Tips On Preventing Hypertension

• A low-carbohydrate, low-fat, high-fibre diet, shiitake and maitake mushrooms, cabbage.
• REDUCE SALT INTAKE
  Salt is caustic and water has to be retained so as to neuralize its acidic effects. Water retention contributes to rising blood pressure.

• VITAMINS
  Vitamins C and E are antioxidants that protect the arteries and heart muscle against damage initiated by the free radicals.

  Recommended supplement dosage : vitamin C - 1000 mg; vitamin E - 400 IU

• COENZYME Q10
  Also known as ubiquinone. This lipid is present in almost every plant, animal and human cell (inner membranes of mitochondria).
  CoQ10 can be manufactured by the body but when there is a lack of proper nutrition or flaws in its synthesis, deficiency does occur.
  The formation of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) requires at least 8 vitamins, the amino acid tyrosine and other trace elements.
  Also, cholesterol-lowering drugs such as lovastatin, pravastatin and simvastain can inhibit the production process.
  CoQ10 is crucial in the production of energy; improves the cell’s ability to utilize oxygen, said to increase celluar energy production; protects against heart disease; prevents LDL cholesterol oxidation.
  Since it can promote blood thinning, consult your physician before combining with blood thinners like Coumadin.

  Food sources - broccoli, spinach, peanuts, anchovies, mackerel, salmon, sardines, pork, beef heart.

  Source : “The Coenzyme Q10 Phenomenon: The Breakthrough Nutrient that Helps Combat Heart Disease, Cancer, Aging and More” Stephen Sinatra (McGraw Hill, 1998); Yamagami T et al “Bioenergetics in clinical medicine. VIII. Adminstration of coenzyme Q10 to patients with essential hypertension” Research Communication on Chemistry, Pathology and Pharmacology (1976) 14(4):721-7

• NONI
  A natural tropical fruit found to contain over 150 nutraceuticals which include 20 amino acids, 9 of which are essential because they are not produced in the body, vitamin A, all the B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene, ursolic acid, linoleic acid, proxeronine (bromelain), pectin, phytosterols, calcium, magnesium and zinc.

  The traditional uses include immune booster, pain, arthritis, diabetes, headaches, cuts and scrapes, skin problems, cancer, high blood pressure and many more.

  The following are other nourishing nurtients found in noni :

  1. SCOPOLETIN
     Scopoletin belongs to a group of compounds called coumarins. Scienctifically proven to dilate blood vessels which consequently lowers blood pressure.
     The natural state of of all the nutrients present in noni juice prevents the lowering of blood pressure to abnormally low levels as reported by some studies that large amounts of scopoletins can drive blood pressure to below-normal levels.

  2. NITRIC OXIDE
     The presence of this substance is important to carry out the body’s many functions.
     A lack of nitric oxide (NO) in the bloodstream, or a lack of reactivity by the blood vessels to NO can constrict the vessels, leading to a rise in blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for both stroke and heart disease.
     Noni does not contain nitric oxide but it can stimulate the body to produce more of it, thereby preventing and bringing various disorders under control.
     In the area of cholesterol, nitric oxide is a free radical scavenger that can bring about lower cholesterol levels and also prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol.
     It allows the arteries to dilate easily and keeps them flexible.
     It relaxes artery walls so that the regular supply of blood can enter the heart, preventing angina pain (burning or squeezing chest pain associated with a lack of oxgyenated blood supply to the heart).
     It inhibits premature coagulation in the blood, thus preventing the clumping together of platelets to form clots.
     It can also control high blood pressure brought on by pregnancy.

  3. TYROSINE & PHENYLALANINE
     Phenylalanine is an amino acid and it is a precursor of tyrosine. The quinone ring of Coenzyme Q10 is synthesized from the amino acid tyrosine.

  4. LINOLEIC ACID
     This omega-6 fatty acid is an essential fatty acid. It combines with cholesterol to form important compounds and is involved in the transport and metabolism of cholesterol.
     On the August 2002 issue of Stroke : Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers in Japan reported that linoleic acid may reduce the risk of ischemic stroke (caused by blood clots) because it can lower blood pressure and improve circulation in small blood vessels. The consumption range is 9.5 to 13.3 g daily.

     Linoleic acid can also be found in soybeans, corn, safflower oil and sunflower oil.

  Surely, it is the whole noni makeup, the joining of all the nutrients found in this fruit that makes it unique and more importantly effective against many health challenges.

  Noni can be used in conjunction with any medication and natural supplements, in fact, noni may enhance the effects of medications and supplements. It is best taken with clean water on an empty stomach.

  Source : “Stroke” Journal of the American Heart Association (2002) 33:2086-93; M.H. Moghadasian, et al “Effects of dietary phytosterols on cholesterol metabolism and atherosclerosis: clinical and experimental evidence” American Journal of Medicine (1999) 107(6):588-594; “Why Noni Works-A Reference Book for The Biological Activity of the Constituents of Morinda citrifolia” Melanie Alfred (Direct Source, 2000);
  “The Noni Phenomenon” Neil Solomon (Direct Source, 1999)

• CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM & POTASSIUM
  These 3 minerals help the artery to relax while sodium contracts it.
  An increase intake of calcium, magnesium and potassium can lower blood pressure.
  Source : P Whelton “Effects of oral potassium on blood pressure. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials” Journal of the American Medical Association (1997) 277:1624-1632; McCarron D “Role of adequate dietary calcium intake in the prevention and management of salt-sensitive hypertension” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (1997) 65:712S-716; F. C. Luft et al “The effect of dietary interventions to reduce blood pressure in normal humans” Journal of the American College of Nutrition (1989) 8(6):495-503

• SELENIUM
  Deficency has been linked to heart disease and hypertension. It works well with vitamin E to enhance each other’s functions.
  Source : JT Salonen et al “Blood pressure, dietary fats, and antioxidants” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Nov 1988; 48:1226-1232

• OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS
  Studies have shown that they can help lower blood pressure and they have a positive effect on cholesterol levels.
  Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats found in plant and marine sources. It contains an essential fatty acid known as alpha-linolenic acid. The richest animal sources are fishes that swim in cold waters, e.g. herring, salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardine and bluefish.
  Other souces are flaxseeds and psyllium seeds.

• GREEN & BLACK TEA
  Fresh tea leaves are lightly steamed and to get the green version, the leaves are left to dry while the crushing of the leaves
  and then let to ferment produces the black version. The fermentation process darkens the tea leaves.
  Both types of teas contain the antioxidant polyphenol which helps lower cholesterol and improve lipid metabolism. Green tea contains more polyphenols because fermention destroys some of the polyphenols in black tea.
  They also contain theophylline (a close relative of caffeine) which can be addictive so just take 1 to 2 cups daily.

• AVOID CAFFEINE
  Caffeine raises blood pressure.

• STOP SMOKING
  Smoking increases the chance of a stroke or heart disease.

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