Top 10 Ways to Lower Blood Pressure Quickly and Easily
Thursday, March 06, 2008 | 
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1. Watch Your Weight: In over weight people, a 10 percent reduction in total body weight will sometimes normalize blood pressure.
2. Get Physical: Go for a brisk 30-minute walk 6 days a week.
3. Meditate: A new study shows it works for teens too.
4. Try Yoga: It reduces stress and strengthens the mind and body.
5. Butt Out: All forms of tobacco dramatically raise blood pressure.
6. Shake Off Salt: And sodium-rich foods such as soy sauce and canned soups.
7. Leave the Bar: 1-2 drinks a day is OK–even stress-relieving- -but more can cause health problems.
8. Check Your Blood: Have Cholesterol and triglycerides checked regularly.
9. Reject Refined Foods: Shun the sally, sugary, pre-made, preserved, fried and fatty.
10. Swear Off Sodas: Soft drinks can deplete potassium (see No. 20).
About the author:
Art Ditmar “Get down: 68 natural ways to lower blood pressure”. Better Nutrition. July 2004. http://www.findarticles.com/
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Have a question about lowering blood pressure?
Want to recommend a great natural remedy?
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Benefits of Turmeric: Important Herb in Preventing Heart Attack & Heart Failure
(University Heath Network) Turmeric has long been used in traditional eastern medicine to prevent scarring in healing wounds. A recent study published in the February Journal of Clinical Investigation entitled “Curcumin Prevents and Reverses Murine Cardiac Hypertrophy” shows that this folk remedy may have a strong foundation in science.
Curcumin, an ingredient in turmeric, has effects deep in the cell nucleus that go beyond what most herbal remedies are capable of. “Curcumin’s ability to shut off one of the major switches right at the chromosome source where the enlargement and scarring genes are being turned on is impressive,” says Dr. Peter Liu, cardiologist in the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and Scientific Director at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Cardiac hypertrophy is a strong predictor of future cardiac problems, including heart attack and heart failure. Researchers at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre of the Toronto General Hospital found that when curcumin was given orally to mice with enlarged hearts, it prevented and even reversed the hypertrophy. If the clinical trials prove that curcumin is effective in humans as well, it will offer the possibility of an inexpensive and safe treatment for millions of people.
While the results of the study are exciting, Dr. Liu advises a cautious and moderate approach. “Whether you are young or old; male or female; the larger your heart is, the higher your risk is for developing heart attacks or heart failure in the future. However, until clinical trials are done, we don’t recommend patients to take curcumin routinely. You are better off to take action today by lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol, exercising and healthy eating.”
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Interested in using Turmeric in your daily supplement routine?
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Can Being a Cat Owner & Lover Reduce the Risk of a Heart Attack?
A study by the University of Minnesota’s Stroke Research Center presented Thursday at the American Stroke Association meeting found that people who had previously or currently owned cats were less likely to die from heart attack and other cardiovascular disease.
The researchers don’t know exactly what causes the health benefit, but lead study investigator Dr. Adnan Qureshi believes it may be related to the stress-reducing effect a cat has on its owner. He admits, however, that the personality type of a cat owner may be the major contributing factor.
“Maybe cat owners tend not to have high-stress personalities, or they are just the type of people that are not highly affected by anxiety or high-stress situations,” Qureshi said.
Some of the controversy over this study comes from previous studies that showed a greatly increased rate of heart attack survival for dog owners, but no benefit at all for cat owners.
Source: ABC News
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Anatomy of a heart-healthy food: Five Heart Healing Foods
(www.naturalhealthmag.com) Food has many healing properties and can be used to promote heart health. Colorful vegetables and fruits, fatty fish, nuts, seeds, and spices offer combinations of these five cardio-boosting properties.
Anti-Inflammatory
Working similarly to the way aspirin does to reduce inflammation of tissues, natural anti-inflammatories like folate and vitamins C and D are vital to heart health because low-grade inflammation of the arteries has been identified as a significant factor in degeneration of the cardiovascular system.
Anitoxidants
Vitamins C and E and carotenoids such as vitamin A inhibit the oxidation of blood cells and the creation of damaging free radicals.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
This family of polyunsaturated fats such as ALA, EPA, and DHA has been shown in recent studies to decrease triglyceride levels and the growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque and lower the risk of arrhythmia. The FDA has given "qualified" support to their ability to fight heart disease and prevent heart attack.
Potassium
This alkali metal is critical to maintaining smooth-muscle contraction such as a regular heartbeat.
Soluble Fiber
Gel-like soluble fiber binds with liver bile and cholesterol, carrying them both out of the body
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Have a question about your cardiovascular health?
Concerned about your diet and your health?
For a free health consultation feel free to email (wellness@healthybeingproducts.com) or call Meliss Gallagher at 727-954-8968.
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Natural Remedies for Maintaining Blood Sugar Levels: Cinnamon and Diabetes
(www.healthybeingproducts.com) Just half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day significantly reduces blood sugar levels in diabetics, a new study has found. The effect, which can be produced even by soaking a cinnamon stick your tea, could also benefit millions of non-diabetics who have blood sugar problem but are unaware of it.
The discovery was initially made by accident, by Richard Anderson at the US Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland.
"We were looking at the effects of common foods on blood sugar," he told a New Scientist reporter . One was the American favourite, apple pie, which is usually spiced with cinnamon. "We expected it to be bad. But it helped," he says.
Sugars and starches in food are broken down into glucose, which then circulates in the blood. The hormone insulin makes cells take in the glucose, to be used for energy or made into fat.
But people with Type 1 diabetes do not produce enough insulin. Those with Type 2 diabetes produce it, but have lost sensitivity to it. Even apparently healthy people, especially if they are overweight, sedentary or over 25, lose sensitivity to insulin. Having too much glucose in the blood can cause serious long-term damage to eyes, kidneys, nerves and other organs.
In one lab study, the team said it found that cinnamon contains polyphenols, or antioxidants, that boost proteins that are important in activating insulin, transporting glucose and responding to inflammation.
How to get Cinnamon into your daily Diet:
1. Cinnamon tea or Cinnamon Coffee twice or three times daily after meal.
Ingredients:
- 1 cinnamon stick or 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 cup of boiling water
- 1 regular or decaffeinated black teabag or add 3/4 cup of black coffee
- Honey, or another sweetener, to taste (optional)
Preparation:
1. Place the cinnamon stick in a cup.
2. Add the boiling water and steep covered for 10 minutes.
3. Add the teabag. Steep for one to three minutes.
4. Sweeten to taste, if desired.2. Cinnamon bread- sprinkling a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon onto whole wheat bread as a snack can help regular blood sugar levels.
3. Seasoning a high carb food with cinnamon can help lessen its impact. Research has found that cinnamon daily can reduce blood sugar by up to 20%.
Besides cinnamon, Bitter melon which is called Karela in India, is also helpful to reduce suger level, you can take a few slices of bitter melon with salad before taking your lunch or dinner.
Other Amazing Elements of Cinnamon Spice:
In some studies, cinnamon has shown an amazing ability to stop medication-resistant yeast infections. In a study published by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland, cinnamon reduced the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.
It has an anti-clotting effect on the blood. When added to food, it inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.
It is also a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.
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Have a question about maintaining blood sugar levels?
Want to recommend a great natural remedy?
For a free health consultation feel free to email (wellness@healthybeingproducts.com) or call
Melissa Gallagher at 727-954-8968.
Visit our On-Line Store to save over 65% and get free shipping on Vitamins and Supplements at theHealthy Being Products Store
Happy Heart and a Happy Mouth: LInks between Periodontal Disease and Coronary Artery Disease
(www.healthybeingproducts.com) Everywhere you look this month companies and people are sporting red to support the American Heart Association's Heart Health month. Heart disease prevention and awareness is central to the theme of Valentine's Day. It's also important to note that a healthy smile leads to a healthy heart and visa versa.
The dental history of my own family is something that needs to be addressed- both my parents are scared of the dentist. My own history involves fear of the dentist and orthodontist; however with the links between heart disease and dental health-- I make it a point to see my dentist twice a year for regular check ups and cleanings. No fear is too large to prevent gum disease, tooth lose and heart disease.
What is interesting is a report I came across earlier that links gum disease directly to heart disease. 91% of patients with cardiovascular disease suffered from moderate to severe periodontitis (gum disease), while this proportion was 66% in the non-cardiac patients. This is an alarming fact and more people need to be paying attention to this link.
ADVANCED PERIODONTITIS
Periodontitis seems to influence the occurrence and the severity of coronary artery disease and increases the risk of heart attack or stroke, and the study proposes two hypotheses for this occurrence. One hypothesis is that periodontal pathogens could enter the bloodstream, invade the blood vessel walls and ultimately cause atherosclerosis. (Atherosclerosis is a multistage process set in motion when cells lining the arteries are damaged as a result of high blood pressure, smoking, toxic substances, and other agents.)
Your Dentist can detect heart problems
A dentist may be the first one to suspect health problems, including heart disease. A sore or painful jaw is one indicator of heart disease. There's also a connection between gum disease and heart problems. By eliminating a local infection involving a tooth or the gums, patients have been able to decrease blood pressure medications and improve overall health. New research is suggesting that people with gum disease are at higher risk for heart attacks. If bacteria in the infected gums dislodge, they can enter the bloodstream, attach to blood vessels and increase clot formation. That in turn decreases the blood flow to the heart, increasing chances of a heart attack and aggravating high blood pressure.
Data reveals diseased gums pump high levels of harmful bacterial components into bloodstream!A study from Journal of Periodontology has confirmed findings that people with periodontal disease are at greater risk of contracting systemic disease such as as cardiovascular disease.
Patients with diseased gums release significantly higher levels of bacterial components such as endotoxins into the bloodstream where they can travel to other organs in the body. The mouth can be a major source of chronic or permanent release of toxic bacterial components in the bloodstream during chewing. Individuals with severe periodontal disease had approximately 4 times more harmful bacterial products in their blood.
The study concludes that this data clearly "stresses the importance of regular dental check ups to ensure a healthy disease free mouth.
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Have a question about heart disease and dental health?
For a free health consultation feel free to email (wellness@healthybeingproducts.com) or call
Melissa Gallagher at 727-954-8968.
Visit our On-Line Store to save over 65% and get free shipping on Vitamins and Supplements at theHealthy Being Products Store
Go Red for Women: American Heart Association's Heart Disease Awareness Month
Valentines Day has passed, yet it's also a Heart Healthy focused month. Too many women die of heart disease each year and if you are reading this one of your family members has been impacted by this disease. I'm very conscious of my risks and desire to not fall victim to this often silent killer in my family.
We may not be able to alter out genes, yet...but we can take the appropriate precautions and measures to improve our heart health at any age.
I'm completely behind the need to create awareness and support Go Red for Women month.
I love their campaign and wanted to share it with my readers. I'll have additional heart disease and heart health related articles and recipes this month.
The ABCs of Heart Disease Prevention
Stop smoking. If you smoke, quit. If someone in your household smokes, encourage them to quit. We know it’s tough. But it’s tougher to recover from a heart attack or stroke or to live with chronic heart disease. Commit to quit. We’re here to help if you need it.
Reduce blood cholesterol. Fat lodged in your arteries is a disaster waiting to happen. Sooner or later it could trigger a heart attack or stroke. You’ve got to reduce your intake of saturated and trans fat and get moving. If diet and exercise alone don’t get those numbers down, then medication is the key. Take it just like the doctor orders. Here’s the lowdown on where those numbers need to be:
Total Cholesterol – Less than 200 mg/dL
LDL (bad) Cholesterol – LDL cholesterol goals vary.
* Low risk for heart disease – Less than 160 mg/dL
* Intermediate risk for heart disease – Less than 130 mg/dL
* High risk for heart disease including those with heart disease or diabetes – Less than 100mg/dL
HDL (good) Cholesterol – 40 mg/dL or higher for men and 50 mg/dL or higher for women
Triglycerides – Less than 150 mg/dL
Lower high blood pressure. It’s the single largest risk factor for stroke. Stroke is the No. 3 killer and one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. Stroke recovery is difficult at best and you could be disabled for life. Shake that salt habit, take any medication the doctor recommends exactly as prescribed and get moving. Those numbers need to get down and stay down. Your goal is less than 120/80 mmHg.
Be physically active every day. Research has shown that getting 30–60 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week can help lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and keep your weight at a healthy level. But something IS better than nothing. If you’re doing nothing now, start out slow. Studies show that people who have achieved even a moderate level of fitness are much less likely to die early than those with a low fitness level.
Aim for a healthy weight. Obesity is an epidemic in America, not only for adults but also for children. Fad diets and supplements are not the answer. Good nutrition and physical activity are the only way to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity places you at risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and insulin resistance, a precursor of type 2 diabetes — the very factors that heighten your risk of cardiovascular disease. Your Body Mass Index (BMI) will tell you if your weight is healthy. more
Manage diabetes. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of diabetes-related death. People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease due to a variety of risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and lack of physical activity.
Reduce stress. Some scientists have noted a relationship between coronary heart disease risk and stress in a person's life that may affect the risk factors for heart disease and stroke. For example, people under stress may overeat, start smoking or smoke more than they otherwise would. Research has even shown that stress reaction in young adults predicts middle-age blood pressure risk.
Limit alcohol. Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure, cause heart failure and lead to stroke. It can contribute to high triglycerides, produce irregular heartbeats and affect cancer and other diseases. It contributes to obesity, alcoholism, suicide and accidents. The risk of heart disease in people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol (an average of one drink for women or two drinks for men per day) is lower than in nondrinkers. However, it’s not recommended that nondrinkers start using alcohol or that drinkers increase the amount they drink.
Info provided by: (www.goredforwomen.com)
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Have a question about heart disease or how to prevent cardiovascular disease?
For a free health consultation feel free to email (wellness@healthybeingproducts.com) or call
Melissa Gallagher at 727-954-8968.
Visit our On-Line Store to save over 65% and get free shipping on Heart Healthy Vitamins and Supplements at theHealthy Being Products Store
