Lower Your High Blood Pressure Naturally

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, seems at almost epidemic proportions in America alone. Ask ten people over the age of fifty and chances are more than half are taking some kind of high blood pressure medication. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 

“About 1 of 3 U.S. adults—or about 75 million people—have high blood pressure.1 Only about half (54%) of these people have their high blood pressure under control,”

Lowering high blood pressure naturally could happen for you but it can also take time. Just think how long it took for you to develop hypertension in the first place. Many people give a grand effort at trying a natural approach but after a few weeks or so they become discouraged. Always check with your doctor and then try one or more of these remedies to see if you can get back on track without medication. Incidentally, some doctors may even allow a dual approach which could entail high blood pressure meds combined with some natural choices. Eventually, you may get off the meds altogether. 

Plant-Based High Blood Pressure Remedies

Certain plant-based remedies affect certain people’s biology in different ways. When using one or more of these recommendations be sure you have medical clearance so there are no contraindications with other medications or systemic compromises you may be challenged by. 

Pharmacognosy Review (PR, Jan-Jun 2011) posted combined research in the paper, ’Role of natural herbs in the treatment of hypertension.’ These are some notable plant-based remedies backed by scientific studies which describe their overall researched effects on high blood pressure lowered naturally. 

Celery Juice

There has been a resurgence of celery juice as a trendy health elixir and such a trend may go beyond the usual fleeting popularity. In one PR study, eight ounces of celery juice was mixed with equal parts honey and consumed three times per day for one week. 

The results in such a short period were quite significant. Not only was there an obvious reduction in hypertension (HTN) but systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) were also lessened.

Chinese Hawthorn

This is a thousand year old Chinese remedy that, according to PR, “two main substances that contribute to hawthorn’s beneficial effects on the heart are flavonoids and oligomeric procyanidins, which are potent antioxidant agents proven to lower BP.” 

Rhynchophylline, an alkaloid which is found in the herb cat’s claw (a related Chinese hawthorn), 

“has demonstrated an ability to inhibit platelet aggregation and thrombosis, which suggests that it may be useful in preventing strokes and reducing the risk of heart attack by lowering BP, increasing circulation, and inhibiting both the formation of plaque on arterial walls and formation of blood clots in the brain, heart, and arteries.”

Flaxseed

This plant-based Omega-3 rich seed is associated with significantly lowering BP in people suffering from HTN. Researchers from the Department of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, published results from the study, ‘Flaxseed and cardiovascular risk,’ in Nutrition Reviews stating,

“Flaxseed may protect against atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease through a number of mechanisms, including reducing serum cholesterol, platelet aggregation, and inflammatory markers; improving glucose tolerance; and acting as an antioxidant. Daily consumption of 15 to 50 g/day of ground flaxseed can modestly reduce total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein concentrations without altering triglycerides or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.”

This is a pretty good incentive to top your morning cereal, yogurt, smoothie or the like with a handful of organic ground flaxseed for lowering blood pressure and increasing heart health.

MLR: Move, Lose, and Reduce

Before you succumb to lifelong medication that will keep your blood pumping so you can continue living an unhealthy lifestyle, try the MLR approach. It’s a simple acronym that helps you get on track and take control of your life so Big Pharma doesn’t. 

MLR stands for move, lose, and reduce, three major essentials of how to lower high blood pressure naturally.

Move

Cardiovascular movement is all you need to do to keep your heart running on all cylinders. Lifting weights is good exercise too but start off with cardiovascular routines until your blood pressure subsides. Your choice of movement can be anything that gets your blood pumping. A gym can be convenient and comfortable however other forms of cardio are just as good. These can be skiing, drumming, dancing, walking, trampolining, swimming, rowing, and so many more just as long as they are done at a good, continued pace and within an adhered to routine. 

Researchers from Columbia University Medical Center, New York, concluded in their study ‘Physical activity and the prevention of hypertension’ that, 

“Together, the available evidence strongly supports a role for physical activity in the prevention of hypertension.”

Lose

Dial back your binge or emotional eating with some good old fashioned willpower. Losing weight is a sure way to lower your blood pressure naturally. Look for programs or apps that motivate you or lose weight on your own. Either way, if you follow a plant-based or Mediterranean diet in addition to a cardio routine, the weight will come off, your brain will lose its fog and you will lead a higher quality of life with normalized blood pressure. 

Reduce

Some people are addicted to sugar however others may enjoy salty snacks instead. If you are a salt lover, re-setting your taste buds can significantly make a difference when it comes to blood pressure. The Mayo Clinic recommends the following sodium reduction techniques to help your heart get back on track. 

• Read food labels. If possible, choose low-sodium alternatives of the foods and beverages you normally buy.
• Eat fewer processed foods. Only a small amount of sodium occurs naturally in foods. Most sodium is added during processing.
• Don’t add salt. Just 1 level teaspoon of salt has 2,300 mg of sodium. Use herbs or spices to add flavor to your food.
• Ease into it. If you don’t feel you can drastically reduce the sodium in your diet suddenly, cut back gradually. Your palate will adjust over time.

Follow the MLR routine and you may very well be able to reverse your hypertension. 

Committing to a lifestyle change may seem way more difficult than taking a pill. However, in the long run, you can lower your blood pressure naturally and benefit on so many more levels than you may ever have imagined.