Covering supplements for high blood pressure such as potassium and forlic acid.
The definition of high blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels. This force is a function of the volume of blood flowing through the vessels and the constriction of blood vessels themselves. High blood pressure supplements or any other treatment for hypertension for that matter aims to influence these two key functions which are central to blood pressure.
When there is increased volume of blood flowing through the vessels blood pressure increases. When blood vessels are constricted blood pressure also increases. Supplements for high blood pressure in one way or the other reduce blood pressure by influencing the volume of blood flowing or the relaxation of blood vessel muscles facilitating greater flexibility thereby reducing blood pressure.
Generally doctors prefer to recommend natural remedies for high blood pressure over any over the counter supplements that can be purchased at your local pharmacy, for instance. In fact lifestyle modifications and dietary changes are key to high blood pressure treatment. Dietary changes will involve eating abundant fruits and vegetables. Particularly for patients who can afford, a specially crafted hypertension diet is recommended. The following are some supplements for high blood pressure that some high blood pressure patients have found beneficial;
Potassium High Blood Pressure Supplements
Potassium has been identified by doctors to be an important component of a well-rounded plan for blood pressure health. Unlike other ailments supplements for elevated blood pressure are recommended to come from natural sources. Potassium particularly plays the role of blunting-out the effects of sodium. Sodium has particularly negative effects on blood pressure. The association between salt and high blood pressure is well documented.
Through the different healthy foods that people can eat, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a daily potassium intake of 4700mg for an average adult person. The following shows recommended potassium levels for people younger than adults;
Potassium as part of supplements for high blood pressure, to repeat, is recommended in the context of diet and not over the counter supplements. The broad consideration when taking potassium rich foods is that other dietary factors are also important for any effective results. These factors will include salt intake, protein and fiber, cholesterol and fat. It follows that for best results the entire pattern of food consumption must be modified.
Foods that are rich in potassium that blood pressure patients can eat includes the following;
Potassium rich supplements for high blood pressure are particularly important because they also counter the side effects of hypertension medications such as diuretics for high blood pressure. Diuretics rid the body of excess water. This is also why they are known as 'water-pills'. In the process they also offload potassium from the body leading to muscle cramps. Muscle cramps are therefore known to be side effects diuretics medications.
One of the reasons behind doctor discouragement of over the counter potassium supplements is the fear of overdose or excess potassium in the system. This can be particularly harmful especially to the elderly and people with kidney disorders. Potassium also affects the balance of fluids in the body.
Forlic Acid Rich Supplements for High Blood Pressure
Found in foods such as citrus fruits, asparagus, brussels sprouts, spinach, baked beans, brown rice, chickpeas, kidney beans and lentils, forlic acid has been shown to have some benefit in hypertension patients. Even though it's not known precisely how forlic acid rich supplements for high blood pressure work research shows that forlic acid has a role somewhat to play in the flexibility of arteries and other blood vessels.
Women who are planning to fall pregnant are encouraged to introduce life style changes to minimize the possibility of gestational hypertension. A 2005 study at Harvard Medical School established that women who took a minimum of 1000mg of folate per day reduced their risk of developing high blood pressure by some 25 percent compared to women who consumed under 200mg per day.
This admittedly strongest research ever on the role forlic acid as a possible effective supplement for high blood pressure has been carried out exclusively on women. This has led some to question the effectiveness of forlic acid in other persons other than adult women.
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