Lowering Blood Pressure

Question: Are apples and bananas good for lowering blood pressure? I'm also trying raw garlic. I would just like to know if anyone has experience on what other fruits and vegetables are good for lowering blood pressure. Thanks.

Answer: I recently read that increasing your potassium intake can have as much effect as lowering your salt intake on BP. (eat more bananas and white potatoes and less salt)

Question: Are there any food that is low in sugar and good for lowering blood pressure? Someone I know fainted the other day due to high blood pressure and she also happens to have Diabetes( the type that cannnot be cured by injecting insulin everyday- for 40 on wards i think). Please can you help me by telling me what sort of foods are suitable for diabetes patients as well as gd for lowering blood pressure? Thnx your help could save lives!!!!!!! xxxxxxxxx

Answer: Food rich in fibre will help in lowering high blood in sugar as well as wheat and oat. Avoid cakes chocolates sweeten can drinks and sugary food. Exercise daily at least 30 minutes and take your medication according to the doctor advice.

Question: What are good home made juices for lowering blood pressure ? read:? I have a juicer and am supposed to get as many nutrients as I can from organic juicing, so what foods to I use to make a juice that is good for lowering blood pressure, Beets seems to be one, what are others ?

Answer: Carrots, celery, parsley. Celery contains the compound 3-n-butyl-phthalide which relaxes the muscles in the walls of the arteries which widens them and allows the blood to fow more freely thorugh them. Pthalides also reduce stress hormones which can cause blood vessels to constrict. Carrots, celery, and parsley are also high in potassium, Researchers have found that people who take potassium-rich diets have a low incidence of hypertension. Limiting sodium intake to 1,500 mg a day will have a dramatic effect on reducing your blood pressure. Another recipe is equal parts - carrot, celery, parsley and, spinach juice. This juice helps to alkalize the bloodstream and remove deposits from blood vessels. Drink 1 pint daily in 8oz or 4oz increments. Good luck.

Question: What foods and drinks are best for lowering blood pressure and reducing swelling? I'm 37 weeks pregnant, so nothing that may be harmful to me or the baby! It has gotten alot worse this weekend, I have a dr appointment tomorrow but I would like some relief until then. My hands and feet are severely swollen, my face, legs and arms are slightly-moderately swllen. My blood pressure has been running high for a little over a month at every Dr appointment.

Answer: Doesn't 4x9=36? Your ready to pop! Cut the salt. I would say hold back some on fluids but your not a heart patient so I don't know. If the swelling is too bad, a trip to the ER might not be a bad idea. I think you are headed there anyway, any time now. I knew a woman who swoll up huge just before she went into labor. Good luck - Boy or Girl?

Question: what is a good menu for lowering blood pressure? i had my blood pressure checked yesterday and it was 180/18 or something like that. the doctor almost had a heart attack cause he'd never seen it so high for a twenty-five-year-old. i don't eat junk food but i do like salt. he say i have less than three weeks to lower my blood pressure. i've already eliminated salt from my diet but i would like to have an idea of what to have for breakfast, lunch and dinner. i also do not drink, don't smoke, have lost 20 lbs last month and do not eat fried foods.

Answer: Do you also drink alcohol? If you do it does affect blood pressure! Also: Treatment Lifestyle modification Doctors recommend weight loss and regular exercise as the first steps in treating mild to moderate hypertension. These steps are highly effective in reducing blood pressure, although most patients with moderate or severe hypertension end up requiring indefinite drug therapy to bring their blood pressure down to a safe level. Discontinuing smoking does not directly reduce blood pressure, but is very important for people with hypertension because it reduces the risk of many dangerous outcomes of hypertension, such as stroke and heart attack. Mild hypertension is usually treated by diet, exercise and improved physical fitness. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low fat or fat-free dairy foods and moderate or low in sodium lowers blood pressure in people with hypertension. This diet is known as the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), and is based on National Institutes of Health sponsored research. Dietary sodium (salt) may worsen hypertension in some people and reducing salt intake decreases blood pressure in a third of people. Regular mild exercise improves blood flow, and helps to lower blood pressure. In addition, fruits, vegetables, and nuts have the added benefit of increasing dietary Potassium, which offsets the effect of sodium and acts on the kidney to decrease blood pressure. Reduction of environmental stressors such as high sound levels and over-illumination can be an additional method of ameliorating hypertension. Biofeedback is also used [1] particularly device guided paced breathing [2] [3]

Question: Does ginger help in lowering blood pressure and headaches? I have high blood pressure and severe headaches, and I heard that ginger can help.

Answer: Don't know about ginger for blood pressure,but cinnamon does help lower it.

Question: Any tips on lowering blood pressure? Been to the doctor this week and she says I need to lower my blood pressure. I know I need to cut down my salt intake and also caffeine (have already switched to caffeine free coke) but what can I eat instead? I get cravings for crisps everyday, are there any tasty alternatives? Also, why do manufacturers put so much salt in stuff that you would never even think needed it? It took me twice as long to do my shopping this week as I had to read all the labels and put half of my usual stuff back as it was packed with hidden salt!

Answer: You're right about the hidden salt in processed food; dangerous stuff in such large quantities. Keep an eye on your weight and cook at home where possible, focusing on food that is high in Omega 3 fatty acids, such as salmon and tuna and avoiding red meat. Also take up yoga to relieve stress. It works! This site might be helpful to you: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2114

Question: Does Hawthorn Berry Work at Lowering Blood Pressure? I was wondering if anyone's had success with Hawthorn Berry supplements in lowering their blood pressure.

Answer: Mike - Hawthorn supplements derived from the berries, flowers and leaves have been touted as having cardiovascular benefits since the 1800s, but the data to support these claims are limited to small trials and the results have been pretty lukewarm. There was a recent British study which examined the blood pressure lowering effects of hawthorn extract in 79 diabetic patients. After 16 weeks, the blood pressure was minimally decreased. The systolic pressure (the top number) was the same in the group taking hawthorn and the group taking placebo. The diastolic pressure (the bottom number) was was 2mmHg lower in the group taking hawthorn. Similar results were seen in another small British study looking at 36 patients with high blood pressure. The systolic blood pressure was not affected, but the diastolic pressure decreased slightly. More importantly, hawthorn extract while generally safe has some important side effects that you need to be aware of. Some people can have allergies to hawthorn. Large doses in animals have been shown to cause sedation and heart rhythm disturbances. Hawthorn can also have important interactions with other drugs or herbals. If you take Viagra or blood pressure medications, hawthorn may cause a big drop in blood pressure. It can enhance the effects of digoxin leading to heart rhythm disturbances. If you take ANY blood pressure or heart medicines, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking hawthorn! Considering how much herbal supplements cost (they are almost never covered by insurance) and how much more effective prescription medications are, it does not seem worthwhile to use Hawthorn to lower your blood pressure. The argument that herbal medications are safer is patently untrue - ANY medication has the potential for side effects (in fact, many of our prescription drugs are derived from herbal sources) and to take something without medical supervision is potentially dangerous. Good luck to you! Hope that helps!

Question: Is jogging good cardio for lowering blood pressure and losing? belly fat? I have discussed exercise regimine to my doctor and she gave me the ok to start exercising. I use an inclined treadmill which is very gentle on my knees.

Answer: Anything that gets your heart rate up is good for both cardio and losing weight/burning fat. Running, jogging, walking, biking etc. are all good. Personaly I switch between running and using the elliptical (the elliptical is very easy on the knees/feet/ankles).

Question: Eating more sodium lowering blood pressure? Any one ever heard of a person's blood pressure actually dropping after being put on a high sodium diet? The diet change was my doctor's recommendation along with increased water. Resting rate went from an average of 105/56 down to 95/51.

Answer: the doctor obviously was hoping the sodium would raise your pressure. if this is only after one day, give it another day, but if your pressure continues to drop, you need to see your doctor fast, this should not be happening. Sodium causes water retention, increasing volume and thereby elevates blood pressure, so your pressure ought to go up, not down.

Question: How long must you take a diuretic before it will start lowering blood pressure?

Answer: High blood pressure is lack of calcium-

Question: Any advice on lowering blood pressure and cholesterol? My bf is near his late 20s and has both high blood pressure and cholesterol. He is only about 10 pounds overweight and I want to help him lower both. Does anyone have any advice? Serious answers only please! Thanks!

Answer: High blood pressure has lots of causes and it's not always to do with lifestyle. 10 pounds overweight is not much and it may or may not have any effect. My advice is to forget all the herbs and supplements and that sort of thing. I tried them all and none of them worked. It's like taking shots in the dark. Slow breathing is a therapy that works on almost everyone and it has lots of other benefits too. 15 minutes a day is all it takes. Check the website in the resource box below for an online demo and free instructions. I've been dealing with hypertension for years and this is a sure thing.

Question: How effective is the drug Tekturna for lowering blood pressure?

Answer: Vitamin C had been shown to lower blood pressure as does magnesium. Also, eat foods rich in potasium. Coconut milk is very high in potasium, along with bananas and sweet potatoes. Good Luck!

Question: Does anyone know about using Nitric Oxide as a supplement for lowering blood pressure? Apparently, a Dr. Louis Ignarro won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998 for his discovery of NO for the cardiovascular system. He recommends a number of supplements to support NO levels in our bodies...I just wanted to know if anyone actually followed his recommendations and had any luck?

Answer: laughing gas?

Question: What are some good natural remedies for lowering blood pressure?

Answer: Try these Homeopathic Remedies for High BP, AURUM MET + BRYONIA ALBA + NATRIUM MUR all three in 30 potency three times a day half hour before meals. Cures without any side effects or complications of any kind that what Homeopathy is all about . Take Care and God Bless you !

Question: Is there a diuretic for lowering Blood Pressure that does not raise colestrol or blood sugar levels?

Answer: Yes all diuretics do as you request HCTZ 12.5mg once daily is a common variety Lasix 20mg once in the morning is another