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Tuesday, July 12, 2011

HCWellness July 2011 Newsletter

HC Wellness Center and Spa
Solving the Blood
Pressure Blues
 
 Don't Just Manage High
Blood Pressure, Cure It!
 
 According to the United States Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov), one
out of three adult Americans have hypertension, also know as high blood pressure.  High blood pressure isn't actually a disease, it is just a symptom, so why is it such a big concern? It's because hypertension increases your risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure and arterial aneurysm. It is also a leading cause of chronic kidney failure and generally leads to shortened life expectancy. With hypertension being so wide spread, odds are that you or
someone you know suffers from it. But, have you met anyone who has cured their hypertension by taking prescription drugs? Probably not. That's because high blood pressure medications are not designed to cure hypertension.

 
Can We Actually"Cure" Hypertension?

The only way to cure any health problem, including hypertension, is to identify
the cause and fix it.  However, this doesn't mean that it's impossible to find the cause. The fact that high blood pressure is rare in parts of the world where people consume traditional diets suggests that the cause is found in our modern diet and lifestyle. Since medical doctors are trained to prescribe drugs instead of examining nutrition and lifestyle factors, it's easy to see how they would be unable to identify the cause of high blood pressure and would consider it manageable, but incurable.
Fortunately, there is a lot of research that tells us what causes hypertension,
which means, a person can cure this problem, but only if they are willing to examine their lifestyle and nutrition. 

Reduce the Pressure of Stress
to Reduce Hypertension


When we're under stress, the body produces more of the neurotransmitters, which bind to receptor sites in blood vessels and the heart known as adrenergic receptors. When stimulated, adrenergic receptors cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, which is why beta blockers are used to reduce blood pressure and heart rate.
This means that finding a way to counteract stress will also help to reduce one's blood pressure. The best way to reduce stress is to deliberately find ways to relax. Get a massage , soak in a hot bath or hot tub, meditate, or practice yoga or tai chi. Anything that helps you feel relaxed and calm is going to have a positive effect on your blood pressure. Just five to ten minutes of deep, slow breathing can reduce blood pressure by 10-15 points or more.
Another strategy for reducing stress is to use adaptogenic herbs or formulas, such as eleuthero root or Nervous Fatigue Formula. Adaptogens reduce the output of stress hormones, which can help you feel calmer under pressure, improve immune function and help to lower blood pressure.

One reason that the use of tobacco products increases blood pressure is that nicotine binds to adrenergic receptors. To reduce the craving for tobacco and to counteract this effect, try using 5-10 drops of Lobelia Extract instead of tobacco when you feel stressed. Lobelia contains an alkaloid called lobeline, which binds to adrenergic receptor and inhibits them, just like beta blockers.

Consumption of caffeinated beverages and alcohol increase blood pressure. When you realize that alcohol and caffeine are diuretics and contribute to water loss, it becomes clear why you want to avoid these beverages if you have hypertension. Caffeine also increases sympathetic nervous system activity, which increases stress and makes blood vessels contract. If you crave caffeine, try using Target Endurance for energy (and drink more water).

The Magnesium Solution

Muscles contract under the influence of calcium and relax under the influence of magnesium. Another class of medications used to lower blood pressure is calcium channel blockers, which inhibit calcium from entering the muscles, causing them to relax more.
Well, guess what?  Magnesium supplements are just as effective as calcium channel blockers without the side effects!
A large percentage of people with high blood pressure have low levels of magnesium in their body. Blood levels of magnesium are not the best indicator of magnesium deficiency, so even if your blood test says your levels are fine, you may still be deficient. If you have hypertension, increasing your intake of magnesium is certainly worth trying.
Magnesium not only helps reduce blood pressure and reduces your risk of heart attacks, it also helps your nerves relax more, increases energy production in your cells and helps your body detoxify, So, if you have high blood pressure consider eating more dark green leafy vegetables, which are loaded with chlorophyll, a natural source of magnesium. You can also try taking two to four
capsules of Magnesium Complex daily or add pleasant tasting chlorophyll to your water.

Endothelial Dysfunction:
The Other "ED"

Dr. Sherry A. Rogers, MD, author of "The High Blood Pressure Hoax", believes that dysfunction of the endothelial lining is a primary factor in high blood pressure.  Nitroglycerine pills, which are often used to treat angina, work by stimulating a nitric oxide response in the endothelial lining.
We can do the same thing using a simple nutrient, the amino acid I-arginine. Research shows that about 5 grams (5,000 mg.) of l-arginine per day can help to control high blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.  Solstic Cardio is a convenient way to get 5 grams of l-arginine daily. You simply break open one of the packets and empty it into 8-10 ounces of cool water. Solstic Cardio also contains vitamin D3, vitamin K2, pomegranate extract and a blend of other amino acids to further support cardiovascular health.

Supplementation with I-arginine not only helps endothelial dysfunction (ED), it also helps the other form of ED, erectile dysfunction. Drugs like Viagra" and Cialis@wereoriginallydevelopedas drugs for high blood pressure. They work by increasing nitric oxide responses. Interestingly enough, many of the "male-enhancing" herbs do the same thing, such as yohimbe and epimedium (more commonly known as horny goat weed). L-arginine, an isolated extract of icarin from horny goat weed, and other nitric oxide boosting substances can be found in Men's X-Action Reloaded.  This "male enhancing" blend can actually help both forms of ED.

Time for an "Oil Change"

Most people think that fats, especially saturated fats, are bad for your heart and
circulation. But it isn't fats per se that are bad for you; it's a specific type of fat known as a trans fatty acid. Trans-fatty acids are damaging to cell membranes and contribute to hardening of the arteries, diabetes, cancer, rosacea, and other chronic diseases.
Trans-fatty acids are formed when oils are heated to over 360 degrees, which happens in the process of hydrogenation. Hydrogenation is used to make polyunsaturated vegetable oils shelf stable, but it also "kills" them, making them cause harm to our bodies when we consume them. All processed foods containing vegetable oils contain some trans-fat (no matter what the label says). And they are not "heart-healthy" like their labels claim.
So avoid all hydrogenated vegetable oils, shortening, margarine and processed foods containing vegetable oils. Also avoid powdered eggs and powdered milk (which contain oxidized cholesterol).
Instead, use coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, natural foods containing fats (like butter, avocados and nuts), and supplement your diet with good oils like Super Omega-3 EPAor Krill Oil with K2.

Final Thoughts on High Blood Pressure

Space doesn't permit us to cover all the natural options available for reducing high blood pressure in detail, but here are a few more to consider. Aerobic exercise (walking, running, bicycling, swimming, etc.) improves blood flow and reduces resting heart rate and blood pressure. Reducing sugar consumption reduces insulin production and cardiovascular inflammation, which also helps.
Ginkgo and Hawthorn have been found to dilate peripheral blood vessels and improve blood flow to the extremities, thus reducing hypertension. The Ginkgo and Hawthorn formula also contains olive leaf, which has been shown to reduce blood pressure in controlled studies.
Numerous studies have shown that garlic can reduce blood pressure. In addition, it also decreases blood cholesterol and triglycerides. Capsicum, Garlic and Parsley is another blood pressure-reducing herbal formula to consider. Blood Pressurex contains I-arginine, hawthorn, olive leaf and
several other nutrients that can help reduce arterial inflammation and high blood pressure. It's another great option for a natural blood-pressure reducing program. Other remedies that may help hypertension include MegaChel, Co-QI0 and GC-X. So, there are many possibilities besides those we've covered.
A note of caution: it's very important not to discontinue high blood pressure medications when starting to use natural remedies.
If you start using natural remedies and your blood pressure starts coming down, then talk to your doctor about reducing the dose of your medication. You can also talk to the person who gave you this newsletter to help you design the right program for your needs.

 

 

Recipe of the Month

Tomato-&-Olive-Stuffed Portobello Caps

4 servings

Active Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup chopped plum tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped Kalamata olives
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary, or 1/8 teaspoon dried
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 4 portobello mushroom caps, 5 inches wide
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

Preparation

  1. Combine tomatoes, cheese, olives, garlic, 1 teaspoon oil, rosemary and pepper in a small bowl.
  2. Preheat grill to medium.
  3. Discard mushroom stems. Remove brown gills from the undersides of the caps using a spoon; discard gills. Mix the remaining 1 teaspoon oil, lemon juice and soy sauce in a small bowl. Brush the mixture over both sides of the caps.
  4. Oil a grill rack (see Tip). Place the caps on the rack, stem sides down, cover and grill until soft, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and fill with the tomato mixture. Return to the grill, cover, and cook until the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes more.

Nutrition

Per serving: 122 calories; 8 g fat ( 2 g sat , 4 g mono ); 9 mg cholesterol; 8 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 7 g protein; 2 g fiber; 338 mg sodium; 431 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (25% daily value), Potassium (17% dv), Calcium (15% dv).

Carbohydrate Servings: 1/2

Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1  meat


July special

Enjoy our relaxing Herbal Body Wraps in clay or seaweed to draw toxins out of your skin, replenish moisture, and help with the breakdown of fat while purifing the body.  Both wraps help break up stubborn fat deposits and leave your skin silky smooth and toned.  Relax in the sauna and enjoy a wellness consultation with the expert spa staff. Emerge totally relaxed!

For a soothing spa session call to schedule today at 704-823-1577!  We are offering our energizing herbal body wrap, sauna session, plus a wellness consultation, for just $55, regularly $145.  Kick start your weight loss program today...

With the herbal body wrap, you can cleanse your body of toxins and reduce inches. Tone and tighten the texture of your skin, and even relieve joint pain and inflammation.

These herbal extracts, minerals, and amino nutrients draw out toxic accumulations from the skin and tissue layers which help to aid your body in the breakdown of fat. Enjoy a relaxing session in their pristine sauna, too! Don't miss out on this complete spa deal.

facial



Please welcome our two new Massage therapists,

David Reichartz and Karen Mosley.

They are both offering extended hours, evenings and Saturday appointments.

Call today to schedule a massage at 704-823-1577

 

 

 

 

H C Wellness Center & Spa

3302 S. New Hope Road

Suite 200-A/B

Gastonia, NC  28056

704-823-1577

www.HCWellnessCenterAndSpa.com

www.MyNSP.com/HealthyConnection

e-mail: ihealthyconnect@carolina.rr.com

Schedule Online Today

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