Lowering Blood Pressure

[coccinelle]

Follow up of my aim in lowering blood pressure before medication; how long can it take after changing exercise and sodium input as well as other changes to see an effect? Weeks or months? I've changed things over the past month but mainly a lot over the past week and no change at all! I must admit I feel better but the BP stays the same!

[woofgang]

If you are worrying about it, that will have an effect. I know its a tall order but managing stress really can help.

[gness]

I know Sqad will laugh but beetroot juice can help lower BP. I think pomegranite juice will too but I stick to the beetroot. x

[DaisyNonna]

Love pomegranate juice. Think it is good for me so I feel better!

[grasscarp]

The beetroot juice effect has been in the news this week and I am going to buy some and give it a go.

[coccinelle]

True woofgang; worrying about it isn't going to help.... if only I could lead a chilled out life! Gness, when you say beetroot juice where do you get that from? Do you make your own???..... I have heard of promegrante juice but if only you press it yourself so quite a difficult task on a day to day basis!

[DaisyNonna]

Pomegranate juice found at some health stores and a few Co-ops.

[gness]

I can get it in my local Deli now but used to buy from Holland and Barrett, Coccinelle. The one I am drinking now is Eden organic...I love it as a drink and my BP is nicely low. I'm not sure but think you can buy it in tablet form if you don't like the taste. Some of my clients who were having massage to help high BP did this I believe.

[coccinelle]

Right so before I go off to bed: :-) can you tell me how much of this beetroot juice I need to drink per day and how much pomegranate juice I have to drink per day? is that the concentrated sort as i can get that in my supermarket but it's concentrated and quite sweet! I'll do it but need to know the quantities.

[LazyGun]

It probably will not hurt you to drink pomegranate juice or beetroot juice in an effort to lower blood pressure - but honestly, the evidence to support such a causal role is slender to non-existent.

Pomegranate Juice and Lower Blood Pressure - just one study that I can find, consisting of just 10 individuals.And those participants drank half a liter of pomegranate juice a day.

Beetroot juice and Lower Blood Pressure - just one accessible study that I can find - consisting of just 15 individuals.

So, I would just caution against too high an expectation of the benefits of such claims.

Stick to the fundamentals, if you want to substantively lower blood pressure. Cut out as much salt as you possibly can - that includes cutting out salty snacks, and it means checking how much salt your food has - people are often surprised at how salty cheese is, of example.

Cut out smoking, if you are a smoker.

Consider your alcohol intake, and whether you need to cut down a bit.

And body mass and weight can be really important. If you are carrying a few too many pounds, then cutting back on calories and increasing exercise can only be a good thing.

Achieving a significant reduction in your blood pressure - significant to warrant not taking medications - is not something that can be done overnight. In all seriousness, it is likely to be a project that will take months - and you then have to control these factors, going forward.

So do not lose heart, but please be aware that this is not a sprint - it is a marathon.

[coccinelle]

Thanks lazygun: I am not at all overweight, I don't smoke, I've lowered salt intake, I'm exercising more, I've cut down on wine so hopefully I'll get somewhere in a few months. Your 'it's not a sprint it's a marathon' will help me along!
I'll have the pomegranate juice and beetroot juice to boost me along (if I can find it!)

[LazyGun]

I am sure it can't hurt - I quite like pomegranate juice myself, as it happens, although i would not want to drink half a liter a day :)

Not sure i would enjoy beetroot juice though :)

[boxtops]

coccinelle, Tesco do a really nice beetroot juice

[jomifl]

When I lost 2 stone my BP dropped frm 140 to 125.(based on the averageof the middle 3 of 5 measurements taken every morning)

[LazyGun]

For those that are overweight, losing weight is probably the most significant thing you can do to reduce your blood pressure ,and that seems to apply to a substantial proportion of the population...

[Wak]

I get my pomegranate juice from Tesco. It's also supposed to bring down the PSA reading and to help with prostate problems but I can't see that being much of a problem to Coccinelle.

[ST24]

Magnesium should help to reduce blood pressure. Be careful of potssium intake as that can lead to higher bp.

[Sqad]

For God"s sake....it will take years....if ever.
Stop all this salt business and get on a low dose hypotensive agent.

[coccinelle]

I've read that potassium intake can help lower BP not raise it. It's sodium that raises it.
sqad, that's very encouraging...
Not near any tescos over here but will look in local hypermarket.
Thanks for your support.

[Sqad]

coccinelle

\\\sqad, that's very encouraging... \\\\

I just have the feeling that you will only accept the posts that suit your cause..........I will not enter the discussion again..........but good luck and i wish you well in your endeavors.