By: Cat Ebeling, RN, MSN-PHN, co-author of the best-sellers:  The Fat Burning Kitchen, The Top 101 Foods that Fight Aging & The Diabetes Fix

High blood pressure has become a very common problem but can definitely become a serious health issue. Hypertension means that your blood vessel walls have lost their elasticity and ability to easily expand.

The narrow opening in your blood vessels means that you run a higher risk for heart disease, heart attacks, strokes and aneurysms. An aneurysm is a bulging spot in the blood vessel. An aneurysm can be extremely dangerous because it can rupture, causing a hemorrhagic stroke internal bleeding. This is most often deadly.

As is the case with most chronic diseases, diet plays a huge role in determining whether or not you get high blood pressure. In fact, what you eat and drink—or don’t eat and drink—plays a far bigger role than even genetics. Diets high in sugar, vegetable seed oils, processed foods and alcohol can contribute to high blood pressure. However, certain foods high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals can help to lower blood pressure.

Foods containing Magnesium and Potassium

Colorful fruits, veggies, seeds and nuts contain a generous supply of magnesium and potassium. Magnesium is vital to over 300 bodily functions, including helping to relax blood vessel walls. Numerous studies have shown a direct physiological link between magnesium levels and high blood pressure.

Both potassium and magnesium are essential blood electrolytes, helping to maintain the appropriate levels of fluid in the body and the cells. Both magnesium and potassium should always be considered as a supplement for anyone with elevated blood pressure.

Potassium is readily available in most all fruits and vegetables, so eating an assortment of colorful fruits and vegetables should supply most all your potassium needs. Eating a diet high in potassium and magnesium has been shown to lower blood pressure significantly.

Adding greens to your morning smoothie or consuming a colorful salad of a variety of vegetables every day will go a long ways towards helping lower blood pressure and contributing to your overall health.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Foods

Curcumin–is the active ingredient in turmeric and is considered one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory natural supplements. Many studies have shown that curcumin is highly protective for the heart and blood vessels, helping to reduce the incidence of heart attacks and reducing blood pressure.

In fact, turmeric in some ways is as effective as a prescription blood pressure medication. Turmeric also acts as an anti-inflammatory in the blood vessels, which also helps to lower blood pressure.

Beets—Beets, especially red beets, have been found to lots of nitric oxide. This substance lowers resistance in blood vessels, helps them relax, increasing blood flow and lowering blood pressure.

Research published in Nitric Oxide, and another study published in Hypertension, showed that diets that include regular consumption of beets or beet juice can significantly lower blood pressure, while increasing oxygen delivery to the whole body and enhancing the health of the blood vessels.

You may have heard of people taking a drug called “nitroglycerin” for chest pain and heart attacks. This medication contains the same compound found in beets, which helps to relax the blood vessels to promote better circulation.

A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition also shows kohlrabi, celery and celery root, watercress, leeks, parsley, arugula, spinach, and turnips contain large amounts of nitric oxide as well.

Tomatoes—Tomatoes can be a lifesaving blood pressure reducer. Tomatoes contain lycopene, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, known for protecting the cardiovascular system, bone health, and preventing cancer.

Several studies have been done showing a strong link between levels of lycopene and heart disease. This analysis from the Physicians Health Study showed an almost 40% decrease in stroke risk in men with higher blood levels of lycopene. Lycopene is also responsible decreasing cholesterol, so eating foods with more lycopene also helps to reduce LDL cholesterol.

Ginger—Fresh ginger is considered a superfood for heart health, better circulation, cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Eating ginger reduces blood pressure in several different ways. For one, it acts as a natural calcium channel blocker, just like some blood pressure medications, and it also acts as an ACE inhibitor, similar to other types of blood pressure medication.

A study of more than 4,000 people found that the people who consumed 2-4 grams of ginger per day had the lowest risk for high blood pressure. And the thing that’s great about ginger is that it’s delicious, zingy and adds tons of flavor to dishes, smoothies and drinks.

Avocado–Avocados may also do wonders for your soaring blood pressure levels. Avocados are packed with oleic acid, also in olive oil. Oleic acid is known to reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Avocados are also rich in potassium, magnesium and folate, all of which are good the blood vessels and cardiovascular system. Avocados are also chock full of antioxidants and lower inflammation in the body, including the blood vessels. Avocados are also loaded in vitamin A, K, B & E and fiber as well. Add avocados to your smoothies, salads and dressings.

Pomegranate—Pomegranate has some amazing antioxidant power with proven antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer abilities. Pomegranate is another natural food that possesses medicinal qualities without any negative side effects that some medications have.

Pomegranates are great for helping any health issue related to inflammation. Pomegranates contains very powerful substances called polyphenols that exert strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory capabilities. The antioxidant level of pomegranate juice is higher than red wine and green tea.

One of the biggest benefits of pomegranate is its ability to lower blood pressure naturally. Scientific studies actually show pomegranate to have significant blood pressure-lowering ability. The effect of pomegranate is to relax blood vessels and allow better blood flow.

While pomegranates are delicious, they can be slightly challenging to eat. Pomegranate juice works well, but be sure to only use 100% pure pomegranate juice with no added sugar.

Green Tea—Green tea is well-known for its health benefits but did you know it also has a medicine-like effect on blood pressure as well?

Green tea contains powerful polyphenol antioxidants known for their health benefits. One of green tea’s active ingredients, EGCG, helps fight a variety of diseases and health conditions. Study results also show EGCG can be helpful for the prevention of arterio¬sclerosis, blood clots, heart attack, and strokes—partly due to its ability to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow.

While organic green tea is beneficial for health, matcha green tea can contain up to 100 times the EGCG that regular green tea contains.

Green tea also fights cancer, lowers inflammation, promotes healthy digestion, and aid in concentration. Besides being an excellent source of antioxidants, green tea is also packed with vitamins A, D, E, C, B, B5, H, and K, manganese, and other beneficial minerals such as zinc, chromium, and selenium.

Important Note About High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can be very sneaky, with no obvious symptoms. Many people have high blood pressure and don’t know it. When blood pressure gets dangerously high, it becomes a medical emergency.

Signs and symptoms of severe hypertension may include:

• Severe chest pain
• Severe headache, accompanied by confusion and blurred vision
• Nausea and vomiting
• Severe anxiety
• Shortness of breath
• Seizures
• Unresponsiveness

This is a medical emergency and you should contact your doctor or head to an urgent care center. Medical complications of a hypertensive crisis can include strokes or aneurysms. Be sure to check your blood pressure regularly.

Blood Pressure-Lowering Beet-Apple-Carrot-Ginger Smoothie

You will LOVE this amazing blood pressure-lowering healthy, delicious Beet-Apple-Carrot smoothie rich with magnesium, potassium, nitric oxide, lycopene, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and healthy bacteria:

• ½ large fresh raw beet or 1 whole small to medium beet, chopped or grated
• 1 medium sized carrot, chopped or grated
• 1 thumb-sized (more or less) piece of fresh ginger, chopped
• ½ green organic Granny Smith apple
• 1 big handful fresh, raw, organic spinach
• 1 ginger kombucha or sparkling water
• Handful of ice

Blend, and enjoy this refreshing drink as often as you wish!

People Who Use THIS Bathroom Product Are 85% More Likely to Develop Hypertension

It’s a shocking discovery…

But this common, over-the-counter bathroom product has been shown in clinical studies to raise blood pressure.

In fact, if you frequently use this product, you have an 85% higher risk of hypertension compared to less frequent users.

Can you guess what it is?

Find all about it here:

Common bathroom habit raises blood pressure

References
https://www.ndtv.com/food/hypertension-5-fruits-that-may-help-you-manage-high-blood-pressure-naturally-1828135
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/herbs-to-lower-blood-pressure#9.-Ginger
https://www.healthline.com/health/drinks-to-lower-blood-pressure#berry-juice
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-high-blood-pressure
https://thenutritionwatchdog.com/the-blood-pressure-fix/

The post Drink THIS for Lower Blood Pressure! appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

By: Catherine Ebeling & Mike Geary
Co-author of the best-sellers:  The Fat Burning Kitchen, The Top 101 Foods that Fight Aging & The Diabetes Fix

The overlooked and much maligned onion has been around since ancient times and was most likely a dietary staple of our prehistoric ancestors.  It is often avoided because of its pungent odor and taste, along with the after effect of “onion” breath. The strong smell and taste come from the Sulphur-containing compounds in onions which are also responsible for the amazing health benefits in onions.

Onions don’t usually get the spotlight for being a glamorous and trendy ‘superfood’, but surprisingly enough, the humble onion is most definitely a superfood in its own right. You know the saying, “An apple a day…”, well it should be, “An onion a day keeps the doctor away!”

Onions are in the same family of root vegetables as garlic (a known superstar), shallots, leeks and scallions. They are a great source of B vitamins, especially B6, B1, folate, and biotin. They also contain copious amounts of vitamin C, manganese, copper, phosphorus, potassium and a massive amount of phytonutrients and antioxidant polyphenols. Some of the standout phytonutrients include quercetin, and allyl disulphide. Onions contain even more powerful polyphenols than their cousins, garlic and leeks, as well as tomatoes, carrots and red bell peppers.

These antioxidants make onions a natural anti-histamine (similar to medicine for colds and allergies), anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. The powerful polyphenols in onions benefit the whole body, and make them extremely effective in preventing or fighting diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and neuro-muscular diseases.

One of the primary polyphenol antioxidants in onions is Quercetin. Quercetin is an anti-inflammatory ingredient that not only protects against heart disease, blood clots, hypertension, urinary disease, prostatitis, and cancer, but also is one of the most powerful and natural anti-histamines, helping to prevent or lessen allergic reactions and asthma.

According to The World’s Healthiest Foods, onions are one of the the top ten foods for quercetin content, although it varies according to the type of onion, and growing conditions. And quercetin absorption from onions in the body twice as much as other foods that contain quercetin, like green tea and apples, as reported by Dr. Mercola, according to information from Wageningen Agricultural University, Netherlands.

Anti-Cancer Medicine

The National Onion Association considers onions a major dietary anti-carcinogen. Onions, like garlic and other allium vegetables are warriors against many types of cancer including: breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers, laryngeal, esophageal, gastric, colon, renal and prostate cancers. This is due in part from the quercetin, as well as the sulphur compounds such as: diallyl disulfide (DDS), S-allylcysteine (SAC), and S-methylcysteine (SMC). Although the exact physiology is not known, it is thought that these compounds inhibit tumor growth and gene mutations, while fighting free radicals.

While ‘moderate’ (1-2 times a week), consumption of onions helps fight these cancers, the best practice is about a half cup serving or so of onions daily. It’s not really that hard to throw some green onions (scallions) into your eggs in the morning, add some sliced red onion to your salad at lunchtime and munch on fresh salsa (with onions) at dinnertime. Cooking does not take away the onion’s nutrient power, so simmering onions into your soup and cooked dishes still gives you plenty of health benefits.

Onions, like garlic, go a long way towards helping prevent heart attacks, strokes and blood clots. The sulphur compounds in onions are very efficient in preventing clumping of blood platelets which result in clots, meaning they are highly effective in preventing heart disease, strokes, and blood clots in other parts of the body (peripheral vascular disease). Allium and allyl disulphide also help to create more flexible blood vessels which result in lower blood pressure. Onions have also been shown to help lower triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, especially when eaten as part of a diet high in vegetables and fruit.

Anti-inflammatory Effects

Quercetin maintains top level status as an anti-inflammatory, along with its anti-histamine properties. This means it helps with most inflammatory conditions, including asthma, allergies, arthritis, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and more. Onionin A, one of the Sulphur compounds, inhibits macrophage formation that trigger immune reactions and inflammatory responses, helping those with autoimmune conditions as well.  If you want to read more about fighting inflammation in your body, this article shows you the #1 inflammation fighting fruit that you can eat.

Bone, Connective Tissue, Gut Health, and Diabetes Benefits

Several human studies have shown that frequent (daily) consumption of onion can actually help to increase bone density in post-menopausal women, and help prevent fractures related to osteoporosis. What’s more, the high sulphur content of onions helps to strengthen and support strong connective tissue in the body including tendons, ligaments, cartilage and collagen—and even hair.

Onions supply healthy antibacterial properties, helping to prevent everything from cavities and gum disease, to ulcers from h. pylori and food-borne illnesses. Studies have shown onions to be effective against streptococcus strains and porphyromonas gingivalis among other bacteria, especially from fresh, raw onions. So add fresh onions to your salads, salsas, and picnic food to help ensure you don’t get sick!

Onions contain a prebiotic fiber, inulin, that helps to feed and encourage the growth of healthy gut bacteria which creates a stronger immune system, assists in healthy absorption and assimilation of food, and actually helps your mood and brain function. Inulin is also thought to be responsible for helping to prevent obesity and lower your risk of diabetes.

In those with type 2 diabetes, inulin helped to improve blood sugar reactions and maintain a more stable glucose level. Another compound in onion, allium cepa, was shown to have a significant effect on lowering blood sugar in another study with rats, although more research needs to be done.

Sleep and Mood

Onions have a positive effect on sleep and mood as well, due to the folate content in them. In fact, it is thought that onions may help with depression, by decreasing the amount of homocysteine, an inflammatory agent in the body. Besides being dangerous for heart and blood vessels, excess homocysteine may also interfere with brain hormones such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, all of which are ‘feel-good’ hormones. These hormones also have a huge effect on sleep and appetite as well.

Colds and Flu

Native Americans recognized the power of the onion to treat colds and flu and have used it for years and years. Even the World Health Organization recognizes the power of onions for coughs, congestion, bronchitis and respiratory infections. Onions have also been used for hundreds of years as a remedy for colic and vomiting.

How to Choose Onions

Different onion varieties contain different levels of nutrients and polyphenol content. Shallots have the highest level of of polyphenols, but yellow onions have the highest flavonoid content. As a general rule of thumb, like most vegetables, the brightest and deepest coloring contains the most nutrients overall, so consuming red onions will give you the biggest bang for your buck!

Be sure to choose organic onions if you can, as conventionally grown onions are often irradiated to prevent them from sprouting—which also kills some of the beneficial nutrients. And speaking of nutrients, did you know that most of those powerful antioxidants are more concentrated in the outer layers? So when you peel an onion, only peel off the outermost papery layer to avoid throwing away the best parts of the onion. I actually chop up and use even the outer layer if I am making soup.

Live to 100 with onions?

One other thing about onions… I recently read about a longevity study that surveyed a large number of centenarians (people that live to 100 and beyond), and one of the common traits they found in the survey was that centenarians seemed to eat a lot of onions!  Just further proof that onions are a powerful superfood worthy of addition to your daily meals… I like to have them in my scrambled eggs, diced up in salmon or tuna salad, and sautéed with mixed veggies at dinner!

Introducing onions and other anti-inflammatory foods into your daily diet is a great idea. But, did you know you may have this one food already in your kitchen…

The most anti-inflammatory food in the world

Do you wake up in the morning with stiff joints or pain in your hips, back, knees or elbows? Then chances are you’re feeling the effects of chronic inflammation taking its toll on your body.

The good news is that it is NEVER too late to help get this under control. And the best part is there are certain foods that help you do this naturally, without the need for prescription medications.

3-Sec Quiz: What is the #1 Anti-inflammatory Food?

A: Turmeric
B: Onion
C: Pineapple
D: Black Pepper
E: Other

Make your selection above or click here to skip straight to the answer.

Remember, it’s NEVER too late to get chronic inflammation under control. You just need to know how to do it.

Click here to discover the #1 anti-inflammatory food =>

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References:

National Onion Association, Greely Colorado 2011. https://www.onions-usa.org/

Dorant, Van Den Brandt, Goldbohm, Sturmans, Gastroenterology, “Consumption of Onions and a Reduced Risk of Stomach Carcinoma,” 1996.
2 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691503003508, Antimutagenic, antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of ethyl acetate extracts from white, yellow and red onions, Aug. 2012

Mercola, What’s new and beneficial about onions, April 2014 http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/04/12/onion-health-benefits.aspx

Onions, World’s Healthiest Foods, http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=45
Anya V, The Magic Onion: Things You Didn’t Know Onions Could Do, Living Traditionally, http://livingtraditionally.com/the-magic-onion-things-you-didnt-know-onions-could-do/, November 2015.

Onions, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion
Ware, Megan, RDN, LD, Onions: Health Benefits, Nutritional Information, Medical News Today, September 2015

Onion extract may improve high blood sugar and cholesterol, Science Daily News, March, 2015

The post Onions & your gut health, longevity, cancer, and more! appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.