Some Hypertension Supplements You Should Know About
Hypertension, or high blood pressure as it is most often called, is fast becoming one of the most common and most dangerous health conditions. Doctors prescribe medication for blood pressure and urge patients to eat a specialized diet, what they don’t tell people are the numerous natural hypertension supplements that are available to help with high blood pressure.
There are many different supplements available that can be used as hypertension supplements. Many of these supplements are extensions of the diets doctors prescribe for hypertension.
Lycopene is one such hypertension supplement. High blood pressure diets stress the importance of lycopene, which is found in tomatoes and tomato sauce. The amount of tomatoes that would need to be eaten in one day to achieve optimal amounts of lycopene amount to more than most people would eat.
However, researchers found a way to extract lycopene from the tomato and create a lycopene supplement. Now, hypertension patients can take one two hundred milligram capsule of lycopene and get the same effects as eating four tomatoes in one day.
Another hypertension supplement that is works wonders on blood pressure is grapes. Grapes contain antioxidants and several other nutrients along with some fiber which is also good for the heart and digestive system. This hypertension supplement was discovered when researchers linked the Mediterranean diet to their low incidence of hypertension.
A variety of herbs have been used as hypertension supplements, including garlic and Hawthorne berry. People in Europe have been using garlic to reduce blood pressure for hundreds of years.
The Hawthorne berry increases oxygen in the bloodstream and boosts metabolism. These two actions help to protect the arterial walls and aid in dilating the blood vessels which in turn improves the pumping of the heart. The blood pressure goes down because the expanded blood vessels help to keep the blood flowing through the now expanded blood vessels.
The Importance of Magnesium
Magnesium is an important mineral in the body; in fact, it is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body. It is necessary for normal muscle and nerve functions, supports the immune system, keeps bones strong, and keeps the heart rhythm steady. However, research shows that the average person does not have enough magnesium in the body. It is lost throughout the day in sweat and through the bowels. Add to that the loss of magnesium through physical work, sports, mental exertion and other stresses and it is easy to see why a supplement could be needed.
People with high blood pressure need to make sure they are getting enough magnesium in their diets. A diet that includes fruits, vegetables and low fat dairy foods is usually high in magnesium; however, individuals with hypertension may want to consider adding a magnesium supplement to assist their diet in providing them with enough magnesium.
Hypertension supplements can assist with bringing blood pressure numbers under control. Before adding any supplement to a daily regime, people should discuss it with their doctor to avoid unpleasant interactions.