Lowering Blood Pressure Part 2: Supplements

This is the second in my two part series about lowering blood pressure.  For  Lowering Blood Pressure Part 1: Foods, click here.


High blood pressure or hypertension, is the most common cardiovascular disease.  Approximately 73 million Americans have high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.  Hypertension risk factors include obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and heredity. While hypertension is defined as a reading of 140/90, people with 120/80 are considered pre-hypertensive and are at high risk of developing high blood pressure. [webmd] 

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Supplements that may help lower high blood pressure:
  
1. Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a compound found naturally in the energy-producing center of the cell known as the mitochondria. CoQ10 is involved in making an important molecule known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP serves as the cell's major energy source and drives a number of biological processes, including muscle contraction and the production of protein. CoQ10 also works as an antioxidant...

Several clinical studies involving small numbers of people suggest that CoQ10 may lower blood pressure. However, it may take 4 - 12 weeks before you will see any beneficial effects. In fact, after reviewing 12 clinical studies, researchers concluded that CoQ10 has the potential to lower systolic blood pressure by up to 17 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 10 mm Hg, without significant side effects. [University of Maryland]

 2. Omega-3 Fish Oil

Dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids include fish oil and certain plant/nut oils. Fish oil contains both docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), while some nuts (English walnuts) and vegetable oils (canola, soybean, flaxseed/linseed, olive) contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).
There is evidence from multiple studies supporting intake of recommended amounts of DHA and EPA in the form of dietary fish or fish oil supplements lowers triglycerides, reduces the risk of death, heart attack, dangerous abnormal heart rhythms, and strokes in people with known cardiovascular disease, slows the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques ("hardening of the arteries"), and lowers blood pressure slightly. However, high doses may have harmful effects, such as an increased risk of bleeding. Although similar benefits are proposed for alpha-linolenic acid, scientific evidence is less compelling, and beneficial effects may be less pronounced. [Mayo Clinic]

3. Lycopene

Clinical research conducted at Ben-Gurion University, Israel shows that lycopene complex, a tomato extract, reduces blood pressure in patients with mild to moderate hypertension. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant found in red produce such as tomatoes and tomato products, watermelon, and pink grapefruit.
At the end of the 8-week study period, participants' systolic blood pressure dropped to an average of 134 mm Hg from an average of 144 mm Hg, while diastolic pressure dropped to about 83 mm Hg from an average of about 87 mm Hg. [Rejuvenation Science]

 Prevention.com also listed magnesium supplements, melatonin, and soy milk as reducers of blood pressure.

Buy your supplements from Puritan's Pride and SAVE MONEY and support this blog!  Puritan's Pride has been the exclusive supplier of my vitamins and supplements for over four years and it is my privilege to promote their products. 

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Please consult your health practitioner before beginning any supplements or changing your medication regimen.  I am a health enthusiast, not an expert.

Wasted Week

Over the past year, I have lost 38 lbs. This week I have put back on 7.5 lbs. I started at 193.5 lbs. last June and was down to 155 lbs. I'm at 163 this morning. I have to say this is a wasted week.

Initially, I went on the South Beach Diet and lost about 10 lbs. I got bored with it, tired of feeling sick after eating, and I started to go back to eating junk.

One day after a troubling night of overeating and morning of weight gain, I thought my body needed a detox. This is when I found The Raw Divas FREE 7-Day Detox. I got started and was hooked on raw food.

The most exciting part for me was all of the fruit! On South Beach, I was never able to have fruit. I was always going back on phase 1 or whatever, trying to take off weight that I had put back on during an eating binge.

I've been 80-90% raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts for almost a year now. Since last August, I haven't been ill. I didn't get a cold or the flu this winter. In fact, my husband didn't either! Our three year-old son has only had two colds in the last year, both of which only lasted about three days each!

My health and well-being is the greatest evidence to me that this raw food diet is ideal. I'm also a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, so I am used to the idea of diet directly affecting health, especially flesh foods though I do love some steak and fried chicken strips sometimes!

This week was wasted. My husband and I had our class reunion on July 3. I felt so great, wearing a hot dress and losing almost 30 lbs. from what I weighed in high school. I had been working hard changing my diet and exercising to look good for that reunion.

Sadly, as soon as the reunion was over, my motivation was also!

Over the past week, in addition to gaining weight from eating chips, nachos, cookies, ice cream, and fast food, I have experienced the following:

--Acne breakout on my face, sides and back of my neck, and upper back
--Yeast infection
--Difficulty sleeping at night
--Tiredness and fatigue
--Stuffy nose
--Constipation and bloating

I started making sure that I at least had a green lemonade smoothie (except I use spinach, frozen apple slices, and celery instead of the romaine). My acne is starting to clear up and the yeast infection is gone thanks to the natural remedy of using plain yogurt with live cultures.

I'm hoping to go back to 90% (at least!) raw and get rid of all these conditions again.