Nutritional information of blood pressure

Each year high blood pressure, hypertension, kills about 250,000 of us. It is the leading contributing cause of death in Western countries today. In fact, in a government document published by the National Institute of Health, there is the comment that high blood pressure helps to kill, " one out of every eight of everybody who will die of anything".

Everyone has blood pressure. It is the force of blood against the walls of the arteries. Richard Passwater, the well-known biochemist and author, likens it to the pushing of water against the sides of a garen hose. Exact pressure is determined by two factors: the strength of the heartbeat and the resistance of the arteries and capillaries. Arterioles regulate blood pressure more than any other body part. These are small arteries which lead into the capillary network. They contract or relax in rhythm with the heart beat as a result of muscular tissue in their walls. Each time the heat beats there is an increase in pressure. This is called systolic pressure. The relaxing point of the arterioles in between heart-beats gives the diastolic pressure. Sometimes the arterioles remain in a more or less permanent state of contraction which causes a rise in the diastolic blood pressure.

Normal blood pressure is 120/80, systolic over diastolic. Blood pressure above 140/90 is usually considered as high blood pressure. "Normal" blood pressure is what is considered the average for healthy people. However, blood pressure varies with a number of factors including posture, nervous or emotional state, time of day, and even outside temperature. Many people will normally show a blood pressure reading twenty or thirty points higher than their average just because they are nervous about being monitored by a doctor.

The only way you can tell whether you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly. Even a slight elevation in pressure is a risk factor that can lead to a variety of health problems including heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and eye disorders. It can be the result of hardening of the arteries, kidney disorders, endocrine (glandular) disturbances or tumors. In regard to hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure will accelerate this process which leads to even more serious circulatory problems. Another condition which can lead to high blood pressure up thirty or forty points, it is not hard to imagine the results of constant stress.

The most common type of high blood pressure, accounting for about 80 percent of all cases, is essential hypertension. This is the mysterious "silent killer" high blood pressure which has no apparent cause and, in many cases, no symptoms. Essential hypertension is a very slow and progressive disease. Known signs of high blood pressure include dizziness, ringing in the ears, headaches, tiredness, nosebleeds, red streaks in the eyes, unexplained aches and paints, swollen ankles, heart palpitations, frequent urination and crossness.

High blood pressure demands constant attention. Once it is back to normal, treatment must be maintained or it will increase again. Reduction of stress and reduction of weight (high blood pressure occurs more frequently with overweight folks) are essential. Eating an ideal diet will not only lower blood pressure but rebuild damage in the blood vessels, kidneys, heart and brain.

It is the blood pressure which forces oxygen and food or plasma carrying glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and mineral into the cells via the capillaries. In other words, it is the blood pressure that keeps all the tissues bathed in fresh, nutrient-filled fluid and it is through the blood pressure that cell waste is removed. There is now a supplemental formula available that will keep those tissues bathed in nutrients especially blended for the health of the circulatory system. This formula can help you to achieve and maintain normal blood pressure. Ingredients are,

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine HCL)

Niacinamide

Zinc (Amino Acid Chelate)

Magnesium (oxide and Citrus Juice Complex

Phosphorus (Phosphate)

Potassium (phosphate)

L-Cystine (sh cystine sulfhydryl)

Manganese (Amino Acid chelate)

Choline (Bitartrate)

In a base of Inositol, Raw kidney concentrate, Black cohosh root Extract, Buchu leaves Extract, Couch Grass Extract, Raw Thymus concentrate, Raw Heart concentrate, Rutin (Buckwheat), Corn silk Extract, Hydrangea Extract

In any health problem involving stress, part of the nutritional solution will lie with the B complex vitamins. Inositol, choline, niacinamide and B6 are all in the blood pressure formula. They all function directly or indirectly to combat stress although their emphasis in this formula is not directly stress related.

Choline and Inositol work synergistically with methionine, a sulphur-carrying amino acid, as fat-dissolvers or lipotropic agents. Their presence in the body insures the production of lecithin, a well-known cholesterol "detergent." Choline itself is important for all circulatory afflictions and may be useful in protecting our livers, kidneys, and arteries all of which are adversely affected by high blood pressure.

High blood pressure has been repeatedly produced in animals on diets deficient in choline. Since it is essential for the synthesis of lecithin and the utilization of fat, Dr., Passwater states that "Choline deficiencies may be responsible for the hypertension that is particularly prevalent amoung over weight individuals, diabetic patients and those suffering from nephritis and /or heart disease.

Lecithin as a substance is found in every cell of the body. Passwater states that it's chief value may be in maintaining membrane integrity, the formation of prostaglandins (hormone-like chemical), 1 and blood pressure control.

The B vitamins are critical in avoiding heart disease and B6 is often considered the most important. B6 is another nutrient required for lecithin synthesis as well as for normalizing sugar and fat metabolism. It is also necessary for the absorption of methionine. Diets high in vitamin B6, choline, and inositol have been particularly effective in reducing blood cholesterol.

Adelle Davis reports in Let's Get Well that a vitamin B6 deficiency can cause high blood pressure due to damage to the kidney by sharp crystals of oxalic acid. This form of damage can quickly be corrected by the administration fo B6. B6 also corrects edema, water retention. This is probably due to its function in setting up a balance of the minerals sodium and potassium which regulate body fluids.

L-cystine insures the utilization of B6. It is a sulful bearing amino acid and has direct anti-hypertensive activity.

Niacin works more effectively in the presence of B6. Niacin reinforces the electrical polarity of the blood cells, bringing new vigor to the blood stream. A year of treatment with niacin has resulted ina  15-25 percent reduction in cholesterol in persons participating in a recent study.

Rutin is a substance that usually accompanies vitamin C in nature. These substances are known as bioflavinoids. Rutin increases the resistance of the capillary walls which is very important in the treatment and prevention of high blood pressure.

Magnesium is essential for the health of the heart and circulatory system. It is required for heart muscle relaxation. It is required for proper potassium retention as well as for the synthesis of lecithin. It lowers blood pressure. It reduces cholesterol by moving zinc out of the liver where it is stored and into the bloodstream, where it promotes pre-healing of the heart tissue damage. It is essential in many enzyme systems, and for the metabolism of fat, protein, and carbohydrate.

A deficiency of magnesium can result in a deficiency of potassium. Like magnesium, potassium is required for heartbeat regularity . High blood pressure has been produced in animals simply by keeping them on a potassium deficient diet. Human volunteers who have eaten diets deficient in potassium retained so much salt that they developed high blood pressure. Of course, low salt diets are recommended for people with high blood pressure. Physicians have given patients with high blood pressure 5-20 grams of potassium chloride (or other potassium salts) daily and have found this equally as effective in reducing blood pressure as restricting salt intake.

Manganese acts as an enzyme activator in this formula and is synergistic with zinc. Together they act to reduce cadium in the blood which lowers blood pressure. Manganese combines with choline to help digest and use fat.

This formula is very rich in "raw" glandulars. It has been found that glandular are organ specific. They are drawn to their same organ within the body where they enhance the nutritional environment of that organ. Because the kidneys are so important in the control of blood pressure and also because kidney damage can both cause and be a result of high blood pressure, in any case of hypertension, the first emphasis must be on maintaining kidney health. For this reason, raw kidney tissue is included in the formula.

With high blood pressure, the heart must work harder. "Raw" heart tissue improves heart muscle function, stabilizing rhythm and restoring proper tonicity. Thymus gland extract is important to the immune system. This is indirectly connected with blood pressure in that it reduces the level of inflammation due to low grade infections of the liver and kidneys. This keeps these organs more effective, thereby normalizing blood pressure levels.

A number of herbs, "nature's healers," are contained in the formula. Couch grass in extract form is considered best for blood purifying increasing kidney, liver and spleen health. Interestingly, this herb is also used for a tablet binder. Black cohosh is a remedy for high blood pressure while hydrangeia, buchu leaves and corn silk all function as diuretics. Water weighs eleven percent more than fat. The release of the water relieves pressure on the kidneys, causing them to function more effectively. Corn silk tea has been used traditionally in folk medicine for the relief of high blood pressure. The allantoin in the base of the formula is derived from comfrey. Comfrey is a keynote herb, highly recommended for "whatever ails you." It is a general cleanser and also relieves liver conditions.

Carbamide is found in blood and all tissue fluids. It functions with water balance, helping to relieve water retention, dehydration, and "pressure" headaches.

High blood pressure tends to run in families. If your parents had high blood pressure, then your chances of having it are increased. This formula can help with both the prevention and correction of high blood pressure. Don't assume whether or not you have it... get your blood pressure measured and know for sure. Further, don't rely on one measurement. Blood pressure is only a problem when the pressure is consistently high. Finally, in some people, high blood pressure is a sign of some underlying organic disease. In such cases, treatment must be directed to the primary condition rather than to the symptom.