It is a frightening thought that approximately one in three
American adults have high blood pressure (AKA hypertension), which can lead to
heart attack, stroke, congestive heart failure, end-stage kidney disease, and
many other health issues.[1]
Fortunately, we now know that elevated insulin and leptin levels often cause
hypertension, and there are ways to normalize these high levels to get healthy
again.
First off, if you have high blood pressure and are
overweight, you should consider intermittent fasting. This is all about “eating
your calories during a specific window of the day, and choosing not to eat food
during the rest.”[2] Our bodies
react to eating by elevating our insulin and leptin levels, so if you’re
constantly snacking on or drinking sugary foods, those levels will remain high.
Intermittent fasting has been found to be a very effective way to normalize
blood pressure, even though it’s not a diet in the traditional sense.
As is the case with most health problems, many issues arise
as a result of an unhealthy and unbalanced diet. Those with hypertension should
avoid processed food, which include sugar/fructose, processed salt, trans fats,
and vegetable oils full of omega-6.
Get plenty of vitamin D through sun exposure to relax stiff
arteries and to allow your blood vessels to relax. If sun exposure isn’t a
viable option for you, you may take a vitamin D supplement instead (just make
sure it’s D3, not D2).
Last but certainly not least, exercise regularly. When
combined with a healthy diet (eaten at the right times) and a good combination
of vitamins, these relatively simple and common sense lifestyle changes can
prevent or decrease your risk of hypertension.
Working to restore
GOD’s perfect design in you!
[1] Dr. Mercola, “Strategies to
Prevent Hypertension.” June 9, 2014.
<http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/06/09/hypertension-prevention-treatment.aspx?e_cid=20140609Z1_DNL_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20140609Z1&et_cid=DM46353&et_rid=548174110>
[2] Id.
