7/27/2019 7 Medicinal Herbs and Spices That Help Lower Blood
Pressure
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naturalnews.com printable article
Originally published April 26 2012
7 medicinal herbs and spices that help lower blood pressureby
Aurora Geib
(NaturalNews) High blood pressure is an epidemic that is
currently sweeping across America. The fast lifestyle of fast food,
soda and stress is starting to catch up on the average American, so
much so that an estimated one inevery three Americans has high
blood pressure. This puts them at risk of heart disease, stroke and
even kidneydisease. Moreover, this condition is costing the country
93.5 billion dollars in health care services.
Putting too much faith in the medical establishment to find a
cure for your high blood pressure may no longer beadvisable in the
least. The number of prescription drugs on the market and the
cascade of variations suggestthat a cure for blood pressure is not
in the offing anytime soon.
Despite all the consequences associated with high blood
pressure, it is still a condition that is preventable andeasily
managed. Observing a healthy balanced diet and enjoying an active,
healthy lifestyle can help avoid therisk of high blood pressure as
well as reduce one that is already elevated.
High blood pressure - A package of woeThere is no one
identifiable cause for high blood pressure. A combination of
factors like stress, alcohol, smoking,weight and lack of physical
activity seem to have to come together to produce this problem,
which is furthercompounded by family history and age.
Although it is a condition that if left unattended could
gravitate to something worse, high blood pressure is not adisease.
Taking proactive measures in preventing heart diseases, stroke and
even kidney disease by managingyour blood pressure may be the best
decision you can make today.
While the idea of drug-free high blood pressure management
through the use of herbs and spices has slowlybeen gaining ground,
it is still treated with skepticism by the medical establishment.
The reliance on prescriptiondrugs, however, has not in any way
shown that high blood pressure could be cured through this manner.
Thereare still reports by patients who are currently using drugs to
manage their high blood pressure that their
condition has not shown any improvement, nor their quality of
life. Instead, they have to deal with side effectsand drugs that
are expensive to maintain.
Spice up your lifeIn a published study featured in the Journal
of Medicine , it was revealed that common spices can protect
fromheart disease and the deterioration brought about by aging. In
the said study, researchers discovered aconnection between the
phenol content of certain herbs and spices and their capacity to
prevent glycation andformation of AGE compounds that are
responsible for premature aging and heart disease.
As a way to manage your blood pressure, herbs and spices are a
fantastic way to increase the medicinal value of your food. Below
are some herbs and spices you may have been enjoying with no idea
as to their value:
1. Garlic - Garlic contains allicin, a substance which has
antibacterial, antioxidant, lipid lowering andanti-hypertension
properties. In a pilot study made at Clinical Research Center of
New Orleans on whether garliccould lower blood pressure, nine
patients with severe hypertension were given a garlic preparation
containing1.3 % allicin. Sitting blood pressure fell with a
significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure only five to
14hours after the dose. Moreover, it was proven in a 2009 study
that fresh garlic has more potent cardio-protectiveproperties than
processed garlic.
2. Cinnamon - Cinnamon not only prevents heart disease, it can
also prevent diabetes. The Center for Applied Health Sciences in
Ohio conducted a study of 22 subjects, half of which were given a
250mg of water solublecinnamon daily while the other half were
given placebo. It was discovered that those who drank cinnamon had
a13 to 23 percent increase in antioxidants connected with lowering
blood sugar levels.
3. Onions - Onions contain quercetin, an antioxidant flavonol
found to prevent heart disease and stroke. In a
research study published in the Journal of Nutrition , subjects
with hypertension experienced a decrease in theirblood pressure by
7mmHg systolic and 5 mmHg diastolic as opposed to those who were
taking placebo.
4. Olives - This herb is a significant part of the Mediterranean
diet, recognized to be one of the healthiest in theworld. Oil made
from olives has been found to reduce blood pressure. In a study
conducted on the importance of olive oil, Dr. L. Aldo Ferrara,
Associate Professor at the Frederico II University of Naples in
Italy discovered that
edicinal herbs and spices that help lower blood pressure
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2 03-08-2013 23:23
