Blood Pressure Supplements

High blood pressure (Hypertension) is the result of genetics, lifestyle, and environment.  The hunter-gatherer existence has been replaced by a high tech industrial life that is dependent on mechanical processing for our food supply.  The transition in diets from 'living off the land' to our modern sources has left us with an epidemic of nutritionally-related diseases which include hypertension and heart disease.  An integrative approach that uses nutrition, supplements, minerals, and functional foods along with exercise, weight loss, and judicious use of alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine, combined with optimal pharmacology agents is the best means to reduce blood pressure.

In this blog I want to cover some of the best options to help reduce blood pressure if yours seems to be climbing into the unsafe zone on a consistent basis.  As you see from this picture I incorporated, a healthy blood pressure is critical to other organ systems.  It's worth keeping in check.  These are all integrative approaches to not only minimize the problem, but also to restore balance of nutritional deficiencies that may be contributing to the problem. Here's a list I've put together of known blood pressure reducers.  They are in no certain order of effectiveness.

1.  Potassium: Numerous trials have demonstrated a significant reduction in BP with increased dietary potassium intake.  In fact Anti-Aging medicine practitioners recommend a 5:1 ratio of potassium to sodium. 

2.  Magnesium:  Magnesium competes with sodium to bind on smooth muscle and acts like a calcium channel blocker.  This dilates the vessels with an end result of reducing BP.  All magnesiums are not created equal.  We carry a prescribed supplement line that is rated high pharmaceutical grade.

3.  Calcium: a 23% reduction in the risk of developing hypertension was noted in individuals with an intake of 800mg/day versus those who only took 400mg/day. 

4.  Protein: in particular whey protein and sardine muscle protein are good sources.  Sardine muscle protein contains valyl-tyrosine which significantly lowers BP by serving as a natural ACE inhibitor like  ramipril, lisinopril, enalapril, etc.

5.  Omega Fish Oils: Eating cold water fish 3 times per week is as effective as high-dose fish oil in reducing BP, and the protein in the fish also has anti-hypertensive effects.  If you are not a fish lover, then you better stick with the capsules.  Extra virgin olive oil has 5mg of phenols in 10grams of olive oil and is rich in antioxidants and known to help reduce blood pressure.  Again, all fish oils are not created equal.  The source of fish is important and the ratio of components is equally important. We carry a cardiologist formulated blend and can ship a supply to your home.  I use this blend myself on a DAILY basis.

6. Fiber: Fiber helps, but unfortunately you have to eat a lot of foods rich in fiber to reduce blood pressure.  For instance; 60g/day of oatmeal, 40g/day of oat bran, 3 g/day of beta glucan, or 7g/day of psyllium.  Fiber rich foods are always great to have on board.  Supplementing your regular diet with fiber is a great idea and is known to help a host of other problems as well.

7.  Garlic: Good clinical trials utilizing the correct type and dose of garlic have shown consistent reduction of BP in hypertensive patients.  One needs the amount contained in four gloves of garlic (4g) to achieve significant BP reduction.  Garlic capsules are available so don't feel that you have to chomp down on raw garlic cloves to have benefit.  And....we want your personal neighbors to be able to withstand the smell.  :)

8.  Seaweed: Wakame is the most popular, edible seaweed in Japan.  In humans, 3.3 g/day of dried wakame for 4 weeks significantly reduced blood pressure.  Our Western diets are pitiful compared to those ethnics groups who live near water. They also have reduced thyroid disease compared to Americans who have limited iodine intake these day. 

9.  Vitamin C: An initial loading dose of 2000mg followed by 500mg/day can help as an antioxidant, but also helps to recycle vitamin E which improves the endothelium and also acts as a diuretic.

10.  Vitamin D: catch my blog on Vitamin D-eficiency for more about this CRITICAL vitamin.

11.  Vitamin B-6: The participation of VB-6 in neurotransmitter and hormone biosynthesis along with amino acid reactions account for it's antihypertensive effects.  B vitamins are an essential to good health in so many ways.

12. Lycopene: This is a potent antioxidant found in tomatoes, guava, pink grapefruit, watermelon, apricots, and papaya and beneficial for blood pressure patients.

13.  CoQ10:  Blood levels of CoQ10 decline with age and are found to be lower in patients with diseases characterized by oxidative stress such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. There is a high correlation of CoQ10 deficiency and hypertension.  CoQ10 is also very deficient in patients who take cholesterol lowering agents.  Again, I carry a high pharmaceutical grade blend here in the store and recommend it to anyone with heart disease and those on "statin" therapy. 

14.  Alpha Lipoic Acid: ALA helps to recirculate tissue and blood levels of vitamins and antioxidants with an end result of lowered blood pressure.

15.  L-Arginine: Patients with high blood pressure have high levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine which inactivates Nitric Oxide a known blood pressure reducer.  L-Arginine helps form NO so that it is restored.

16. Taurine: Patients with high blood pressure tend to be low on Taurine.  Studies indicate that Taurine lowers blood pressure and heart rate.  It's a good component to look for in multi-vitamin formulations.

17.  Celery: Studies have demonstrated a significant reduction in BP with 3-N-Butyl Phthalide, a component of celery oil.  Celery relaxes smooth muscle and lowers blood pressure. Consuming 4 stalks per day has an antihypertensive effect along with having diuretic effects.  Add celery to your diet.

18.  Hawthorne:  Acts as a diuretic to help reduce fluid retention and extra work on the heart.  I have great success stories from patients who have added the natural supplement Hawthorne to their regimen.

19.  Estrogen:  transdermal estrogen acts as a vasodilator and helps to reduce blood pressure in women who are estrogen deficient.   I have a study in my office from a popular OB/GYN magazine called obgyn.news  showing a 10 point reduction in systolic and diastolic pressures at the end of 1 year from simply balancing hormones.  Again I will say that hormones touch everything in our bodies.  I think everyone should be tested at 45-50 years old. I can help with that, no problem. Call me for a testing kit.

As you can see, it's one thing to take your prescribed blood pressure medicine to lower systolic and diastolic numbers, but many natural sources can also be implemented into your daily regimen.  We now stock various high pharmaceutical grade supplements that have to be dispensed by a licensed healthcare provider.  I would be happy to discuss integrative supplements to help you lower your blood pressure values and restore your good health for the long haul.   Give me a call and let's implement supplements for wellness into your program before disease strikes. 

To your good health,
Dr. Sonja