Suffering from high blood pressure, or hypertension, should not call for harmful prescription medications or drugs. After analyzing 80 scientific studies, scientists have discovered a drug-free method for treating hypertension: A vegetarian diet.
Hypertension is known as a "silent killer," but it appears altering one's intake of meat may create a protective shield against it.
Vegetarians and Healthy Blood Pressure
Since vegetarians tend to be slimmer, on average, their blood pressure is often in the healthy range (compared to those who eat meat on a regular basis). Also, vegetarians' higher intake of potassium and plant-based foods modulate blood viscosity. As blood pressure is lowered, vegetarians also experience a reduced risk of:
In light of these findings, the lead author of the study stated, "My advice to people at risk for hypertension is to substitute a veggie burger for a hamburger tonight and have pasta marinara without meatballs tomorrow." It was also noted that following a vegetarian diet would not only drop high blood pressure levels, but also body weight as well.
Science Daily January 19, 2005
As I've frequently mentioned in the past it is usually smart to consider the messenger when regarding a study concerning your health.
In this case specifically, one of the authors is Dr. Neal D. Barnard, M.D., founder and president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) -- the same group who horribly distorted the facts behind the death of Dr. Robert Atkins. In fact, PCRM is nearly as bad as the major drug companies about promoting their own skewed agenda that steers people toward their pro-vegan diet.
A Strict Vegetarian Diet Isn't Healthy For Many
Although this review of studies has the right idea that changing your diet will make a profound impact on your health, it does not take into account that eating a strict vegetarian diet isn't healthy for about two-thirds of the population. Please see the article Processed Meats Play Role in Developing Colon Cancer that is also in this issue, where I expand on the type of individuals that seem to benefit from having meat in their diet.
That article will also explain the reasons that eating meat can produce health problems and ways to compensate for that so you receive the healthy benefits of meat without any side effects.
Of additional concern is that vitamin B12 is not absorbed very well, if at all, from plant sources and many extremist vegetarians who do not eat any animal products (vegans) frequently develop B12 deficiencies.
Additionally, while vegetarians correctly identify there are serious problems with most commercial meat sources, there are healthy sources available and my other article discusses some of those options.
Lastly, avoiding animal products for most vegetarians means replacing them with "healthy grains." Well, I believe that if you have high blood pressure, there just simply isn't something like a healthy grain. And that is exactly what many vegetarians wind up eating, loads of grains that typically raise insulin levels and further increase their hypertension.
Treating and Preventing High Blood Pressure
I hopefully have abolished the vegetarian myth as the solution for hypertension. There are three important factors you should implement into your daily life to help normalize your blood pressure levels. They include:
Eliminating grains and sugars as described in my Total Health Program can lower insulin levels and stop blood pressure from going up in most people. Following the nutrition plan will normalize blood pressure in about 75 percent of people.
Normalizing the common stresses in your life that tend to elevate blood pressure. Energy psychology tools like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) can be very helpful here. You can check the free EFT manual for further information on how you can learn this technique.
Getting 60-90 minutes of exercise a day. I have said over the past few issues that this is the article I now link to when referencing exercise. Please remember that exercise is an important factor for those currently suffering from high blood pressure.
If you suffer from hypertension, I strongly encourage you to review Dr. Rosch's excellent summary of high blood pressure.
Related Articles:
Do Vegetarian Diets Really Work? Find Out Which Raw Food Diet is Right for You, Part II Vegetarian Diet Healthy and Safe Dangers of a Vegetarian Diet in Teens Is Being a Vegetarian Part of Living Healthy and Longer? The Myths of Vegetarianism
Do Vegetarian Diets Really Work?
Find Out Which Raw Food Diet is Right for You, Part II
Vegetarian Diet Healthy and Safe
Dangers of a Vegetarian Diet in Teens
Is Being a Vegetarian Part of Living Healthy and Longer?
The Myths of Vegetarianism