

In fact, it’s to be expected when the diet of choice -- or sometimes prescribed diet --for so many is some variety of a high grain, low fat regimen. This is exactly the wrong

nutritional combination if you have high blood pressure, or if you are hoping to prevent the condition.

The Sugar ConnectionGroundbreaking research published in 1998 in the journal Diabetes reported that nearly two-thirds of the test subjects who were insulin resistant (IR) also had high blood pressure.This crucial connection between IR and hypertension is yet another example of how wide-ranging the debilitating effects of high insulin, leptin and blood glucose levels can have on your body.

Additional research revealed that if your blood pressure doesn’t drop notably overnight, you run an increased risk of having cardiovascular problems. Here, the connection is also elevated blood sugar (glucose) levels. Elevated blood sugars can result in diabetes and other diseases which increase cardiovascular problems.

Chances are if you have hypertension, you also have poorly controlled blood sugar levels. The two problems often go hand in hand. And if your hypertension is the direct result of an out-of-control blood sugar level, then getting your blood sugars normalized will also bring your blood pressure readings into the healthy range.

Healthy Blood Pressure is Within Your ControlUncontrolled high blood pressure is a very serious health concern that can cause heart disease and increase your risk of having a stroke. It is especially dangerous because hypertension often has no warning signs or symptoms.

The sad reality is, over half of people taking multiple medications for high blood pressure are still not able to manage their condition.

The great news is that over 85 percent of those who have hypertension can normalize their blood pressure through lifestyle modifications. If you have hypertension or hope to avoid it, there are simple steps you can take to balance your blood pressure, glucose, leptin, and insulin levels -- all at the same time -- without harmful and/or ineffective medications.I’ll detail those steps later in this report.

But first, a little background information about the importance of your blood pressure to your health.

What do the Numbers Mean?If you’ve ever had your blood pressure taken, you know that there are two numbers given in a blood pressure reading. The upper or first number is your systolic blood pressure reading. The lower or second number is your diastolic pressure.Example:

120 / 80 =120 systolic arterial pressure and

80 diastolic arterial pressureSystolic pressure is the highest pressure, in your arteries and occurs when your ventricles contract at the beginning of your cardiac cycle.

Diastolic pressure refers to the lowest arterial pressure, and occurs during the resting phase of your cardiac cycle.

Both numbers in a blood pressure test are important, but if you’re 50 or older, your systolic pressure gives the most accurate diagnosis of high blood pressure.

According to the most recent report (issued 2003) by the Joint National Committee (JNC) on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure[2], the following guidelines apply for determining whether you might suffer from hypertension:

Blood Pressure Classification SystolicDiastolicNormal <120 and <80

Pre-hypertension 120-139or 80-89

Stage 1 Hypertension 140-159or 90-99

Stage 2 Hypertension ≥160 or ≥100

per JNC 7 Express, December 2003Getting an Accurate Blood Pressure ReadingYour blood pressure readings can vary significantly from day to day -- even from morning to evening, and often within the same hour. It is when your blood pressure remains consistently elevated that significant health problems can occur.

It’s important to remember that there are several variables that can affect the validity of your blood pressure reading.

For example:

If you’re overweight, a size ‘average’ blood pressure cuff can lead to a falsely elevated blood pressure reading. Estimates indicate that eight to ten percent of overweight and obese patients are wrongly diagnosed as hypertensive due to ill-fitting blood pressure cuffs. Since two-thirds of Americans are overweight, this is a significant concern. You

should make sure your doctor or health care professional is using the right size cuff for your size.

Arm position. If your blood pressure is taken while your arm is parallel to your body, your reading can be up to 10 percent higher than it really is. Blood pressure readings should always be taken with your arm at a right angle to your body.

White coat hypertension, which is an elevation in blood pressure caused by the stress or fear associated with visits to doctors and other medical personnel, can be a transient but serious concern. Stress reduction in this situation is key.

But guess what often happens when a patient receives just a single elevated reading at the doctor’s office? That patient is typically diagnosed as hypertensive and a prescription is written. This can set off a chain of events which results in even higher readings at future visits, higher doses prescribed of current drugs, and the introduction of additional drugs. 

This is a vicious cycle that might have been avoided had certain precautions been taken. If this happens to you be very careful, as it’s important to have at least three elevated readings over a few weeks before you can be confident that you truly have hypertension. The exception would be very elevated blood pressures which could increase your risk for stroke -- that situation should be treated without waiting.

Hypertension: When Your Blood Pressure is too HighSome of the main causes of hypertension include lifestyle factors that you have total control over, which are primarily related to your insulin levels (for example, eating a high-grain and high-sugar diet, and not exercising).

If you have high blood pressure, you probably have too much insulin and are insulin resistant. There is often a direct relationship between the level of insulin and blood pressure readings. As your insulin level elevates, so does your blood pressure.

Keeping your insulin level in the healthy range is of paramount importance to ideal blood pressure readings.

The good news is that if you have hypertension, making the appropriate lifestyle changes, which I will review later in this report, will very likely normalize your blood pressure.

Blood Pressure and Big PharmaIt’s important to understand that national guidelines for what constitutes high blood pressure or hypertension (HTN) are heavily influenced by drug companies.

There are about 100 different drugs that treat high blood pressure, and the JNC’s report is remarkable for its heavy emphasis on drugs, and many times multiple drugs in combination, to treat the condition.

Alternative recommendations for prevention and treatment are barely mentioned. Nowhere in the report will you find information about insulin resistance as the primary cause of high blood pressure in most people.

And here’s a stunner.

According to a survey reported by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in July 2003 (the same year the JNC 7 report was issued), despite the number of drugs available and number of prescriptions written, no real progress has been made in controlling high blood pressure among the U.S. adult population.[3]The survey found that:

One in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure

Nearly a third of people with HTN don’t know they have the condition

Over 40 percent were not being treated

Nearly three out of four people did not have their HTN under control

Another study reported by the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2000 revealed that 30 percent of patients with mild to moderate hypertension responded well to a placebo -- proof that they were able to control their blood pressure without medication.Yet another study reported by the British Medical Association in June 2003, revealed that 97 percent of people taking drugs for high blood pressure had suffered significant side effects at some point during treatment.That means you only have three chances out of 100 that you will be side-effect-free if you choose to take drugs to control your high blood pressure.

Prescription Drugs are Not Your Best ChoiceIt should come as no surprise to learn that the majority of conventional physicians apply a cookbook model to treating hypertension, rather than treating the individual patient and addressing the underlying causes, which have far more to do with lifestyle choices than unavoidable aging.

High blood pressure is in fact an easily treated condition, but one that can cause serious damage to your health if it’s ignored.

Drugs, however, are rarely the answer.

There are in the neighborhood of 100 pharmaceutical drugs deemed ‘safe and effective’ for the treatment of high blood pressure.

And since most blood pressure patients take more than one medication to treat their condition, there is a potentially endless supply of drugs, and drug combinations, available with the flick of a pen across a prescription pad – no lifestyle changes required.

This despite the fact that lifestyle changes have been shown to normalize blood pressure levels in over 85 percent of sufferers!Since stress is widely known to have a significant effect on blood pressure, how is it the Joint National Committee fails to so much as suggest stress management in its lifestyle modification information?

A study reported by the Archives of Internal Medicine indicates that even ‘white coat hypertension,’ a transient condition brought on by stress in the presence of medical personnel, is more serious than once thought. In fact, white coat hypertensives suffer heart damage similar to, though not as dramatic as that seen in people with chronic high blood pressure.[4]The connection between stress and high blood pressure is proven. Unresolved stress issues are at least as significant to your overall health as poor diet and lack of exercise.

New Guidelines Mean New Patients and More PrescriptionsAlso worthy of mention is that this seventh JNC report ushered in new guidelines for blood pressure readings.

Up until its publication, a 120/80 reading was considered normal. Now, a reading between 120-139 systolic and 80-89 diastolic is considered pre-hypertensive. Suddenly, in December 2003, 45 million healthy Americans became new potential consumers of anti-hypertensive drugs. This, despite the fact that there is absolutely no evidence these people are at risk for chronic high blood pressure.

We would all be wise to question what’s behind a gold standard medical report on the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure that covers lifestyle issues in a single brief paragraph. Not a word of discussion about the link between insulin and hypertension. Not a word about the importance of managing stress.

Normalize Your Blood Pressure Naturally, For LifeThe remainder of this special report will show you how to normalize your blood pressure for the rest of your life, without dangerous drugs.The following information will not only help you bring your blood pressure under control, it will optimize your overall health and the quality of your life in countless other exciting ways. You’ll read about the importance of ...

Eliminating two types of foods that are poison for most people, but especially if you have high blood pressure

Balancing the omega fats in your diet

Normalizing your weight

Managing your emotional life

'Drugging' yourself with exercise

Appropriate sunshine exposure

Experimenting with supplements and other alternative tips for improving your blood pressure

Eliminate Grains and Sugars from Your DietIf you have high blood pressure, the first thing you should do is remove all grains and sweets from your diet until both your weight and your blood pressure have normalized.[5]When you eliminate grains and sweets from your diet, you are on your way to achieving a healthy level of insulin in your bloodstream.

The role insulin plays in high blood pressure cannot be overstated.

If you are like most people with hypertension, you have insulin receptors that don’t work efficiently. You have a condition known as insulin resistance (IR). To compensate, your body generates more insulin.

Eating sugars and grains -- including any type of bread, pasta, corn, potatoes, or rice -- will cause your insulin levels to remain elevated.Elevated insulin levels are very toxic and can lead to devastating consequences for your health.

Insulin stores magnesium, but if your insulin receptors are blunted and your cells grow resistant to insulin, you can’t store magnesium and it passes out of your body through urination. Magnesium stored in your cells relaxes muscles. If your magnesium level is too low, your blood vessels will constrict rather than relax, which will raise your blood pressure and decrease your energy level.[6]Insulin also affects your blood pressure by causing your body to retain sodium. Sodium retention causes fluid retention. Fluid retention in turn causes high blood pressure, and can ultimately lead to congestive heart failure.

When you consume a high-carbohydrate meal, you raise both your blood sugar and your insulin level. A high level of insulin acts as a very strong stimulant to your sympathetic nervous system. The reaction of your sympathetic nervous system causes spasms -- constrictions -- of your arteries. And if you already suffer from hypertension, this further constriction of your blood vessels can increase your risk of a heart attack.

Other Dietary Considerations1. Eat right for your nutritional type

Eating according to your nutritional type tends to normalize elevated blood pressures in the vast majority of people.

When you address your nutritional type -- your unique biochemical needs, which are based on your specific genetics -- your health problems are addressed at the

foundational level, and you are far more likely to achieve a permanent solution for regaining your health.If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, or are overweight, it is highly likely that you are eating too many grains -- yes, even unrefined whole grains -- as this is the most common culprit causing your insulin level to become abnormal. The Nutritional Typing diet, however, will help you to not only reduce your intake of sugar and grains (which is beneficial for most everyone), but even more importantly, will help you determine your optimal ratios of carbohydrates to healthy fats and proteins.

2. Normalize your omega 6:3 ratioBoth omega-3 and omega-6 fats are essential for your health. Most Americans, however, are getting too much omega-6 in their diet and far too little omega-3. Consuming omega-3 fats is one of the best ways to re-sensitize your insulin receptors if you suffer from insulin resistance.

Omega-6 fats are found in corn, soy, canola, safflower and sunflower oil. If you’re consuming a lot of these oils, you’ll want to avoid or limit them.

Omega-3 fats are typically found in flaxseed oil, walnut oil and fish, with fish being by far the best source. Unfortunately, most fresh fish today contains dangerously high levels of mercury. Your best bet is to find a safe source of fish, or if this proves too difficult, you can supplement with Krill Oil, which has been found to be 48 times more potent than fish oil.

3. Eliminate caffeineThe connection between caffeine consumption and high blood pressure is not well understood, but there is ample evidence to indicate that if you have hypertension, coffee and other caffeinated drinks and foods can exacerbate your condition.

Caffeine is a drug, and while it’s entirely legal and widely consumed, it can have a powerful affect on your individual physiology.

If you want to eliminate caffeine from your diet, try to do it gradually over a period of days or even weeks in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms like headaches.Normalize Your WeightIf you are overweight, have diabetes, already have high blood pressure or are at risk for developing hypertension, it’s crucial to your health and longevity that you normalize your weight.

Studies show that even a modest weight loss, when maintained, can reduce blood pressure long-term.[7] The key is to keep the weight off, however, because your blood pressure will quite likely go back up right along with any weight you regain.The best way to optimize your weight and regain or improve your health is to first understand the profound influence the foods you eat have on your physiology.

Two very important things to keep in mind:

Food is fuel

You are unique in terms of the type of fuel your body needs for optimal health

The simple truth is that one-size-fits-all diets -- whether intended for weight loss, or to address a particular health concern -- will not work for everyone. That’s why some people are helped by, for example, a high protein-low carbohydrate regimen while others become ill from it.

There is no perfect diet for everyone.

The challenge is to learn what the best foods are for you. You can do that by discovering your Nutritional Type™.[8]Once you learn your Nutritional Type™ and begin eating in accordance with your body’s needs, you’ll be making food and other nutritional choices that will address your weight issues and other health concerns.

Eating for your Nutritional Type™ is not like dieting.

With a cookie cutter diet, you’re apt to feel deprived much of the time -- maybe even ill -- because the diet might be all wrong for your individual nutritional requirements. Consuming the right fuel for your body’s needs based on your Nutritional Type™, however, can have an immediate, positive impact on the way you feel, how you look, and your health overall.

It is not a ‘quick fix,’ mind you -- no healthy lifestyle change is -- but you will notice improvement as soon as you begin to eat the appropriate foods for your personal biochemistry and metabolism.

Learn to Manage Your Emotional StressAs I stated before, the link between stress and hypertension is well documented.[9]Doctors and health care professionals committed to treating the whole person rather than a list of physical symptoms are well aware of the crucial connection between diseases of the body and unresolved emotional conflict.

Studies back this up, and in fact, it has been shown that people with heart disease can lower their risk of subsequent cardiac events by over 70 percent simply by learning to manage their stress.

Suppressed negative emotions such as fear, anger and sadness can severely limit your ability to cope with the unavoidable every day stresses of life.

It’s not the stressful events themselves that are harmful, but your lack of ability to cope.

The good news is, the technology exists to quickly and effectively transform your suppressed, negative emotions, and relieve stress.

Energy psychology tools like the Meridian Tapping Technique (MTT) are available to assist you in optimizing your emotional health. You can find more infor mation about MTT on my website.Use Exercise as a DrugIt’s no secret that regular physical activity is a far better drug than anything a pharmaceutical company can manufacture, as are the ‘side effects’ of exercise. Regardless of the primary reason you start an exercise program, your efforts will be rewarded in countless other ways.

A rigorous comprehensive exercise program seems to be very important in producing long-term benefits in people with high blood pressure. Depending on your physical condition when you embark on an exercise program, you may need to consult with a health care professional who can help you can increase to the intensity required to make a difference in lowering your insulin levels.

As a general rule, weight bearing exercises like walking, jogging and running are best.

Studies indicate that aerobic activities like these are most beneficial for lowering blood pressure.[10]Cycling and swimming take longer to produce the same results, but if you enjoy them, by all means include them in your routine.

Swimming in the ocean is highly preferable to swimming in a chlorinated pool, as pool chemicals present their own set of health problems.

Nearly every program should incorporate a fair measure of anaerobic sprint or burst-type exercises, as these have been shown to be even more effective than aerobic exercises at reducing the risk of dying from a heart attack.

Weight training is another wonderful strategy, especially if you can extend your workout time to 90 minutes a few days a week to include both aerobic and anaerobic exercises in those longer sessions.

If you are insulin resistant, you’ll definitely want to include weight training in your exercise program. When you work individual muscle groups, you increase blood flow to those muscles. Good blood flow will increase your insulin sensitivity.

If you are overweight with hypertension, you should engage in relatively intense exercise six to nine hours a week in order to decrease the sensitivity of your insulin receptors.[11] Intense means exerting yourself sufficiently that you can’t comfortably talk to someone during your workout.Get a Daily Dose of SunshineBelieve it or not, the farther you live from the equator, the higher your risk of developing high blood pressure. And did you know that blood pressure is typically higher in winter months than during the summer?[12]Sunlight actually affects blood pressure in several ways:

Sun exposure causes your body to produce vitamin D. Lack of sunlight reduces your vitamin D stores and increases parathyroid hormone production, which increases blood pressure.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to insulin resistance (IR) and Syndrome X (also known as Metabolic Syndrome), a group of health problems that can include IR, elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, obesity, and high blood pressure.[13]

Vitamin D is also a negative inhibitor of your body’s renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which regulates blood pressure. If you’re vitamin D deficient, it can cause inappropriate activation of your RAS, which may lead to hypertension.[14]

Additionally, exposure to UV rays is thought to cause the release of endorphins, chemicals in your brain that produce feelings of euphoria and relief from pain.[15] Endorphins naturally relieve stress, and stress management is an important factor in resolving hypertension.

Exposure to sunlight is a basic requirement for your health, and not only to normalize your blood pressure. Vitamin D helps systems and organs throughout your body function properly.

Vitamin D receptors can be found in almost every type of cell in your body.

You can achieve nearly all of the benefits of sun exposure by using a safe tanning bed. This will be an important alternative to sun exposure in the winter for those who are unable to “snowbird” away to a sub tropical environment.

You can view my free one hour lecture for more details on vitamin D.A Word About Vitamin D Supplements ...Please do NOT let your doctor give you a “prescription” vitamin D. That is vitamin D2, which is synthetic, and not nearly as beneficial as the real vitamin D, which is D3 (cholecalciferol).If you decide to supplement with oral vitamin D3, you must carefully monitor your vitamin D blood levels to avoid overdosing. (This is why it is highly preferable to get your vitamin D through sun exposure since there is virtually no chance of overdosing.)

When getting your levels checked, it’s important to make sure you’re in the optimal range. A ‘normal’ level is considered 20-56 ng/ml or 50-140 nmol/l. However, this is not the time to be ‘average.’ Instead, aim to maintain an optimal 25-hydroxyvitamin D value of 50-65 ng/ml. Your vitamin D level should not be below 40 ng/ml.To learn much more about vitamin D test values and the best labs to get your tests done, please visit the following page.About Supplements and Other AlternativesAlthough I have listed some supplements below to be complete, please understand that they are in NO way shape or form to ever be considered as an alternative to the primary recommendations above which treat the real cause of the problem.

Only using the supplements below without incorporating the lifestyle recommendations discussed above is an allopathic approach not very different from using drugs.

Calcium and magnesium. Daily calcium and magnesium supplementation can be useful in lowering blood pressure, especially if yours is on the high end of high. However, if you avoid sugars and grains and eat for your Nutritional Type™ (see above), it’s unlikely additional calcium or magnesium supplements will be necessary.

Vitamins C and E. Studies indicate that these vitamins can be helpful in lowering blood pressure.[17] If you’re eating for your Nutritional Type™, you should be getting the right amount of both these nutrients through your diet alone. If you decide you need a supplement, make sure to take a natural (not synthetic) form of vitamin E. You can tell what you’re buying by carefully reading the label. Natural vitamin E is always listed as the ‘d-‘ form (d-alpha-tocopherol, d-beta-tocopherol, etc.) Synthetic vitamin E is listed as ‘dl-‘ forms.

Olive leaf extract. A recent study showed that supplementing with 1,000 mg of olive leaf extract daily over eight weeks caused a significant dip in both blood pressure and LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol in people with borderline hypertension.[18] If you want to incorporate olive leaves as a natural adjunct to a nutritionally sound diet, you should look for fresh leaf liquid extracts for maximum synergistic potency. You can also prepare your own olive leaf tea by placing a large teaspoon of dried olive leaves in a tea ball or herb sack. Place it in about two quarts of boiling water and let it steep for three to 10 minutes. The tea should be a medium amber color when done.

Electrical acupuncture. Acupuncture combined with electrical stimulation has shown to temporarily lower elevations in blood pressure in animals by as much as 50 percent.[19] It’s currently undergoing testing in humans and could be a promising alternative treatment for controlling blood pressure.

For parents. If your children lose their cool while playing video games, this could signal they are at risk for developing hypertension in later years.[20] The video games available these days can be very violent in nature, which is cause for further concern. Encourage a balance in your children’s activities. Ideally, they should be involved in exercise and other physically active pursuits during the majority of their leisure time. The sedentary lifestyle of so many children today is contributing to obesity and other chronic conditions and diseases, including high blood pressure.

For moms of newborns. Studies have shown that babies who are breastfed for more than 12 months have a dramatically reduced risk of developing hypertension.[21] Researchers believe long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (the same found in fatty fish) in breast milk provide a protective effect for newborns.

Quick tricks. Increasing nitric oxide in your blood can open constricted blood vessels and lower your blood pressure. Methods for increasing the compound include taking a warm bath, breathing in and out through one nostril (close off the other nostril and your mouth), and eating bitter melon, rich in amino acids and vitamin C.

Like obesity, high blood pressure is reaching epidemic proportions among American adults. If big drug companies had their way, there would be at least as many drugs available to treat obesity as there are for hypertension. But as study after study shows, drugging with pharmaceuticals is a short-term, unreliable, and often quite dangerous approach to treating symptoms rather than the underlying causes of disease.

A natural approach to preventing disease and healing yourself when illness strikes is always the better choice. In the case of high blood pressure, lifestyle changes -- with particular emphasis on normalizing your insulin levels -- can put you on the road to a drug-free, all natural return to optimal health.

References:

[1] Lancet 2007;370;539, Hypertension: uncontrolled and conquering the world [editorial] (accessed 12/3/08)[2] National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure, (JNC 7 Express), December 2003, (Accessed 9/1/08)[3] Mercola.com, Dr. Paul J. Rosch interview with Dr. John Laragh, Why the Treatment of Hypertension Has Become Such a Deplorable Fiasco, Part I, (Accessed 9/2/08)