The heart is an amazing muscle continually working on getting blood to every part of the body. Just like an engine makes a car run, the heart keeps your body running. This steady flow carries with it oxygen, fuel, hormones, and a host of essential cells. It also flushes away the waste products of metabolism. If the heart were to stop doing its job, crucial functions in the body would fail, some almost instantly. Luckily, there are ways to lower blood pressure naturally.
When you think about the average American diet – full of processed foods, sugar, damaged fats, and alcohol – combined with a sedentary lifestyle, and an overabundance of stress in our modern society, it’s a wonder the heart performs so well, for so long, for so many people. Unfortunately for some, the heart can be so overtaxed; it gives out.
Shocking Statistics of Cardiovascular/Heart Disease
Heart disease statistics from www.heart.org.
In an article published by the American Heart Association (AHA) in January of 2019, there are an estimated 121.5 million U.S. adults who have heart disease –a catch-all term for any heart-related issues. That’s nearly half of all adults in the United States. Among those statistics, heart disease was the number 1 cause of death in the U.S., and stroke was number 5.
The rise in these statistics is, in part, due to changes in the way high blood pressure is defined. In November 2017, the AHA and American College of Cardiology updated the definition of high blood pressure as a reading of 130/80, compared to the previous definition of 140/90. High blood pressure – also known as hypertension – can lead to heart attack, heart failure, and stroke.
Common causes of high blood pressure
Known as the silent killer, high blood pressure is a very common condition that often doesn’t have any symptoms. Causes for developing high blood pressure range from a variety of things, including lifestyle habits to medications. Things like stress, imbalanced hormones, sleep deprivation, excess alcohol, smoking, and more can raise your blood pressure. Women who’ve entered menopause are more at risk of developing high blood pressure. It can be surprising or sneak up on someone because it can even occur in women who’ve never shown any signs of having it before. Women over the age of 40 should check in with their doctor on a regular basis to make sure their blood pressure levels are normal.
Am I destined to be on prescription medications for high blood pressure?
While prescription drugs are a common solution for reducing high blood pressure, the related side effects—including insomnia, painful leg cramps, lightheadedness, and even fainting spells—are less than ideal.
At BeBalanced, it is not uncommon to have clients come into our centers with pre-existing conditions, such as high blood pressure, for which they are taking prescription medications. We are exceptionally diligent in monitoring the overall health of these clients because it is common for them to reduce or eliminate these medications through our programs.
If you aren’t sold on a lifetime of taking medications or are looking to protect yourself and your loved ones against heart disease, there are many steps you can take to keep your heart healthy naturally.
Natural ways to lower your blood pressure.
Balance your hormones
When estrogen is out of balance with progesterone, known as estrogen dominance, blood pressure increases due to excess fluid retention. Estrogen causes your body to hold on to fluid unlike progesterone, which is a natural diuretic. Whether you follow the Becoming Balanced Weight Loss program or start our Natural Hormone Balancing Creams, your blood pressure will begin to decrease quickly as your hormones begin to balance themselves naturally. Most of the clients we work with who are on blood pressure medications will need to lower and often cease taking their medications. We strongly encourage these individuals to monitor their blood pressure levels daily and consult their family doctor before beginning any of our programs.
Eat a nutrient dense, whole foods diet containing potassium
Potassium helps your body get rid of sodium and ease pressure on your blood vessels. Foods that are particularly high in potassium include:
- Vegetables, especially leafy greens, tomatoes, potatoes, and sweet potatoes
- Fruit, including melons, bananas, avocados, oranges, and apricots
- Tuna and salmon
- Nuts and seeds
- Beans
Cut back on alcohol
Drinking alcohol in any quantity may raise your blood pressure. A woman who drinks more than one drink per day has an increased risk.
Lose weight
Losing just 5% of your body mass could significantly lower high blood pressure.
Stop Smoking
Every puff of cigarette smoke causes a slight, temporary increase in blood pressure. The chemicals in tobacco are also known to damage blood vessels.
Learn to manage stress
Stress is one of the main factors in raising your blood pressure. When you are under chronic stress, your heart beats faster and your blood vessels become constricted. Also, when you are under stress, it is common to resort to drinking alcohol and eating unhealthy foods, which contribute to higher blood pressure. Stress management and adrenal support are an important part of our programs at BeBalanced. Not only does stress increase your blood pressure, but it also increases your bodies demand for cortisol, stealing your progesterone, leading to estrogen dominance.
Get moving
Moderate exercises such as walking just 30 minutes a day can help lower your blood pressure. Exercise helps to strengthen your heart helping it to work more efficiently.
Avoid processed foods, excess sugar and salt
Refined carbs, especially sugar, and excess salt in processed foods contribute to fluid retention and a rise in blood pressure. It’s important to read food labels and choose low-sodium or low-sugar options whenever possible. Cooking meals at home using fresh ingredients allows better control over salt and sugar content. Experimenting with herbs, spices, and flavor-enhancing ingredients like lemon juice or vinegar can help reduce the reliance on salt for taste.
Add Omega Essential Oils to your diet or supplement plan
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil and certain plant-based sources like flaxseed and chia seeds, have been associated with numerous cardiovascular benefits. They can lower blood pressure by decreasing triglyceride levels and reducing the risk of plaque formation in the arteries.
Additional support
At BeBalanced, our approach to wellness and complete health starts by getting your hormones in balance through nutrition, relaxation, and natural supplementation. We are passionate about restoring women to holistic wellness, and we are confident that natural adjustments to diet, sleep, and lifestyle can be life-changing for our clients. If you are ready to try a new approach to heart health, stop into one of our centers for a free consultation.
If you’re having a hard time losing weight, balancing your blood pressure or blood sugar, or are dealing with anxiety, mood swings, hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, relentless fatigue, or sleepless nights – it’s time to investigate the root cause. Start by taking our free hormone assessment.
Be well!