Looking for non-pharmaceutical recommendations for lowering/controlling blood pressure.

[Kareni]

As stated in the thread title, I'm looking for non-pharmaceutical recommendations for lowering/controlling blood pressure.

 

All suggestions are welcome. 

 

Regards,

Kareni

[TravelingChris]

Celery.  It worked for a while but my corticosteroid use finally caught up with me so for the last few years I have been on a low dose of a blood pressure medication.

[wonderchica]

Exercise was the most helpful for me. Walking and yoga helped.

[scrapbookbuzz]

Dark chocolate. Seriously.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Lower salt intake  There are salt substitutes. 

[gstharr]

search Bragg's raw organic apple cider vinegar and baking soda. two table spoons acv and 1/8 teaspoon  baking soda with water daily. It is two weeks on and two weeks off.  getting ready to start my second on cycle. Have not been tested since starting a month ago, so I have to personal opinion. Though seems to be a well known remedy

[SparklyUnicorn]

How long has it been high?  How high are we talking?  Are you overweight?  What's your diet like?  Do you exercise?  Do you have any other health issues?  Does high BP run in your family? 

 

You don't have to answer any of that, but I think these details will dictate what might work the best or what is the best thing to try.

 

 

[TranquilMind]

Cinnamon lowers blood pressure. 

[madteaparty]

Lower salt intake There are salt substitutes.

This is what I've heard, too.

[HS Mom in NC]

Magnesium supplements. 

[Um_2_4]

CoQ10. Dh has high blood pressure and none of the "typical" reasons(smoking, alcohol, overweight, too much salt) to explain it. His is anxiety pretty sure.

I may add potassium. He also wants to avoid prescriptions hopefully.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Cinnamon lowers blood pressure. 

 

Really?  It lowers blood SUGAR.  And as a result, I think it can lower blood pressure in diabetics but I'm not sure about other people.  (I'm not arguing with you.  Just asking for clarification.)

Edited January 26, 2017 by Jean in Newcastle

[Lawana]

I second magnesium. Natural Vitality Natural Calm magnesium powder.

[TranquilMind]

Really?  It lowers blood SUGAR.  And as a result, I think it can lower blood pressure in diabetics but I'm not sure about other people.  (I'm not arguing with you.  Just asking for clarification.)

 

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/cinnamon-reduces-blood-pressure-while-balancing-blood-glucose

 

You are right.  I'd seen the mention of cinnamon lowering blood pressure as well as blood sugar, but the tests involved diabetics.

 

 

Edited January 26, 2017 by TranquilMind

[wapiti]

I will third magnesium, which is a natural beta blocker.

[Penguin]

Going low (not just reduced) sodium did it for me. Took about three weeks.

 

Once I got it where it needed to be, I did not have to be so strict. Just careful.

[ktgrok]

Magnesium helps (add slowly to avoid diarrhea), exercise, lower sugar diet, and deep water immersion (like water aerobics or just hanging out chest deep in a pool)

[katilac]

Sweaty exercise. 

[SparklyUnicorn]

Anyone know if it is equally beneficial to really up eating foods with magnesium?

 

 

[Guest]

Grapefruit in your daily diet and magnesium supplements.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.peoplespharmacy.com/posts/grapefruit-lowers-blood-pressure?client=safari

Edited January 26, 2017 by Arctic Mama

[displace]

There are a lot of studies on lowering BP with juices (cranberry, BEET, pomegranate), lots of fresh fruit/veg, coq10 supplements, hibiscus tea.

 

ETA - beet juice!!!!

Edited January 27, 2017 by displace

[Andromeda]

Rosehip extract. 

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2087820/Daily-dose-rosehip-extract-help-cut-heart-disease-lower-blood-pressure-reduce-cholesterol.html

 

This article references a 2007 study, although I could not find direct links to it.

 

"After six weeks on the rose hip drink, patients saw their blood pressure drop an average of 3.4 per cent, a small but significant decline, and their total cholesterol levels drop by almost five per cent."

Edited January 26, 2017 by RosemaryAndThyme

[SparklyUnicorn]

There are a lot of studies on lowering BP with juices (cranberry, beer, pomegranate), lots of fresh fruit/veg, coq10 supplements, hibiscus tea.

 

so is this permission for me to drink beer?

 

thank you!

 

:laugh:

[Kareni]

Thank you all for your recommendations; I see some research in my future.

 

More suggestions are certainly welcome.

 

Regards,

Kareni

[displace]

so is this permission for me to drink beer?

 

thank you!

 

 

 

:laugh:

Ahhhh, autocorrect. I meant beet!!!

 

But wine has been said to help.... 😆

[umsami]

DASH Diet.

 

It's been proven in peer-reviewed studies to work.

 

It's free (materials online.)

 

http://www.dashdietoregon.org/

 

 

US News has a lot of good info on it as well.  It's ranked #1 in a lot of categories.  http://health.usnews.com/best-diet/dash-diet

 

 

 

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute on it: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/news/press-releases/2001/nhlbi-study-finds-dash-diet-and-reduced-sodium-lowers-blood-pressure-for-all

 

"The DASH diet plus reduced dietary sodium lowers blood pressure for all persons, according to the first detailed subgroup analysis of the DASH study results. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)."

Edited January 27, 2017 by umsami

[gardenmom5]

yoga.

cut out sugar - as it stresses the liver and can drive up bp/

[kewb]

Hibiscus tea, 3x a day.  Worked great for my dh for many years. 

[Sunshine State Sue]

whole food plant based diet

[Artichoke]

Yoga has been good for dh.  He and I take a beginner's class together at the Y.  I think it's the wonderful stretching as well as the peacefulness that has helped.  At the same time though, he's been looking after his health by getting enough sleep, walking during his lunch hour, and eating a real food diet.  

[sbgrace]

I see it's been mentioned, but coq10 lowered by blood pressure.

 

I do think I'm sensitive to salt as well. I don't know if salt sensitivity applies to all or most or just some people with high blood pressure. I want to say my MIL told me that some people are affected and others aren't.

Edited January 27, 2017 by sbgrace