4 Tips To Lowering Your Blood Pressure Naturally

According to the Center For Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 3 America adults have high blood pressure. This is a rather large number. High blood pressure can lead to heart disease and stroke which are both in the top three for leading causes of death in the U.S.

Needless to say, this is a relevant health concern for many people, AND the CDC estimates it costs the United States 93.5 billion in health care costs. Wowza! (This was a 2010 projected estimate.)

So what are some ways we can combat this issue naturally? Here are 4 tips that will help lower your blood pressure naturally:

1. Eat Real Food And Avoid Foods That Raise Insulin: When I say real food, I mean food that is minimally processed and that will decay over time. Vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, legumes, meat (minimally processed... so salami doesn't count.)--these are all great whole foods that will nourish your body and also bring healing. Also, avoid foods that raise your insulin. These include foods that are high in sugar and sugar substitutes. Carbs are also insulin raising foods--including organic whole grains. Carbs are rapidly broken down into sugar in your body. Foods to avoid would include: breads, pasta, rice, cereal, and potatoes. A food to add to your diet that has been linked to lowering blood pressure would be raw garlic.
2. Exercise: Regular exercise consisting of strength training, core, sprint-burst type exercises have shown to be effective in reducing your insulin levels and blood pressure.
3. Stress Management: Mild stress is all it takes to increase your blood pressure. Keeping stress levels under control is very important. Some recommended stress management techniques include: exercise, praying, meditation, and verbal processing.
4. Optimize Vitamin D Levels: Vitamin D is a vitamin that is essential to many parts of your health. It has been shown to help lower your blood pressure. Make sure you have the RIGHT amount of vitamin D in your system. Too little or too much can be harmful to your health. 

(The Hulk probably suffered from high blood pressure and could have benefited from this blog post) ;)

These are just four EASY and inexpensive ways to lower your blood pressure and/or keep it under control. Many blood pressure drugs (beta-blockers) have been found to cause type 2 diabetes by decreasing your insulin sensitivity. I am not a drug advocate and would encourage you to try a natural approach to lowering your blood pressure before looking to drugs. HOWEVER, sometimes it is necessary to take drugs. I am not a doctor, so if you need to take medication because your blood pressure is super high--take your medication! If you are taking medication you can implement these lifestyle changes and potentially, with the help of a doctor (I would recommend a natural healthcare practitioner) to slowly wean yourself off medication.

Until Next Time,

Hope

xoxo