Thursday, August 18, 2011

Reduce High Blood Pressure With Natural Remedies

Lower blood pressure by using natural remedies.


High blood pressure is the first step leading to heart disease and, if left untreated, can result in more-dangerous health conditions such as a heart attack or stroke. The American Heart Association states that 74.5 million Americans have high blood pressure. People with very high blood pressure rely on prescription medications to control it. However, people who are prehypertensive (a blood pressure reading of 130/90 or lower) may be able to lower their blood pressure with natural remedies. Here are natural remedies to lower high blood pressure.


Instructions


1. Eating salmon is one way to reduce blood pressure.


Add fish oil to your daily diet. Eating more cold-water fish or taking fish oil supplements will decrease inflammation and thin the blood, which results in lower blood pressure. Salmon, halibut, tuna, mackerel and sardines are excellent food sources. Another option is to take 500 to 1,000 mg of fish oil supplements each day.


2. Take coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplements. CoQ10 makes the heart beat stronger, increases oxygen in the blood, increases blood flow and strengthens blood vessel walls while relaxing the blood vessels to lower blood pressure. Taking CoQ10 along with certain prescription blood pressure medications improves the effectiveness of the medication. The recommended dose of CoQ10 is 50 to 100 mg per day, and it is available in tablet or capsule form.


3. Dandelion leaf is a natural diuretic that lowers blood pressure.


Use dandelion leaf to reduce blood pressure safely. Dandelion leaf works the same as a diuretic to reduce blood volume, which lowers blood pressure. It also contains potassium, an essential nutrient that is generally lost when using synthetic diuretics. Dandelion leaf is available in capsule form and as a tea.


4. Take hawthorne capsules or tea to reduce high blood pressure. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that the herb hawthorne improves blood flow, prevents the buildup of plaque in arteries, acts as a mild diuretic and relaxes blood vessels.


5. Walnuts are a good source of arginine.


Add foods rich in arginine to your diet. Arginine (also known as L-arginine) is an essential amino acid that works to dilate arteries to improve blood flow and thin the blood. Arginine is a component of many foods, including nuts, lean red meat, poultry, fish, seeds, soy foods, legumes and dairy products. It is also available in supplement form.








6. Exercise daily to control weight and lower blood pressure.


Start an exercise program to maintain a healthy weight. The AHA states that exercise on a daily basis assists in maintaining a healthy weight, which is important in lowering blood pressure. The AHA suggests exercising at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week with at least 15 minutes each day being some form of cardiovascular exercise.

Tags: blood pressure, high blood, blood flow, Dandelion leaf, high blood pressure, natural remedies