Can a simple natural remedy really cut your risk of stroke by 34 percent?
A Cambridge-trained scientist says it can. His findings have been reviewed by Harvard Medical School. And they’ve given them the thumbs up.
As we explained on Tuesday, high blood pressure (HBP) is a life-threatening condition for millions of Americans. And the drugs that combat it pose serious side effects of their own.
That’s why Professor Graham MacGregor is seeking a natural remedy. One that does the same job as drugs. But without any of the risks.
He was trained at Cambridge University in England. He’s a professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at St. George’s University of London. And he’s the Chairman of the Blood Pressure Association of the U.K.
Seeking a Natural Remedy
Prof. MacGregor and his team have shown that you can lower blood pressure with a natural remedy.
Potassium chloride is the main component in HBP drugs. So the team looked at dietary potassium. And for the first time they directly compared the two side-by-side.
The potassium in certain foods is different compared to what’s in drugs. It’s potassium citrate rather than chloride.
But that didn’t stop them. They compared both types of potassium and their effect on HBP in a series of tests.
“Increasing [dietary] potassium [has] the same effect on blood pressure as potassium chloride,” says Prof. MacGregor.
His team has done a series of studies to confirm this. And they’ve come to an interesting conclusion. They believe that modern diets are the root cause of HBP.
“Until recently, humans consumed a diet high in potassium,” says Prof. MacGregor. “However, with the increase of processed food, there has been a large decrease in potassium intake.”
The Missing Dietary Link
He says processed foods have potassium stripped out.
There’s another reason why we’re lacking potassium. That’s because we eat fewer fruits and vegetables.
Instead, we’re switching to potassium-lite carbs and grains.
In fact, Prof. MacGregor says our potassium intake is now “only one third of our evolutionary intake.”
Several other clinical studies back this up.
Further Research Supports Findings
These studies show that a high-potassium diet lowers blood pressure.
A research team at the Hypertension Unit of Ben Gurion University in Israel have revealed a dramatic related finding.
They conducted several trials to see how tomato extract effects blood pressure.
They took 54 people with HBP. They treated half of them with tomato extract. The other half received a placebo.
People taking the tomato extract averaged a reduction of more than 10 mmHg in systolic pressure (the top number on your blood pressure reading) and more than 5 mmHg in diastolic pressure (the lower number).
That’s a dramatic increase. A further study showed that a reduction of just 5 mmHg can decrease your risk of stroke by 34 percent.
Take Control of Your Blood Pressure
So what can you do to lower your blood pressure? Simple dietary changes can really make a difference.
The best foods that are rich in potassium are bananas, cantaloupes, papayas, and honeydews. But we recommend your primary source of potassium be tomatoes.
That’s because those other foods have a high glycemic score that triggers a hormonal response. One that leads to weight gain. And weight gain is also a factor in HBP.
So stick with tomatoes because they have a lower glycemic score. Try to get them into your diet at least twice a day to lower your blood pressure.
Be sure to combine them with light exercise and a healthy, low-carb, high-protein diet. Research shows that losing just 10 pounds can dramatically lower your blood pressure.
We’ve just finished an extensive report on HBP. In it, we look at one little-known solution that may help you combat HBP. For a complete guide on managing your blood pressure subscribe to our in-depth health advisory service right here.
And, on a personal note, I wanted to wish you a very healthy and merry Christmas from all of us at NHD “Health Watch.”
Happy holidays!
To your health,
Ian Robinson,
Managing Editor,
NHD “Health Watch”