A woman in the UK cured her high blood pressure naturally, in a case study published not from any university, but a simple online journal.
She wanted, with the help of her doctor, to see what changing her diet would do to her blood pressure levels. Her target for the study was one ingredient and one ingredient only.
Most scientific studies take years and many thousands of dollars to complete, but a Brit named Angela Levin managed to prove that eliminating processed foods can mean the difference in as much as 20 points for systolic blood pressure.
While we have been hearing for years that salt is bad for high blood pressure, the connection to just how much has never really been proven. Primarily because it seems to be a moving target. Too much for one person may be just right for someone else.
We have also been hearing that too much of anything can be a one-way ticket to poor health, whether it is too much sugar, too much fat, too much salt, or even too much water.
Levin’s highest systolic reading during her experiment was 145 and using only food swap methods she was able to get it down to a consistent 118. So why was she able to cure her hypertension and show a difference in her diet experiment of 27 points?
While compelling, her story lacks one key point- that being, eliminating processed foods made the difference, not necessarily eliminating salt.
Her experiment basically had 3 parts.
1) Measure sodium intake on a “normal” diet, meaning what she had always eaten.
2) Then hike up the sodium intake and measure again, noting the changes in health and blood pressure.
3) The third piece was to drastically cut out sodium and measure everything again.
Increasing the salt intake was not difficult at all, primarily because the overwhelming majority of her sodium came from processed foods, with very little fresh food during this time.
Eliminating salt was very difficult…not because of the cravings, though. It was because most processed foods are loaded with it to make it taste good and last longer on the shelf.
Processed food also loses an incredible amount of nutritive value in the processing and storage, a variable which was not controlled for in her study.
At the end of her 6-week journey, however, she noted that eliminating most of the processed foods in her diet, such as canned and dried foods, and replacing those items with fresh or frozen varieties made an enormous difference.
And her blood pressure wasn’t the only improvement. Eliminating the inflammation-causing processed foods also eliminated her lethargy, nausea, and headaches.
Learn about food that cause inflammation and type 2 diabetes here… Learn about food that cause inflammation and contribute to arthritis here…
Eliminating ALL processed and unhealthy food is probably too big of a challenge for most people. For a simpler solution to slash your blood pressure, check out our simple blood pressure exercises here…
But first, please leave your comment below.
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Slightly confused by the photograph. Do all of these items represent foods that we should avoid? If so what are the fresh vegetables doing there? If the group on her left represents safe elements, what is Philedelphia and toothpaste doing there?
I have eliminated all processed foods and all meat and most dairy for the last three months. I also eat very little bread because of the salt. My diet is anti inflammatory and plant based. I take fish oil Q10 and Niacin as well as fish oil. I have been tested for diabetes and metabolic syndrome and don't have either.I exercise for 30 to forty minutes five days a week yet I have not been able to get my diastolic blood pressure down. It is always in the 90 to 99 range and my systolic is.
135 to 145. I have tried your 3 meditation exercises religiously for 3 weeks. I am not overweight. Nothing has worked and I am contemplating taking medication. Does anyone have any other ideas? If only it was as simple as the lady mentioned.
its very difficult for ppl on low income to do away with processed foods in their diet … i know this for a fact.. as im in that catagory at present time … so ppl if they can eat fresh home grown veggies and process them at home ie: canned , washed and frozen for later use … etc… then we’re better off.. giving up Red Meat is essential too … and keeping omega 3 (fish , fresh catch of the day ) in diet is essential as well …. good luck to one and all … im still in the process of learning .. not with high B/P ever as of yet.. but trying to keep it within the guide lines of a healthy B/P.. indeed ! ty all for the article .. appreciated ! God Bless …..
to Nena Zeleny , dont mean to alarm u , but vit fish oil is now NOT considered to be of help to ppl after all … the best OMEGA 3 , is in FRESH CATCH OF THE DAY … check it out .. google it !
and meditation is a great stress reducer .. ive been doing meditation for over 30 yrs .. releases stressors that can cause HIGH B/O as well as heart probs…
medications have much to be desired in MY book, of course im not saying DONT take ur medications if prescribed by Dr .. but use caution.. go to the FDA web site and check out the “interactions as well as with drawn drugs “.. see what the medication u take and/or plan to is listed .. and if so .. why ? and if so ..discuss with ur Dr immediately .. watch out for drug interations .. twice now ive nearly died due to the medication interactions ! God Bless .. and i wish u the best….
ps btw.. read what is actually in BREAD .. its not JUST bugs.. trust me with that .. ive researched it . i eat NO bread of any kind ! period!
A plain natural diet using fresh plain foods as much as possible with very little sugar, salt, fat and cholesterol will help a lot. It will take a lot longer than 3 weeks and should become a lifetime change. While it helps the blood pressure, it will also help many other problems. Combining diet with regular exercise will improve quality of life, too, but one must start out slowly and gradually build up physical ability over time.
@ Nigel Milne… is it toothpaste ? or is it a base paste? i admit i didnt read the whole entire article… but i did get the jest of it …
one has to read the labels on all foods now days .. takes twice as long to shop properly.. to be sure… but may indeed save YOUR life ..or the life of a dear loved one and/or friend !
takes me 4 hours to grocery shop … and yes i do use extreme caution!
good luck, and best wishes in this area of concern !
IM NOT OVER WEIGHT AND TAKING MEDICINE EVERYDAY. but occationally it flactuates. i do deep meditation everyday for 30 min avg. bp reading always comes by 130 90 or little high. not taking processed food, vegrterian mostly ,rare i took fish or chicken only , not alcoholic.
THAT IS VERY LOGICAL AND PLANNED.
Wheat could be the culprit. Get rid of wheat and there’s a fair chance you’ll lose weight, have more energy and few headaches and blood pressure may drop. One source I read suggested if was because wheat in the diet leads to increased fluid build up. Lose a litre of water from your body and your blood pressure drops.
I don’t know whether this is true.
But high b lood pressure is multi-factorial, that’s why the Christian’s slow walking and emotional relaxation audio files are important and a holiday, and regulare vigorous exercises, and good sound sleep … Plus the cussedness of the whole situation is that what may lower one person’t blood p[ressure may not lower someone elses.
Niacin is reported to be useful.
Regards
John Miller
For Nina……I think your blood pressure if fine, it is unrealistic unless you are 20 to think you are going to walk around with blood pressure readings of 120. Sounds to me that what you are doing is working and I would leave it alone. Of course I am not a dr. but I have read extensively on the issue. My dr. is fine when my blood pressure is in the 130’s. I believe in the 50’s or 40’s 135 or 145 was considered the norm for anyone over the age of 40. Like everything else, our bodies are not going to give out the same health readings like they would have 20. And of course the better you take care of yourself, the better your health at all ages. I would relax and just keep doing what you are doing. Constant worrying about the numbers will also raise blood pressure
Very interesting! I have very high levels of inflammation. I do not know the levels currently. I do eat lots of nuts each day. I buy lots of dried fruits; but am not eating them regularly, yet. I know inflammation has raised my crt levels. I eat a lot of green, yellow fresh or frozen veggies, however, still eat canned one accasionally. I eat little salt; getting ready to buy natural salt from France or other. It is near time for more labs. My BP is high; diabetes somewhat controlled. Lupus-like disease out of control. Refuse to take drugs recommended by Dr’s for this. I am going to hunt diligently for more fresh veggies and I have a freezer full of frozen. All monies blocked accidently for a time. I am still truckin along. taylor
Good article. short and let us have the important info quickly. THanks!
Interesting! Now if she were to add sea salt to the natural foods then her experiment would be even more interesting and to the point!
@ Nina… Do what you can to remove all sweeteners from your diet. Removing sweet stuff lowers insulin levels which, when elevated from ANY kind of sweetener (artificial AND real) cause inflammation to the endothelial layer of your arteries. The body uses cholesterol for healing the inflammation. However, if inflammation continues, cholesterol builds. The result is that the lumen of the artery (the space within the artery) narrows and your diastolic BP goes up.
It’s not necessarily the sodium or salt in the processed foods that is the cause – salt really NEVER causes hypertension, unless you have it already it may aggravate it…however, there are OTHER INGREDIENTS in MANY processed foods which do show to affect health, weight and hypertension in particular, and that is MSG, NATURAL FLAVORING, HYDROLYZED PROTEINS, SOY DERIVATIVES, – all cousins of flavor enhancers like MSG. They act as ultra-sweet sugar and increase insulin production. Note – they feed MSG to mice and rats for lab experiments when they want to FATTEN them up – so it will do the same with humans….read the book “Healthy Heart Diet” for more details. CANNED foods are the main culprit but not the only ones – NOTE: most “organic” canned products don’t use these bad ingredients.
First off, I'm not Paxton. I'm Paxton's dad. You're not going to like this but I lowered my blood pressure naturally doing one thing 5-6 times a week. I jogged for 30 minutes a day and made sure my heart rate stayed above 70% of my maximum heart rate. Walking won't do it. Maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age. If you're 40 then 220 minus 40 is 180 and 70% of that is 126. I walk every 10 minutes or so and take my pulse rate for 10 seconds off my neck. Multiply by 6 and that's your pulse rate. It takes 2-3 months for this to work. I suspect swimming or cycling would work as well but I'm a runner.
I make sure I eat salt, otherwise I get leg cramps every day. I also take magnesium chloride “oil” rubbed onto the skin. If I take magnesium salts internally I get the runs. However I don’t eat processed foods, except bacon, and my salt intake is less that one teaspoon per day. My BP is high, but varies greatly throughout the day.
There is no magic bullet. Currently i am off warfrin and reduced diltiem to 60mg (was 120mg 3 months ago) still on 300mg of irbesartan. Consultant at the hospital is all for drug free therapy if i can stick to it. 2stone weightloss from not eating processed foods combined with smaller quantities are beginning to make a difference. I’ve had high BP since i was 15 i’m now 53. I don’t expect a cure over a matter of weeks. Last reading 140/70 so still a way to go.
Just wanted to share my exciting news.
3 months ago I had bloodpressure 180/100 climbing steadily each year.
I purchased Christians book on the breathing techniques and started walking 40 minutes a day 5 days a week
I also started taking hawthorn berry capsules
with the breathing techniques I found it difficult to do the whole three, so modified this by just practicing breathing deeply in and out for the first 10 minutes of my walk.
Today my bloodpressure is 130/82, Im so excited and wanted to share this, I put it all down to the walking, deep breathing and hawthorn capsules
re elevated BP: please be aware that stenosis in the arteries can cause this for perfectly fit persons. a condition known as fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) can appear in any artery bed (although primarily renal and carotids) and create issues with BP, some of which cannot be managed by medication, much less diet, exercise, etc. please ask your physician to listen to your artery beds with a stethoscope for a bruit which can indicate an issue. for more information, join us on FB at FMD Chat.
Seriously, this is the most well rounded feature on this topic I’ve ever read. As everyone knows, there’s a ton of information all over the internet on this but it’s more confusing than ever. Finally, an article that just tells it like it is.
It’s so refreshing to discover posts like the ones you article on your internet site. Quite useful looking through. I will hold you bookmarked. Many thanks!
So interesting posts, you wrote the headline you gave, and the meaning was so excited.I am sure people who all like them, and better then, good luck! For more information please visit http://www.safedesign.com.
I think adding a banana a day, and an orange regularly may also help
I think adding a banana a day, and an orange regularly may also help.
Beet root juice helps.
You always post awesome information! Thank you!
Thanks will try this.
Thankyou I have cut out all sweeteners except an occasional bit of honey. But I will eliminate this.
Thanks will try the 70 percent thing. I walk and jog alternatively but will monitor my heart rate and see if it works. By the way thanks to all you kind people who have taken the time to make suggestions on my problem.
To those who have claimed that runing,not waliking will lower your blood pressure,I have news for you and any other that will listen. Although running is good for your heart and lungs in the long run(no pun intended) you will pay for all the running with pain in your knees ,hips,legs ,back. you see your body wasn’t made to do all that running and your bones and disks and joints were not made to take all that pounding. Been there, done that.I used to run 3 to 5 miles a day when I was in my 50’s and by the time I waas 65 I could barely walk without pain.Power walking is better with 5 minutes of fast walking and 2 minutes of a slow jog. Bicycle is better,I do both with stretch exercise. I have to take pain medication most days . Don’t run but walk fast and ride a bicycle,lift lite weights 3 times a week. I am now 72.
My wife had hypertension issues in 2010, suffered an “TIA” (LIGHT STROKE)and has made the same kinds of dietary adjustment as the lady featured in this article, overwhelmingly has regained her full strenght and is much better off now, Thank God.” My website has informatio that can save lives, http://www.charlottekangenwater.com – Change your water, Change your life!
A veterinary named Dr. John Symes may help. His site is Dogtorj.com. After all, Doctors are trained to treat and veterinaries are trained to cure.
appreciate. very good article and will certainly reduce the blood pressure if practiced
You should look into magnesium. I have discovered my magnesium deficiency – no help from doctor’s
I had my BP sky rocket to 235.126 and none of BP meds would bring it down. I would go to the hospital
and they would give me Clondine and get down and send me home. Feb 2011 my friend found me semi-conscience on the bathroom floor. I had been jumping up with cramps in shins and calves and throwing up. They put me in critcal care unit and 5 doctors did all kinds of tests and came up with nothing. I got out of the hospital feeling like crap, no energy, dragging the body around. I went to Walgreen’s and spoke to a lady who was running 2 miles a day and she thought she had a heart attack, went to the hospital, they wanted to knock her out for an angiogram and she wouldn’t let them so they said go to your doctor. Her doctor put her on Magnesium, after 10 years she is still running 2 miles a day. I bought some magnesium that night and took it and could not believe how I felt the next day. $00% better. I have now been on magnesium for 1-1/2 years and am no longer going to the hospital.
Get the book “The MAGNESIUM MIRACLE” by Dr. Carolyn Dean on Amazon.com for $11.00 it is so enlightening.
There i s a certain ratio of Calcium to Magnesium the body must maintain. However, they fortify everything with Calcium, bread, milk, juice, etc. No mention of magnesium ever! Magnesium deficiency causes heart problems, migrain headaches, high blood pressure and many other symptoms. Magnesium relaxes muscles – the heart is a muscle! Dah! Get the book and read it!!!! Do some research on magnesium deficiency, it’s veryh enlightening!
What do you think is plaque? Calcium deposits in the arteries. Dah! Magnesium does over 300 functions in the body. Read about it, please!
Someone mentioned wheat. This is totally correct, as wheat has been refined so much that it just clogs up the entire GI tract, causing many problems such as Chrones, IBS, IBS and Diverticular disorders.
We have found Bentonie Clay & Psyllium Husks get rid of the build up of toxic waste within the GI tract and eliminates parasites, toxins and other unwanted invaders.
The villi within the Colon walls gets crushed when to much wheat is consumned and cealic disease can be the result. We also believe that Diabetes and many others diseases are caused by this over refined grain.
Obviously many of the comments about stress and calming are also very important…I hav efound deep slow breathing to some nice calming music is also beneficial.
Bless you David
To Paxton Amor
I lower my blood pressure 155/100 to 120/80 by drinking apple cider vinegar. That won’t work if you just drink it. I experienced nothing change at the first two weeks since I started drinking apple cider vinegar. I realized that might be my metabolism was to weak and slow. So, I started exercise. When I was running, run faster to push my heart beat to maximum. I drink apple cider vinegar (twice a day) 15 minute before running. I push my blood circulation run faster. In only three days, My blood pressure almost normal, In one week, my lowest pressure was 110/74, you also have to combine your diet. push your heart beat to the maximum limitation that you can tolerate, by doing that, your blood running fast combine the power of apple cider vinegar that will clear up and soften your vessel. The key is workout harder and push your heart beat. anything else won’t work if you don’t workout hard. When your blood pressure come back to normal, you don’t need exercise everyday, schedule 3 to 5 days a week and keep on you diet plan.
Sean Chen.
Some time no matter what yo do your HBPressure will never come down. Because you you may have what I call FREE Radicals gone wild. Your body neutralizes free radicals by producing their own antioxidants. As you grow older your body produces fewer antioxidant enzymes. So the fewer antioxidant enzymes the more FREE Radicals and inflammation in your body. Dr Joe McCord, creator of the most powerful antioxidant. “One pill can eliminate free radicals at
1-Million per second decreasing oxidative stress up to 70% in 30 days.” Go to Mostpowerfulantioxidantdotcom and learn about how the Oxidative Stress Code has been broke. Then help us get the word.