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Remedies And Supplements For High Blood Pressure
Posted On 2009-04-17 , 7:31 AM
Untreated high blood pressure can damage the arteries, brain, eyes, heart and kidneys. This silent killer seldom reveals any symptoms and should not be considered an unavoidable consequence of aging, it can be controlled. You can lower your blood pressure by changing your lifestyle and diet.
Blood pressure between 120/80 to 140/90 is considered normal. 140/90 to 160/105 is considered mild hypertension. The upper figure is the systolic pressure (the pressure when the heart contracts). The lower figure is the diastolic pressure (the pressure as the heart relaxes between beats).
The severity of high blood pressure is ranked according to the diastolic (lower figure) reading. A diastolic reading of 105 to 120 is considered moderately severe. A constant reading greater than 120 is severe hypertension.
Factors that influence blood pressure include a high consumption of salt, fat, stimulants, alcohol, stress, smoking , low potassium intake and a lack of exercise. For some individuals, artificial sweeteners, oral contraceptives and diet pills elevate blood pressure. However, in 60% of all cases of hypertension, excess body weight is a major factor.
For the over weight, each 2 pounds lost results in a one point drop in both systolic and diastolic readings. To get a blood pressure reduction from weight loss alone you need to lose at least 10 pounds.
For those with hypertension who are salt sensitive, limit your salt intake to 500 milligrams a day by making use of low sodium products. Season with herbs or granulated kelp. Increasing your dietary fiber also helps keep blood pressure down. Adding sugar to a high salt diet will increase your blood pressure faster than the high salt diet alone.
The supplements listed below; taken in addition to your daily multi vitamin and mineral supplements, have shown excellent results in reducing hypertension. These remedies should be used only in consultation and with approval of your physician.
B complex supplements - to improve circulatory function. Lecithin contains the B vitamins choline and inositol, which help prevent fatty deposits in the arteries and dilates blood vessels.
Vitamin C supplements with bioflavonoids maintain the health of blood vessels and improves the potassium ratio by assisting in sodium excretion.
Calcium and magnesium supplements help regulate heart contractions, calms the nerves and helps counterbalance stress.
Exercise. People who maintain their physical fitness are less likely to develop hypertension. But if you already have it, there is evidence that regular aerobic exercise can lower blood pressure 3 to 15 points in a few short months. Bike riding, brisk walks or swimming for 30 minutes, 3 days a week are effective in improving your cardiovascular health.
Garlic is an excellent remedy for dilating blood vessels and reducing blood pressure. One or two minced cloves of garlic or garlic capsules taken with 2 meals a day are recommended.
The following herbal teas may be considered for lowering blood pressure; alfalfa, chamomile, catnip, fennel, hawthorn berry, rosemary, sage and skullcap.
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Herbal Nutrition For Immune System Health
Posted On 2009-04-05 , 10:13 AM
 If you take care of your immune system, it will take care of you. It is designed to protect you from disease. A healthy immune system is the key to the prevention and treatment of disease. The key to a healthy immune system is proper intake of nutritious elements.
The vitamins and minerals contained in herbs are vital to health. They supply the herbal nutrition which the cells use to strengthen resistance to disease. Herbs are natural, healing medicine with numerous health benefits.
The specific regions of the human body that are associated with the immune system involve the blood, the bowels, the circulation, nervous system and the thymus gland.
There are many ways to strengthen your immunity. Eating properly is one of them. Every nutrient affects the immune system. Zinc is vital for keeping the immune system healthy.
Proper nutrition is crucial to keeping a clean blood stream, which keeps the immune system in tip top health. When toxins circulate around in the blood stream they can poison the cells which diminish immunity to disease causing a person to feel sick and run down. Keeping your blood stream clean with proper foods and herbs is extremely important.
"Intestinal toxemia" is brought on by eating the wrong amounts and types of food. These are foods which certain bacteria grow vigorously on and produce toxins. The toxins are then carried through the blood stream to the rest of your body. Symptoms of "intestinal toxemia" include fatigue, gastrointestinal conditions, headaches, nervousness, skin problems and others.
Good circulation is also essential to the health of our immunity. It is responsible for increasing blood supply to the entire body and the heart muscle. Proper diet, exercise and stress management are three key factors that help protect the heart to ensure it does not give out before its time.
The nervous system connects the body to the outside world and reacts to the environment. It controls all the functions of the body and regulates the activities of all the other body systems.
The thymus is the master gland of the immune system. It is responsible for producing white blood cells, the cells of the immune system that protect our bodies against both infectious disease and foreign materials.
Stress removes nutrients from our bodies at an astonishing rate. In a sense, stress is a toxin, because it causes free radicals to form in the body.
Herbs can help relax the body, without side effects. The herb passion flower will relieve the effects of stress. It is a natural tranquilizer and will relax tension in the nervous system and helps to control high blood pressure. It tones the nerve centers, improves circulation and gives nutrition to feed the nerves. It contains passiflorine, which is similar in effect to morphine, however, it is non-narcotic and there is no possibility of addiction.
Severe emotional stress can cause shrinkage of the thymus gland.
Herbs that protect the immune system are known as "sulfur herbs". They contain the element sulfur which dissolves acids in the system. In addition they acts as antiseptics and strengthens the blood and tissues.
Herbal Supplements For Immune System Health
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