plunka5 - Posted - 11/15/2009:  19:53:20

Any suggestions on this? I would rather try to bring my blood pressure down with a more "natural" approach with organic substances rather than the latest, greatest pharmaceutical pill or capsule. Thank you for your suggestions!

I'm exercising regularly, just can't seem to eat right, and leave the bad food alone...but I've got to start now. High blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer run in my family's genes.

Banjoitus - Posted - 11/15/2009:  20:00:55

Walking more than anything else seems to get the blood pressure down. I used to frequent a gym, and I would work out pretty hard one night, and walk on a treadmill the next. After a good up hill walk, and I was settled down, there was a significant drop in my blood pressure.

KE - Posted - 11/15/2009:  20:08:41

Like Banjoitus, regular exercise has done the trick for me, but it takes a lot of it, in my case about 90 min per day of vigorous exercise with weights and aerobic walking.

I started a few years ago at about 145/95. Medicine took it down to about 130/85. But now after a year of rigorous exercise, it's 110/65 and I'm tapering off the meds.

It would be a lot easier to find some 'magic' food to eat, but I don't believe there is such a thing.

chip arnold - Posted - 11/15/2009:  20:27:07

"just can't seem to eat right"

Start right there. The first step in a "more "natural" approach with organic substances ......" is to eat a more natural diet. This summer I changed my diet completely. I've changed to complete veganism which may be more than you want to do but lessening your intake of red meat, refined flours, fried food, etc. is a lot easier than you may think. I've stopped eating processed, canned (salt) and refined foods. I do eat a lot of raw veggies and a lot of veggies grilled on a Foreman type grill. I've lost 40+ pounds. I have COPD from all the years that I smoked and in early July I couldn't walk to the road and back witout stopping to rest. Now I walk briskly for 2 - 3 miles a day without stopping. My blood pressure and heart rate have gone down 25 - 30 points across the board. I'm more energetic and my concentration seems to be better than it was.

**********************
Take what is given
Give what is taken

Chip Arnold

raybob - Posted - 11/15/2009:  20:40:33

I might try walking, or some other regular exercise that you like depending on your condition, and some modern-day equivalent to TM (transcendental meditation) to help quiet your mind. Anxiety and stress will get your cortical steroid hormones flowing which will get your BP elevated. The everyday stress that we live with that's connected to our jobs and our lives can be deadly for some in the long run. Exercise, diet, weight loss, and salt intake are the "big four" to watch. If I exercise enough I don't have to watch so much what I eat (trade-offs), but the quiet time, or meditation, was important for me to establish early when I was younger and I caught myself with HBP. I was way too stressed. Good for you for looking for a cure within you. Good luck.

Ray

"We learn from history that we do not learn from history." --G. Santayana

CW Spook - Posted - 11/16/2009:  07:04:07

The w'hol'e idea is to relieve stress. I think that starts with a good breakfast, something like 3-4 eggs scrambled, 5 or 6 pieces of bacon and a couple pieces of homemade toast with organic butter and homemade jam. Good exercise is essential. The very best kind is beating the crap out of someone who desperately needs it, followed by a nice lunch of bean soup and a grilled cheese sandwich with a big glass of milk. Relaxation is important, so leave an hour or so for a nap before going fishing for the remainder of the afternoon. Once you've put away the gear, reward yourself with about 4 fingers of good single-malt scotch on the rocks and then go light the grill. After dinner of sirloin, baked potato,and a nice glass of pinot noir, settle in for an evening watching Cops.

There...now don't you feel better?

Rick

"The King has note of all that they intend, by interception which they dream not of. "

Henry V, Act ll, Scene 2.

KE - Posted - 11/16/2009:  07:13:19

LOL. I also like a good bit of organic butter and sour cream from BST-free cows on the baked potato accompanying my free range sirloin. Thanks, Rick!

dingo - Posted - 11/16/2009:  07:14:34

Exercise is a good start, take time out, shut the phones off!! For about 30 minutes aday, do something you enjoy and relaxes you, NO interferrances.

Now for the biggest part, change your diet. NO, caffiene, NO funky white bread from the grocery store, don't care what the commercials, and the packages said, this stuff is killing US citizens. Stay away from anything with refined sugar, flour, rice. White rice is not good for you, all the good stuff is taken out of these products.

Drink water, and herbal teas, NO sodas,( even caffiene free, ) Whole grain breads, vegys from a fresh market, peeled and boiled potatoes are NOT healthy, stay with baked or boiled potatoes with the skin on.

If you go to a health food store they can help you out more on the diet, after awhile you will no what to look for and be able to shop at a regular grocier and get good stuff. But besure and read labels, can't trust what the front of the box says.

If you are serious about this, there is an old book out by Jethro Kloss, it is called Back to Eden. It literally tells you all about diets and health. You will be amazed when you read it. He is a doctor from pre WWII, and has helped people from all over.

Jill

What Happens in the Corn Field, Stays in the Corn Field.

Edited by - dingo on 11/16/2009 07:17:58

edsnyder - Posted - 11/16/2009:  07:17:27

My BP was up between 150/100 and 140/90. My exercise was limited by a back injury and I couldn't bo as much as needed to lower it. I started taking Fermented Cod Liver oil every morning and have almost gotten used to the taste. My BP has settled out at 126/80. If you want more info on what brand I am using let me know and I will send you the info, tomorrow. The bottle is at home.

Ed e

You're only young once, but you can be immature forever!

chip arnold - Posted - 11/16/2009:  07:25:52

Here's a link to a vegetarian recipe site. This is a PETA site. You may or may not care for PETA but you will find good information and good recipes here. Even if you continue to use meat in your diet, cutting way down on it will help you. Vegetarian and whole foods dishes are a good thing for you to explore.
http://www.vegcooking.com/

**********************
Take what is given
Give what is taken

Chip Arnold

Louisiana Rose - Posted - 11/16/2009:  07:44:21

Cut out salt in your diet as much as possible, especially the 'invisible salt in pre- packed and processed food, you'd be surprised how much you will find they contain if you read the labels

If you are gonna be out of date, do it right

flake - Posted - 11/16/2009:  09:19:04

One word......"Leeches"!


mike

You can't ride home on a bowl of goat. I've always said that.

Banjo - Posted - 11/16/2009:  12:24:03

quote:

---

Originally posted by flake

One word......"Leeches"!


mike

You can't ride home on a bowl of goat. I've always said that.

---

snakeherd - Posted - 11/16/2009:  12:50:23

Learn to love fresh vegetables and fruit. Stuff yourself full of them whenever you're hungry. Keep the red meat to a rare treat and in small portions. Don't drink pop at all - diet or otherwise. Drink a lot of water.

This is a corny saying, but: "Eat to live" not "live to eat".

Scott

dawgdoc - Posted - 11/16/2009:  13:28:19

Okay, I'll be the first to say it, but sometimes diet and exercise simply isn't enough. I have a pretty darn healthy diet (zero processed sugar) and am quite fit, but the BP just wouldn't come down. I inherited it. Yes, there can be a genetic component. A traditional old diuretic pharmaceutical is non-threatening and about 4 bucks a month. But, it doesn't replace a good diet and exercise. I prefer 7-8 slices of bacon myself....

Texasbanjo - Posted - 11/16/2009:  14:25:14

Caveat: be very careful using advice from a non-medical person, it could cause more harm than good. There are many excellent blood pressure medications that don't cost an arm and a leg. My husband takes one that costs less than $4 a month. He is very careful about what he eats (heart healthy diet per his doctor's wishes), exercises every day and still has a blood pressure problem without medication. Hopefully, you can take care of your problem with proper diet and exercise, but if not, ask your dr. for a generic blood pressure medication, which will no doubt be very inexpensive.

Let's Pick!
Texas Banjo

raybob - Posted - 11/16/2009:  15:21:19

Texasbanjo, Yes, you are correct in that most free advice is worth about what it costs. However there are a lot of hypertension patients in this world that wouldn't necessarily have to be on any medicine if they would only make the necessary diet and life-style changes. It's surprising the number of people when faced with changing their diet and increasing their exercise level that would just as soon start taking pills because to do otherwise they consider to be too much hassle. To me seeing a doctor on a somewhat regular basis for him to check my BP and labs to see if I need my med adjusted is way too much hassle. Also having a diagnosis in writing that you have hypertension means that you now have a pre-existing condition, and this may put you in a pigeon-hole in the insurance company's office that in the future you'd rather not be in (Can you say,"health care reform" ?).

Granted, some people need to take HBP meds because they can't help the condition any other way. Some don't need to take the meds but they take them because it's easier than life-style changes. And in plunka5's case he may be able to also ward off or delay a possible onset of diabetes (most likely Type 2) with diet and exercise changes. I think his attitude is healthy and should be encouraged. All this info is available on-line, it's nothing new.

Ray

"We learn from history that we do not learn from history." --G. Santayana

Edited by - raybob on 11/16/2009 20:11:52

chip arnold - Posted - 11/16/2009:  16:09:15

What Ray said. My dr never mentioned my weight even as I gained almost sixty pounds in a few years. The combination of losing weight and eating a healthy diet has made a huge difference. Suggesting someone lose weight and eat healthy food is not dangerous advice. Nobody has suggested that anyone stop taking their medications. But if you change your bad habits and the bp goes way down, it's time to ask your dr if it's safe to quit or go on a lower dose.

**********************
Take what is given
Give what is taken

Chip Arnold

plunka5 - Posted - 11/16/2009:  17:23:50

Thanks all! I have read all the posts with great interest. I was once a commited vegitarian for six years when I lived on the N.C. coast (away from pit-cooked bbq and my favorite cheeseburgers). I never disliked that diet, but sometimes it was tough to get enough protein w/o meat! I've inheritted generic traits that predispose me to diabetes (mom and dad), high blood pressure (dad and mom to a lesser extent), and my mom is 85, and a five-year survivor of colon cancer. My biggest problem is not taking the time for a proper diet. At work and away from work convenience has turned my diet habits to crap! I'm desperately trying to wien myself from soft drinks (what a misnomer!!!) and processed meats and foods.

I'm just about 49 (in February), and stay relatively fit except for my weight...I'm about 20 to 30 lbs. over where I want to be in weight. I appreciate all of the suggestions, and really do fear going to the doctor at this point because of the "conditions" clause in my insurance at work. I don't have very much stress in my life...I think my condition is due to poor diet and genetics. I will report back in this thread with my chosen treatment and my progress or lack of. Thanks everyone!

Peter O - Posted - 11/16/2009:  20:50:55

MIchael, High Blood pressure runs in our family, I have been medicated for 15 years, The most effective action i have taken was to lose 25 pounds . Worked a treat 135 over 82. Do it , A stroke is forever. Good luck, Pete.

deuceswilde - Posted - 11/16/2009:  21:03:06

"Not getting enough protein from a vegetarian diet" is my favorite line. The fact is that people consume too much protein, and that can make you fat. In addition, it can cause all sorts of health problems. Americans are protein obsessed.

The US government is even coming around, the new food pyramid has the average man needing only about 6oz of beans, meat, etc. a day, 4oz is about the size of a deck of cards.

Remember, the factory farms make a lot of money feeding us overweight and sick animals. They spend a lot of money convincing us that it is safe to consume.

Just like on the BHO when someone badmouths a sponsor and the topic gets locked or vanishes, the media wont bite the hand that feeds them. Fast food pays the bills. This keeps them reluctant to speak truthfully about the food we eat.

Google "factory farm videos" and "factory farm lagoons" to see where our food really comes from.

No "happy cows" there.






-Joel Hooks

Success always comes to those who have the money to buy it.

-The Adventures of a Banjo Player, 1884 p.26

deuceswilde - Posted - 11/16/2009:  21:07:39

Speaking of how bad the information is given to us about food from the news, a fun experiment is to google "the truth about the mcdonald's coffee case,"

I guess Mcdonald's is too big an advertiser to feed the real story to us.

-Joel Hooks

Success always comes to those who have the money to buy it.

-The Adventures of a Banjo Player, 1884 p.26

janolov - Posted - 11/17/2009:  05:43:42

I am following a diet model that is called DASH. Eat more vegetables (and right vegetables) and avoid salt. You can read more her: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/pub...new_dash.pdf

.

Jan-Olov

banjoannie - Posted - 11/17/2009:  10:11:03

How about alcohol???I'm allways worried that......
beer Loveing Banjoannie

dat - Posted - 11/17/2009:  10:16:59

quit work, get away from the telephone and people, my blood pressure is always better on the weekend than during the week, 'speccially towards teh end of the week

noli illegitimi carborundum



everybody needs at least one gun for every year old that they are, having a few extras don't hurt

dingo - Posted - 11/18/2009:  06:51:06

Pack your bags and move to Mexico, fresh fruit all you can eat, cheap living, 1.00 a day health care, free meds, and the doctor comes to your house. Taxes are cheap and you can let your kids play safely and don't have to worry about being robbed. I can't wait tell we go.

Jill

What Happens in the Corn Field, Stays in the Corn Field.