Coconut Water: Blood Pressure Help

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, puts many people at risk for developing heart problems or having heart "attacks". As you get older, often the pressure numbers go up and you wind up on prescriptions drugs, maybe for life. Stress and your reaction to it also contribute to this problem. What you eat and how high your weight is will often be the main culprit in high blood pressure. Coconut water might be the answer to your problem!

You can't do too much about getting older or having stress in your life. But you CAN change the foods you eat and the liquids you drink. High fructose corn syrup (and whatever name they are calling it as these days) is found in many drinks and foods. It is one of the unhealthiest ingredients you can put into your body.

Juices, soda, and coffee drinks with all that whipped cream are unconsciously sipped all day long- at your desk, in the car, and sitting on the soccer sidelines. Think about how much sugar you are putting into your body and how hard your cells and organs must work to process that out of your systems. Coconut water is nature's purest drink after fresh, pure water. Will you add more water and more coconut water to rehydrate and de-stress your body?

Sweating, exercising, and then replenishing your body with coconut water purges toxins and keeps your body from retaining water which could increase your sodium levels. Diet and exercise are key in keeping your blood pressure low and your heart healthy and vibrant.

Coconut water has potassium and electrolyte balancing agents. All this will cause your body to excrete water and keep blood pressure levels at optimum numbers.

Coconut water comes in its natural form or with added natural flavors. The most popular brands that people are buying by the case now are O.N.E., VitaCoco, Naked, Zico, and Harvest Bay. These CW's are now showing up in all grocery stores, supermarkets, online, and even in 7-11's!

Eating healthier, drinking more pure water and coconut water, and exercising creates the best 1-2-3 punch against high blood pressure. These are within your control. Your heart will thank you.

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Hyperaldosteronism As a Cause of Hypertension

The adrenal glands are located just above the kidneys on both sides, and are retroperitoneal organs. They have several functions, and among these is the production of several steroid compounds used by the body to control various aspects of metabolism and homeostasis. One of these is aldosterone, which is produced in the adrenal cortex.

Aldosterone is what is called a mineralocorticoid, meaning it helps control the homeostasis of sodium and potassium in the body. Over production of aldosterone can be from a tumor of one or both adrenal glands that over-secretes aldosterone, or from a condition called primary hyperaldosteronism where the adrenal glands just over-produce the steroid.

Hyperaldosteronism is fairly common, being the most common cause of secondary hypertension in adults age 40-64. Secondary hypertension is hypertension caused by an underlying problem and not essential hypertension that occurs as a problem without an apparent cause.

In medical school most physicians were taught to screen for hyperaldosteronism by ordering a serum potassium level, which if low on patients not taking a diuretic or other medication known to cause low potassium levels was a clue to do further evaluation for hyperaldosteronism. It is now known that a low serum potassium is noted in only about 30% of patients with hyperaldosteronism. The best screening test at this time is a serum aldosterone/renin ratio. If the ratio is >20 and the aldosterone level is >15 then hyperaldosteronism is likely and further evaluation, usually by an endocrine specialist is indicated.

This condition is common, required specific treatment, and is likely under diagnosed. In the US we are doing a poor job of diagnosing and treating hypertension with 30% of hypertensive adults unaware of their diagnosis, and over 50% of patients not at goal levels of blood pressure control. Finding and treating the minority of hypertensive patients with hyperaldosteronism will be a big step in the right direction to help improve our overall success in diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.

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Primary Care Physicians Treat Hypertension

Hopedale primary care physicians see and treat many patients with hypertension. High blood pressure is a major cause of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. It can dramatically shorten lives.

These physicians tell their patients with this condition many things to help them. If they're overweight, they'll inform them that their blood pressure can be lowered if they lose some weight. This is due to the fact that the heart has to pump harder to circulate the blood through the entire body when a person is obese.

Staying off salt or sodium is another treatment suggestion. A high salt diet has been proven to raise blood pressure in both men and women. Blood pressure lowering drugs are another way to go for the primary care physician in treating hypertensive patients.

Most of these drugs dilate the arteries to allow the blood to flow with less pressure on the inside of the arterial walls. Other drugs are diuretics or water pills. This type of medication forces water out of the body via urine output, which in turn lowers bodily fluid volume.

Providers of this type of health care also often recommend lifestyle changes to decrease high blood pressure. These include changing to a more healthy diet, exercising more, and cutting down or quitting smoking.

The dietary improvements would focus on eating low fat diary products, lean meats, fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grain fiber, beans, seeds, and nuts. Cooking in olive oil also helps the arteries with blood flow as does taking omega 3 fish oil or flaxseed pills.

The doctor's exercise recommendations would include starting a plan of working out at least three times per week for up to thirty minutes at a time. Then progress should be made up to daily workouts of around an hour each day. These workouts can include cardiovascular training, weight training, stretching for flexibility improvement, and yoga to relax the muscles, including the heart muscle.

Hopedale primary care physicians are expertly trained in treating the very common condition of hypertension. They have decades of combined experience helping a wide range of patients of all ages. When high blood pressure is successfully treated, it can invariably lengthen both the span of an individual's life as well as improve the quality of a person's life for the long run.

It's essential that the condition is diagnosed and treated as early as possible, using all of the aforementioned helpful methods. Patients can rest assured that Hopedale primary care physicians will use their vast knowledge to benefit them in this area for many years to come.

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Hypertension: A Preventive Lifestyle

The cause of hypertension varies from person to person. Some people have a family history of high blood pressure making it more likely that they too will suffer from the condition. For most people, the cause is usually ascribed to stress and or to being overweight and leading a sedentary lifestyle. You cannot do anything about a genetic predisposition to the condition, but the good news is that you can do something about these other contributing factors.

There is no cure for hypertension; the only thing we can do is to manage our condition with a preventative lifestyle. Our goal must be to keep our readings as close to normal levels for our age as possible. Here are five practical tips for doing just that:

# 1. Take regular exercise:

The key to a successful exercise regime is to build it into our daily routine. As little as 20 to 30 minutes of exercise in which your heart rate is elevated is all that we need to do each day. Brisk walking, swimming, cycling and jogging are all good forms of exercise.

Taking daily exercise is a triple win situation for us. Exercise is one of the best antidotes to stress. Combined with a healthy, calorie-controlled diet, it can help you lose weight, which in turn has a beneficial effect on our condition. Exercise reduces our blood pressure levels for almost 24 hours.

# 2. Stop smoking tobacco products:

Smoking tobacco products does not directly cause hypertension. However, the damage it causes to our cardiovascular system is a major risk factor in our condition as well as being a leading cause of other life threatening conditions.

# 3. Take time out each day to relax:

We need to discover what really relaxes us and make it a part of our daily routine. It could be watching an old movie, listening to certain types of music, getting away to the country or taking up drawing or painting. Relaxing has an immediate beneficial effect on our condition. We should also do something positive about our work/life balance and take at least one day each week off work..

# 4.Heart-Healthy Food Choices:

The foods we eat play an important role in how our bodies deals with both high blood pressure and stress. Salt and some herbs will cause our blood pressure levels to skyrocket. A major cause of our hypertension is our high fat, high sodium, processed food rich modern diet. Link that to our modern sedentary lifestyle and there should be little wonder why so may of us are overweight.

We should try to eat at least five portions of fresh, raw or lightly cooked vegetables and fruits each day to help manage your condition making sure that we include at least one portion of leafy green vegetables in our daily diet. Soybeans, potatoes and nuts are superior to animal meat as a source of protein, but that does not mean we should become vegetarian. Choose lean, low-fat white meat such as chicken in preference to the more fatty red meats. Ideally, we should eat one portion of white fish and one portion of oily fish each week.

Calcium and magnesium deficiency can also be a cause of high blood pressure. Green, leafy vegetables are rich in calcium. Almonds and cashews are excellent sources of magnesium. Nuts and seeds are also a source of essential fatty acids, which produce hormone-like substances called prostaglandins that expand the veins and arteries. Foods rich in B vitamins, such as whole grains, green vegetables and eggs, help build resistance to stress.

# 5. A little of what you fancy does you good:

A little wine (especially red wine made from certain grape varieties) or even a tot of whiskey or brandy each day is good for the cardiovascular system. Be warned! The beneficial effects are quickly lost and harm caused if we have too much.

We cannot live without some blood pressure. Serious and even life threatening health issues can arise if our readings become too high for too long. There is no cure for this, only management. The best way to manage our hypertension is by following a preventative lifestyle.

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Going Natural: Cheaper, Safer, and Healthier Way to Deal With Hypertension

Among the many forms of treatment for hypertension, herbal high blood pressure cure is steadily gaining its popularity. As high blood pressure is considered to be a lifelong problem, the conventional approach for the condition includes taking the tablets of prescribed pharmaceutical drugs every day for the rest of one's life. Due to the many drawbacks of this treatment, many patients try to leave taking the tablets after a short time of compliance. Then, the problem recurs and patients are forced to return back to the tablet regimen once again. Because of this, other courses of hypertension treatment such as those methods closest to the living and eating habits of the people are gaining popularity. As a result, the research in herbal treatment for high blood pressure has sparked great interest nowadays.

Many commonly used hypertension medications involve certain unpleasant side effects, but still many patients need to use them. Failure to do so can be fatal and result in stroke, heart attack, and various forms of coronary heart disease and vascular disease. Often, a single hypertension medication is not sufficient to have the desired effects. In such cases, doctors prescribe a combination of these. A combination of hypertensive medications translates to more side effects for the patient, more tablets to take, and a heavier burden on their wallets. In addition, the use of more than one medication tends to interact with the other drugs that the patient might also be taking. There are also many considerations when patients take anti-hypertensive drugs, which include the other drugs they are taking, their co-morbidities, and the side effects. This is because all these drugs interact within the body, which may have a detrimental effect on the system if not assessed properly.

Looking for more natural high blood pressure cures through herbology is the answer to this dilemma. Herbal treatment is a traditional medicine practice that makes use of herbs and spices for their therapeutic or medicinal value to overcome the problem. Background knowledge on the method of preparing and using them are taken from ancient times and traditional sources. The cultural ways of these traditional people contain several references to the use of herbs and spices, including the potency and cures that can be obtained from them. Basing on these sources of information, a set of herbs have been researched, processed, and proven in modern times to have some positive effects in the treatment and control of high blood pressure.

There are a number of options from which people can choose to deal with their elevated blood pressure. Aside from adapting to a healthy lifestyle, physical exercise and adequate nutrition, they, too need to maintain intake of medication. If they are looking for natural high blood pressure cures, herbal medicines are the best choice for their health. Out on the market, there are more herbal medicines to choose from that are proven safe and effective. They don't cause any of the side effects associated with pharmaceutical medicines. Prescriptions are not needed to avail of these herbal medicines, but it is best to consult with the physician when people have decided to turn to them. Lastly, the relative costs of these herbal medications are far cheaper compared to the many pharmaceutical agents that are prescribed to patients.

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Article Submitted On: February 04, 2011

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Recipes to Lower Your High Blood Pressure

A lot of people in the West suffer from high blood pressure brought on by being obese or/ |and the high levels of stress that contemporary life provokes. Most people are told to lose weight, take up yoga or hiking or take tablets for life. This means that most individuals end up taking tablets for life, because lifestyle alterations are so difficult to achieve.

However, there is one enjoyable manner of decreasing your blood pressure and that is eating tasty food that does not need additional salt, because it is flavoured by other means. Here are three such recipes.

Recipe One: France

Leeks Vinaigrette (Poireaux En Salade)

Serves 4

12 leeks
1/4 cup olive oil
4 tspn vinegar of your choice
black pepper, fresh ground
1 tbls fresh parsley, chopped
mustard to taste

PREPARATION:

Clean the leeks; cut off most of the green bits and wash meticulously, split if required, under cold running water. If they are substantial, cut them lengthways; each bit ought to be about the size of a large stalk of asparagus.

Tie them into bundles in two places, put them in boiling salted water just enough to cover, and cook slowly for 25 minutes, or until they are softish yet not lifeless. Drain them well (and be sure to save the broth to add to a soup).

The leeks may be presented in a serving dish or put on individual plates. Make your vinaigrette in a bowl, adding mustard to taste, and whip the dressing well until it is almost opaque, or emulsified; pour it on top of the leeks.

Recipe Two: Germany

Birnensuppe (Pear Soup)

Serves 2

2 tbspn raisins
1 tbspn dry sherry
2 small pears, cored, peeled and sliced
1 1/2 cup water
1 inch cinnamon stick
1 pinch crushed aniseed
2 tspns granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoons lemon juice

In small bowl combine raisins and sherry; set aside.

In 1-quart saucepan combine pears, water, cinnamon stick, and aniseed; bring to a boil and cook until pears are very soft, about 15 minutes. Remove cinnamon stick and let cool. Transfer to food processor and process until smooth; pour into bowl or container and mix in raisin mixture, sugar, and lemon juice. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled.

Recipe Three: Greece

Fried Swordfish With Mediterranean Spices

Serves 4

1/2 cups white wine vinegar
1/2 tspn paprika
1/2 tspn red pepper flakes, dried
1/2 tspn oregano
1/2 tspn cumin, ground
1/2 tspn thyme
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 lb swordfish, cut in 1" articles
olive oil for frying
1/2 cup white flour

PREPARATION:

Mix first 8 ingredients in a medium non-reactive bowl. Add swordfish pieces; toss to coat. Cover and let stand at room temperature at least 1 hour. (Can be marinated for up to 3 hours.)

TO COOK:

Heat oven to 200F. Heat oil in a frying pan or an electric deep fryer to 365F. Move swordfish from marinade to a colander. Drain swordfish; throw away marinade. Pat swordfish pieces dry with paper towels, then toss in flour.

Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, fry swordfish until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain swordfish pieces on paper towel; transfer to a heatproof dish but keep them warm in the oven until ready to serve. (Can be kept warm in the oven up to 1/2 hour.)

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Easier Than What You Think: Ways To Lower Blood Pressure Naturally

Hypertension is sometimes called the "silent killer". People who have it are often symptom-free. Because it is considered to be a LIFELONG condition, elevated blood pressure levels should be monitored at regular intervals. According to statistics, between 28% and 31% of the adults in United States have hypertension (Fields, Burt, Cutler, et.al. 2004).

A number of convenient and practical ways are available to reduce high blood pressure. These include the natural ways to reduce high blood pressure that lay on one's own hands. Keep in mind that prevention of hypertension is better and easier than cure. Before even developing with the condition as one grows older, it is best to prevent such from happening.

Start dealing with your weight. Get healthy by ensuring that your current weight is appropriate for your height. When you carry excess weight, employ healthy weight loss programs. Exercise daily to help keep and maintain a fit physique. Living sedentarily only adds more layers of fat to your body as more of the food you consume is converted to stored energy by the body. Go for brisk walks or power walks early in the morning or late in the afternoon, whichever time you are available and well-rested. On most days of the week, have a cardiovascular work-out at the gym for 30 minutes to help maintain a healthy heart. Slow swimming or easy cycling for 30 minutes is also enough. Regular, moderate physical activity has been shown to help strengthen the heart and let it use oxygen more efficiently. This approach is one easy way to lower high blood pressure naturally. It can be easily incorporated in your daily routines.

Don't overwork yourself, and have time to relax. Use slow, deep-breathing exercises and techniques. It allows greater expansion of the lungs and more oxygen to flow through the heart and other parts of the body. Perform for 5 minutes every morning upon awakening and in the evening before sleeping. Do this by inhaling deeply through the nose and at the same time expanding your belly; then, exhale slowly through your mouth with pursed lips to release all the tension. Listen to soft or slow music at the same time, as this also helps relax and calm the mind. Other meditative practices can also be utilized, such as yoga and tai chi. These help by reducing stress hormones in the body, which significantly raise your blood pressure when on constantly high levels in the blood stream. The practice of deep breathing exercises and relaxation techniques is another simple way to reduce high blood pressure naturally.

Proper and adequate nutrition is equally important. Eat a nutritious diet, specifically more on high-fiber foods such as vegetables, fresh fruits, and whole grains. Maintain a high-potassium and low-sodium intake. Take foods high in potassium such as sweet potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, orange juice, peas, cantaloupes, honeydew melon, prunes and raisins. Potassium plays a major role in the heart's sustenance and strength of contractions. On the other hand, sodium intake should be lessened. High sodium levels in the body causes water retention, thereby leading to increased blood volume. When blood volume increases, the pressure within the blood vessels also raise leading to the worsening of the condition. Avoid rich sources of sodium that include salt, seasoning blends, spices, herbs and processed foods such as canned goods and fast-food meals. Lastly, take in heart-healthy food supplements. Make sure you get optimum amounts with balanced natural whole food supplements. Fish oil capsules also help lower triglycerides and cholesterol in the body. This DASH diet indicated for hypertension is a practical approach to help lower high blood pressure naturally.

Go decaf and don't smoke. Studies have shown that caffeine in coffee significantly increases blood pressure by tightening and narrowing the blood vessels and magnifying the effects of stress. Also, nicotine from smoking causes blood vessel constriction and faster beating of the heart. As blood is more viscous, its flow through the blood vessels becomes sluggish which worsens the already-increased blood pressure. Instead of having coffee, take a cup of tea. Tea contains hibiscus that releases phytochemicals to help keep the body healthy and the blood flow adequate.

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