High blood pressure, also commonly referred to hypertension, occurs when the heart is pumping blood against pressure, resulting in too much strain on your arteries and your heart. If the heart continuously pumps against pressure it causes the walls of the arteries to stretch. Problems that can occur from injured and overstretched arteries are vascular weakness, vascular scarring, increased risk of blood clots and increased plaque build-up. Uncontrolled blood pressure can also lead to deadly conditions such as, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and kidney failure. High blood pressure is known as the “silent killer” as it often comes without any symptoms. Nearly all cardiovascular diseases, (just like high blood pressure) can easily be prevented with being regularly active and eating a whole foods-based vegetarian diet.
Although there is no known cause for high blood pressure, there are many factors that may play a role in its development and aging your arteries, such as, family history, lack of physical activity, a non-nutritive diet, smoking and being overweight. Life-long medications are often prescribed for “treatment” for high blood pressure, as traditional western medicine never addresses the underlying issue (i.e. diet and exercise). However, alternative medicine may have much more beneficial healing properties than a life-long dependency on prescription medications. Lifestyle and dietary changes can easily help you maintain normal blood pressure levels, along with providing you an optimal nutritional status and well-being.
Some natural treatment recommendations include, eating a whole foods-based vegan diet, being regularly active, meditation, losing weight if you’re overweight, limiting the amount alcohol consumption and quitting smoking.
However, there is one particular herb that can help play an important role in lowering your blood pressure, turmeric. This golden yellow spice that is native to Southern India and used in many Asian and Indian dishes is an ancient Ayurvedic healing herb. Cucurmin is the main active ingredient in turmeric that is responsible for keeping blood vessels healthy. It helps by dilating the arteries which allows for a smoother flow of blood through the heart and arteries. Through the effects of an active lifestyle, healthier diet and incorporating turmeric in your diet you can greatly enhance your cardiovascular health to a better one. In fact, if you nurture your body with a nutrient rich diet filled with brightly colored fruits and vegetable, maintain a healthy optimal weight, exercise regularly and not smoke your arteries will age more slowly and more gracefully than you!
"A man is as old as his arteries." - Dr. Thomas Sydenham
A great and easy way to regularly implement turmeric in your daily diet is through drinking any one of Turmeric Teas signature blends of organic loose-leaf tea, Dawn (Chai), Dusk (Lemongrass), Winter (Ginger) and Summer (Peppermint). These signature blends all contain the powerful healing herb turmeric root, along with black pepper (to help enhance turmeric’s bio-availability and absorption by 2000%). Although Turmeric Teas is a social food enterprise based in Toronto, Canada, shipping is also available to our friends in the USA.
A natural alternative to lowering HBP can be attainable goal for anyone, as lifestyle and diet are the foundation of maintaining healthy arteries and controlling blood pressure blood. Focus on making small daily health changes and turning them to daily habits to help keep your heart beating young and healthy for many more years to come.
Blog post by Alexandra Daugherty, CNP • Holistic Nutritionist.