Posted by Don

>I would appreciate any info on how to reduce my blood pressure. I am not
>overweight and find that when I exercise daily it drops significantly. I
>use many herbs and supplements but for some reason it does not stay where it
>should without the daily exercise. I do not use any medications and am
>opposed to such.

I have several things I've collected:

(1) In the book: Can A GLUTEN-FREE DIET HELP? How? by Lloyd Rosenvold,
M.D., [Keats Publishing, 27 Pine Street (Box 876) New Canaan, CT
06840-0876, 1992, ISBN 0-87983-538-9] he states that a study was done in
the 1930's where a group with high blood pressure was put on a gluten-free
diet. The whole group experienced a reduction in bp. At almost the same
time, the first really effective medication for reducing bp was put on the
market. The study was soon forgotten, and patients were given a magic pill
to help high bp. Taking a pill is a lot easier than following a gluten-free
diet.

(2) Dr. Robert Atkins in his "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution" and maybe
also in "Dr. Atkins' Health Revolution" says that in his clinical
experience, hypertension is very often the result of hyperinsulinism, and
is often controlled well by strictly eliminating sugar from the diet, and
in some people, also tightly limiting carbohydrates.

(3) In "Life Without Bread: How a Low Carbohydrate Diet can Save Your Life"
by Christian B. Allan, Ph.D, and Wolfgang Lutz, they report an immediate
drop of 20 in systolic pressure when on a low carb diet.

(4) Improve the ratio between potassium and sodium. Americans tend to have
a high sodium diet which changes the ratio. In the book "The K-Factor", by
Richard D. Moore, M.D., Ph.D., and George D. Webb, Ph.D. (NY: Macmillan,
1986, ISBN 0-02-586190-5.) it makes a very persuasive case that most cases
of hypertension can be controlled nicely merely by getting your potassium
intake up to about 4 times your sodium intake.

(5) According to Dr. James Braly's book on food allergy & nutrition, "There
are several minerals that must be in proper balance to regulate blood
pressure."

He indicates that adequate magnesium, sodium, potassium, and calcium are
necessary. According to Dr. Braly, low Mg can cause increased sodium uptake
resulting in fluid retention and increased blood pressure. Elevated sodium
interacting with other minerals, is involved, in conjunction with other
risk factors, with increased blood pressure. Low potassium can result in
arrhythmias and blood pressure fluctuations. High levels can lead to death
due to ventricular fibrillation. Calcium supplementation can also lower
blood pressure.

Braly J, _Dr. Braly's Food Allergy & Nutrition Revolution_ Keats
Publishing, New Canaan, Conn. 1992

(6) Most studies investigating the relationship between protein intake and
blood pressure suggest that higher dietary protein intake has favorable
influences on blood pressure. The latest one was presented at the 4th
International Conference on Preventive Cardiology (4th ICPC; June 29-July
3, 1997, Montreal, Canada).

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