High blood pressure has reached epidemic proportions across America. A daily diet of fast foods, sodas and stress is starting to affect the health of the average American, and now it is estimated that 1 in every 3 Americans has high blood pressure. This condition puts them at risk of heart disease, stroke and even kidney disease. Moreover, it is costing the country $93.5 billion in health-care services.
Trusting the medical establishment to find a cure for high blood pressure may no longer be advisable. The number of prescription drugs and the cascade of variations on the market suggest that a cure for it is not in the offing.
Despite all the consequences associated with high blood pressure, it is a condition that is preventable and easily managed. Observing a balanced diet and enjoying an active lifestyle can help you to avoid the risk of hypertension or reduce blood pressure that is already elevated.
High blood pressure – A package of woe
There is no one identifiable cause for high blood pressure. A combination of factors such as stress, alcohol, smoking, weight and lack of physical activity appear to come together to produce the problem, which is further compounded by family history and age.
Although it is a condition that if left unattended could gravitate to something worse, high blood pressure is not a disease. Taking proactive measures in preventing heart diseases, stroke and kidney disease by managing your 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 slowly been gaining ground, it is still treated with skepticism by the medical establishment. The reliance on prescription drugs, however, has not in any way shown that high blood pressure could be cured.
There are reports by patients who are currently using drugs to manage their high blood pressure that indicate the condition has not improved, nor has their quality of life. Instead, they have to cope with side effects of drugs that are expensive to maintain.
Spice up your life
In a published study featured in the Journal of Medicine, it was revealed that common spices offer protection from heart disease and the deterioration brought about by aging. In the study, researchers discovered a connection between the phenol content of certain herbs and spices and their capacity to prevent glycation and formation of the compounds that are responsible for premature aging and heart disease.
To manage high 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 already enjoying with no idea of their healing properties:
1. Garlic – Garlic contains allicin, a substance which has antibacterial, antioxidant, lipid-lowering and anti-hypertension properties.
In a pilot study at the Clinical Research Center of New Orleans investigating whether garlic could lower blood pressure, nine patients with severe hypertension were given a garlic preparation containing 1.3 percent allicin. Sitting blood pressure fell with a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure only five to 14 hours after the dose. Moreover, it was proven in a 2009 study that fresh garlic has more potent heart protective properties 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 soluble cinnamon daily, while the other half were given placebo. It was discovered that those who drank cinnamon had a 13 to 23 percent increase in antioxidants connected with lowering blood sugar levels.
Read more: Natural News
