Healthy Lifestyle | Are you eating enough of these 5 amazing foods that help reduce high blood pressure? | High Blood Pressure | Artichokes | Bananas | Beets | Cocoa | Garlic

Are you eating enough of these 5 amazing foods that help reduce high blood pressure?

By Frank Mangano

Consumer Health Advocate

Author of the popular book: Blood Pressure Miracle

Did you know that stroke and coronary heart disease still remain to be on the list of the top three main causes of death in the USA and the world over ? It's time to take your health seriously so you don't fall victim to these!

What is High Blood Pressure and how does this come into play?

According to the National Institute for Health, blood pressure levels of 140/90 mmHg or more can be classified ashypertension.

The worst part about having high blood pressure is that the condition can sometimes be present without any symptoms and before we know it, the damage is already extensive. Serious problems that have been associated with high blood pressure include kidney failure, heart attack,

heart failure and stroke.

What are the Risk Factors Associated with High Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure can be influenced by a lot of factors – age, race, family history, tobacco use, sedentary lifestyle, diet, binge drinking, and stress levels. Chronic conditions such as sleep apnea, diabetes and high cholesterol levels can also precipitate the development of hypertension.

What can You Do to Lower Blood Pressure?You don't need potentially dangerous drugs to control and reduce your blood pressure. Controlling blood pressure levels could be as simple as doing lifestyle modifications and eating healthier.

If you are a smoker, quit. If you drink heavily, try to practice self-control. At work, take the stairs instead of the elevator. And if you have been obsessed with sweet, sugary foods as well as processed fast-food meals, then modify your eating habits as well. Learn to eat the right kinds of food before it's too late.

Below are 5 of my top picks for powerful foods that could help you lower your blood pressure levels:

1. Artichokes : artichokes help lower blood pressure

The use of artichokes has been implicated in the lowering of cholesterol levels in the blood. Since hypercholesterolemia is one of the risk factors for high blood pressure, this information is actually good news. Three clinical trials conducted separately by Dr. Barbara Wider supports this fact. In Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews’ October 2009 issue, where the result of the study was published, it was shown that patients who were diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia and given Artichoke leaf extract exhibited a decrease in their blood cholesterol levels.

Artichokes taste amazing steamed (generally steam for about 1 hour) and then dip each piece into a mixture of olive oil, grass-fed butter, and garlic. Delicious!

2. Bananas : bananas cut high blood pressure

A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine says that incorporating bananas in your day-to-day meals can actually cut stroke-related deaths by as much as 40 percent. A 1997 study at Johns Hopkins University recommended eating at least five bananas daily to achieve the desired effect, and that is to lower elevated blood pressure levels. However, a study conducted by Indian researchers at the Kasturba medical college revealed that people who eat two bananas a day, for one whole week, can lower their blood pressure levels by 10 percent.

Bananas are rich in potassium, which is responsible for the proper functioning of the heart. It works with sodium to maintain balance of the body’s fluids, which is an important factor in the regulation of blood pressure.

3. Beets : compounds in beets beat blood pressure

A research study conducted by scientists from Barts and The London School Medicine revealed that simply drinking one 500 ml glass of beetroot juice each day can produce astounding health benefits, especially to the heart.

Beetroot juice has been found to lower high blood pressure levels. Professors Amrita Ahluwalia and Ben Benjamin, from the William Harvey Research Institute and Peninsula Medical Center, respectively, led the research efforts, which revealed that the consumption of dietary nitrate that is found in beetroot has BP-lowering effects in as fast as 1 hour after ingestion, with the effect lasting for up to 24 hours. The result of the study was published in the March 2008 issue of Hypertension.

You can try beetroot juice, or also try baked beets sliced on salads or as a side dish to dinner.

4. Cocoa : cocoa helps lower blood pressure

A study conducted by researchers from Germany’s University Hospital of Cologne revealed that cocoa can significantly lower high blood pressure levels. Study results were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The beneficial heart effects of cocoa are attributed to its flavonoid content, specifically procyanids.

Because cocoa is most commonly found in chocolate, people falsely assume that eating a lot of chocolate could be good for the health. Keep in mind that cocoa in chocolates have undergone a lot of processing, and it has been mixed with loads of sugar, so this is not totally healthy. The best way to take advantage of the health benefits offered by cocoa is to choose raw cacao – it is good for the heart, the brain and the liver. Raw cacao nibs go great in smoothies! Also use organic cocoa powder in smoothies or homemade hot cocoa sweetened with stevia instead of sugar.

5. Garlic : garlic fights hypertension

Researchers from South Australia’s University of Adelaide have conducted studies, which provide solid proof that the consumption of garlic can indeed help lower elevated blood pressure levels. Garlic supplements in powder form were given and results revealed that it produced a reduction in systolic blood pressure. Garlic has been known all over the world as a very important herb, especially with its heart-protecting capabilities. It helps lower blood cholesterol levels and prevents blood from forming clots (which could lead to heart attack and stroke).

Furthermore, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal has published the results of a laboratory test showing how garlic juice can lead to a decrease in blood pressure levels. Eating the equivalent of 2 cloves of garlic each day can significantly contribute to the health of the heart.

Source:

http://www.funzug.com/index.php/health/5-powerful-foods-that-lower-your-blood-pressure.html

Frank Mangano is an American author, researcher, health advocate and entrepreneur in the field of alternative health. He was born August 9th, 1977 in New York City where he still currently resides. Mangano is the author of several books including The 60 Day Prescription Free Cholesterol Cure, The Mind Killer Defense, which he co-authored with Dr. Cynthia Foster, M.D. and Kim Wierman, You Can Attract It, which he co-authored with Clinical Hypnotherapist Steve G. Jones and The Blood Pressure Miracle, which hit best seller in three categories on Amazon.com within days of its release. Additionally, he has published numerous reports and a considerable amount of articles pertaining to natural health.

The Health Dangers of Soda | Is soda really bad for you and your grandkids?

The Health Dangers of Soda

Is soda really bad for you and your grandkids? Take our quiz to find out.

By Beth Levine

Q: Soda contributes to obesity?

TRUE. More and more evidence shows that drinking sugary drinks increases the risk of obesity or weight gain in children and adults, because of the sugar and high-fructose corn syrup in soda, says Julie Salz Greenstein, Deputy Director, Health Promotion Policy, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). 

In fact, an extra soft drink a day increases a child's risk of obesity by 60%, she says. Why? When people eat solid food, they feel more full and are less likely to eat extra calories. However, when you drink you do not get that full feeling, so you eat in addition to drinking your soda, and end up consuming far more calories.

Q: You'd have to drink more soda than the average American to gain weight?

FALSE. First off, the average American drinks a lot of soda: According to studies, sugary drinks are the single largest source of calories in the American diet with the average American drinking about 40 gallons a year (which is about the weight of a preschooler!) 

The average American consumes 77 grams (6.1 tablespoons or 308 calories) of added sugar per day, and kids as young as three years old are consuming more than 12 grams (1 tablespoon or 46 calories). 

(Almost half of all added sugars comes from sugary drinks (soda, energy drinks, sport drinks, fruit drinks).) To put the numbers into perspective, the American Heart Association recommends that adults have no more than six to nine teaspoons of sugar per day, and kids have between three and eight teaspoons a day.

Q: There is no link between soda and cancer?

FALSE. The caramel coloring used in most colas is has been linked to two cancer-causing chemicals. In February 2011, CSPI petitioned the FDA to ban its use. The artificial brown coloring in sodas is made by reacting sugars with high pressure and temperatures. Chemical reactions result in the formation of 2-methylimidazole and 4-methylimidazole which in government-conducted studies caused lung, liver, or thyroid cancer or leukemia in laboratory mice or rats. In addition, several studies have found correlations between soda consumption and lymphoma, leukemia and prostate cancers.

Q: Drinking soda can lead to diabetes and stroke?

TRUE. Drinking just one to two sugary drinks per day increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by about 25%, according to a Harvard University study, and a study in the American Journal of Nutrition that found an increased risk of stroke in people who consumed more than one soda per day. If that’s not enough of a deterrent, diabetes also can lead to erectile dysfunction.

Q: Soda rots your teeth?

TRUE. Soda consumption nearly doubles the risk of cavities in children and increases the likelihood in adults. “The acid in soda and other sugary drinks causes erosion of tooth enamel, while the sugar in the beverages provide fuel for bacteria that cause tooth decay,” says Greenstein.

Q: Soda causes osteoporosis?

TRUE AND FALSE. A Tufts University study found that daily consumption of colas is associated with low bone-mineral density in older women. The link was not found in other carbonated drinks.

Q: Drinking soda can cause high blood pressure?

TRUE. A study by the Louisiana State University Health Science Center School of Public Health in New Orleans found that drinking too many sugary drinks can increase blood pressure levels, while the International Study of Macro/Micronutrients and Blood Pressure (INTERMAP) notes that for every extra daily sugary drink, subjects on average had a significant increase in blood pressure.

Q: You can avoid all these risks by switching to diet soda?

FALSE. While diet sodas contain few or no calories, they do have tooth-eroding acids, caffeine, and/or artificial sweeteners. In addition, a University of Miami study found that subjects who drank diet soda every day had a 61% higher risk of vascular events than those who reported no soda drinking.

Q: Switching to diet soda helps keep the weight down?

FALSE. INTERMAP reported that people who drank diet soda had higher body mass index than those who did not and had lower levels of physical activity.

How to Kick the Habit

If you or your grandkids can’t go cold turkey and give up your soda-fix, here's what you can do:

• Try drinking smaller serving sizes.  Order small serving sizes at restaurants, or split a can of soda with someone. Keep in mind that one twelve-ounce can has about 10 teaspoons (more than 3 tablespoons) of sugar. New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg has actually banned sales of 16-ounce sodas!

• Cut the soda with seltzer, gradually increasing the amount of seltzer.

• Switch to water, unsweetened tea, or seltzer. Flavor with lemon, lime, or fresh mint.

• Drink 100% fruit juice. While it does have sugar, it also has healthful nutrients, as opposed to soda’s empty calories. If you miss the carbonation, add seltzer.

SOURCE

http://www.grandparents.com/health-and-wellbeing/diet-and-nutrition/soda-bad-for-you