As you already know, when you visit your doctor and discover that your blood pressure is high, they will prescribe medication to you, and tell you to lower your salt intake. Most people are aware that blood pressure medications have side effects, but they do not know alternative ways of controlling high blood pressure.
Being that doctors have a lack of nutritional expertise, and are trained to prescribe medication for illnesses, they are not able to give you a broader range of treatments for hypertension. Medical Doctors know more about medicine than about diet and nutrition, vitamins, and herbs.
So is it possible to lower your pressure without the use of medication, and control it naturally? Absolutely! There are natural herbs and vitamins that work in the body that produce the same benefits as blood pressure medication without the harmful side effects.
The following are three ways that they work:
1. Vasodilation
One of the processes your body goes through to lower high blood pressure is called vasodilation. Vasodilation is where blood vessels in the body become wider following the relaxation of the smooth muscle in the vessel wall. Vasodilation will reduce blood pressure since there is more room for the blood. A vasodilator is a substance that causes vasodilation, and there are several vitamins and herbs that are natural vasodilators.
One example would be the herb Hawthorne. Hawthorne is rich in bioflavonoids – a compound that is essential for vitamin C function and help strengthen blood vessels. Hawthorn is basically a heart tonic. It works as a vasodilator increasing the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart muscles and lessening the potential for spasms, angina, and shortness of breath. Hawthorne will gradually help to lower the diastolic pressure and quiet the pulse.
Along with lowering blood pressure to reduce the strain on the heart to pump blood, Hawthorne works as a diuretic, helping the body get rid of excess salt and water.
Most Hawthorne preparations are safe, but be advised that this high blood pressure herb comes in a very concentrated form and should not be used without medical supervision.
Hawthorne is just one of several natural vasodilators that you should add to your high blood pressure diet.
2. Preventing Blood Clots
When your blood clots, plaque forms on the artery walls, which causes the heart to overwork because your blood pressure needs to increase to get through the plaque.
There are vitamins that help prevent blood clots which in turn helps the blood flow through the artery walls more freely, reducing blood pressure. One example would be Vitamin C.
An increase of Vitamin C is essential for high blood pressure because Vitamin C is a very potent antioxidant that helps lower systolic and diastolic pressure. Vitamin C helps to prevent blood clots in veins and prevents the oxidation of bad cholesterol (LDL)
Other benefits of Vitamin C is that it helps in the body’s absorption of iron, it heals wounds, aids in preventing infections, it is a good treatment for colds, it plays a primary role in the formation of collagen, and it enables protein cells to hold together which helps extend life.
The best natural sources of Vitamin C are citrus fruits, berries, green vegetables, potatoes, and peppers
3. Increase the presence of Antioxidants in your body
Antioxidants reverse the degenerative process (slowing down aging), and boosts the immune system by slowing the hardening of tissues through oxidation, which helps to naturally lower blood pressure. Once again, Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is beneficial in doing this.
You need to incorporate vitamins and herbs into your diet that are natural vasodilators, natural substances that help prevent blood clots, and ones that naturally help improve blood circulation. These types of vitamins and herbs will help you to lower your pressure and keep it under control. However, your body will not absorb these vitamins without the presence of certain other vitamins. It is important that you know which vitamins work to increase the absorption and potency of the vitamins that help you lower your pressure. This is why it is important to eat balanced meals throughout the day to get a combination of vitamins, minerals, and herbs into your body. Unfortunately the processing of foods have decreased natural nutrients that our bodies need, which is why it is important to add nutritional supplements to your diet.
