Five Supplements Helpful in Lowering Blood Pressure

Vitamin supplements are a great source of healthy benefits we may be lacking in our everyday poor diet. However, it is important to remember that while incorporating these supplements into our diet, they will not give us the benefits we seek unless we try to implement eating a healthier diet.

If someone has high blood pressure, it is imperative that they choose a healthier diet. Otherwise, the body does not have the strength it needs to fight the disease. Using supplements and continuing to eat a diet high in saturated fat and red meat is futile as the liver becomes overtaxed with its already over burdened job of weeding out the bad stuff in your food.

If you have adopted a healthier way of eating and are looking for a natural way to lower your blood pressure, supplements can help. Listed below are a few of the supplements suggested for lowering blood pressure.

1) CoQ10 - Coenzyme Q10 has been shown in research to be highly beneficial in fighting cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. It works by strengthening and oxygenating the heart muscle as well as aiding in the metabolic process.

2) EFAs - Essential fatty acids found in fish oils and flaxseed oils can contribute to decreased blood pressure and blood lipids. Most Eskimo cultures have low cardiovascular disease, mainly attributed to the fact that their diets consist of coldwater fish.

3) Vitamin E - Not only is this vitamin a scavenger of free radicals, it also helps to protect against heart attack and stroke. In addition, having a low level of this vitamin in the body is a primary indicator of heart disease.

4) Calcium - Not only is this mineral good for strong bones and muscles, but it is very important in maintaining normal blood pressure. Studies show that supplementation can actually help modify hypertension in some people.

5) Nicotinc Acid - This compound found in Niacin is shown in recent research to significantly lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the body.

Other beneficial nutrients able to aid in lowering blood pressure include Zinc, Ginger, Vitamin D, Lecithin (granule or capsules), and Chromium.

In addition, certain herbs can also help lower blood pressure. However, as with all supplementation, check with your doctor as these compounds can cause serious chemical interactions in your body if taken simultaneously with pharmaceutical drugs.

The following herbal combination can help lower blood pressure: garlic, valerian root, black cohosh root, cayenne, kelp, blessed thistle and parsley leaves. The suggested dosage is four to eight capsules a day. Once an adequate reduction of blood pressure is achieved, slowly reduce the dosage while maintaining the effect. This formula is not to be used if you are pregnant or nursing.