High blood pressure and high cholesterol levels affect a fantastic number of Americans. Many people do not wish to take serious medications with unknown ramifications for a condition that may very well plague them for the rest of their lives if they are not careful. Of course, these same people can limit the effects of high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels by getting proper exercise and changing their diet to eat more healthily. If this is not enough, but, there are some natural remedies and alternative health care measures to be taken. Many of these measures come in the form of supplementation.
Garlic is a well known natural food that can help to lower blood pressure. Of course, nobody wants to eat as much garlic as it would take for this to help! Luckily, it is available in convenient supplement form and is very simple to obtain. Consult your doctor before starting a garlic supplement regimen, as it acts as a blood thinner similar to the way aspirin does. If your doctor gives you the green light to supplement with garlic, you can find capsules in your local health food store or vitamin shop that come with all of the benefits of ‘the real thing’ but without the negative lingering taste or smell that some people don’t delight in.
Coenzyme Q, or CoQ10, is a supplement that has really gained in popularity over the last few years. It, too, can be helpful in reducing blood pressure levels. Unlike most other supplements mentioned here, CoQ10 is an oil-soluble supplement as opposed to a water-soluble supplement. It is widely touted as a powerful antioxidant, and has been known to help with migraine headaches. It is most widely known for its positive effects on the heart, but. Some manufacturers combine this supplement with the herb hawthorn to help prevent high blood pressure and/or lower cholesterol. Hawthorn is an herb that is used by herbalists and those in holistic medicine all the time for the treatment of high blood pressure. It is a small shrub that really bears edible berries, the fruit of which is used in herbal tinctures and remedies.
Another treatment for high blood pressure as well as high cholesterol sounds nearly backwards: It is fish oil. Many people would be surprised to hear that any type of oil is excellent for reversing high cholesterol or lowering blood pressure, but it’s right. There are two types of cholesterol, one of which is ‘terrible’ and one of which is ‘excellent’. Supplementing with fish oil helps to lower ‘terrible’ cholesterol levels, and it is hard for many people to east enough fish to do this without taking a supplement. This is one reason among many that fish oil supplements have become so well loved. Fish oil contains DHA, which is critical for proper brain functioning, but has also been studied for its use in lowering blood pressure.
Fish oil capsules should be chosen carefully, as some people do report having a problem with ‘fish burps’ or unpleasant aftertaste. Also, they do expire more quickly than some other supplements, and many times fish oil should be refrigerated depending on the manufacturer and the type of capsule or oil. Be sure to read the mark carefully so you can store your supplement properly.
A calcium-magnesium-potassium blend can also help with high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels. This supplement combination can be found in your local health food store or vitamin shop, and it is beneficial to buy the complex so that you have no problem remembering to take these three supplements together, which is how they work best for this purpose. Calcium has the added benefit of fortifying and strengthening bones and teeth, while magnesium is helpful for maintaining a sense of cool and well-being. Potassium is a key mineral that helps muscles in the body to contract. It also helps with regular brain and nerve function, and with balance between the body’s cells and their vital fluid.
Folic acid, which is a B vitamin, is also vital for regular blood pressure levels and proper cholesterol levels. Folic acid is essential for a number of bodily functions, and is especially vital in times of cell growth and stress to the body. Pregnant women in particular must make sure to maintain high levels of folic acid. Along with helping to lower blood pressure, it helps reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, and has been known to promote better memory function as well.
Of course, neither this nor any other supplement will really help much if you do not exercise and watch what you eat. Get on a excellent exercise program and tailor your diet according to your physician’s recommendations if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Then, start a healthy supplement regimen like the one indicated above and you will be on your way to better heart health, less stress, and an overall better sense of well-being.
Megan Hazel is a freelance writer who writes about health and wellbeing, often discussing specific items such as vitamins.