The fact that most of us not only can afford to eat beyond the basic needs of survival, but also we enjoy eating rich foods, create ideal conditions for high blood pressure, a common problem in developed countries.

Here is a list of foods to reduce or avoid:

Sodium-rich foods such as processed foods

Since low potassium elevates sodium levels that can lead to hypertension and potassium is known to lower blood pressure, replace table salt with potassium-rich salt. Also, replace sodium-rich foods with potassium-rich foods.

Foods rich in potassium include apricots, avocados, bananas, cantaloupes, honeydew melons, kiwi, peaches, oranges, watermelons, raisins, prunes, dates and figs. Also, pumpkins, tomatoes, greens, potatoes, artichokes, beans, lentils, salmon, sardines and cod.

Tobacco

Caffeinated products, such as coffee and chocolate

There have been studies that show consuming dark chocolate can reduce blood pressure without significant weight gain. On the whole, however, foods containing caffeine can elevate stress levels and keep you up at night.

Alcohol

Alcohol can cause high blood pressure, but when consumed in moderate amounts also help the heart. Therefore, restrict yourself to no more than one or two glasses of red wine a day.

Sugar and other sweeteners, including maple syrup, molasses, brown sugar and artificial sweeteners

Sugar and other sweeteners have been known to raise blood pressure in some people. Developed countries consume too much sweets in their diet, leading to obesity and diabetes, both of which are also closely linked with hypertension. Aspartame, that is found in some artificial sweeteners, can raise your blood pressure.

Try to replace foods containing simple sugars (that are absorbed directly into the bloodstream) with complex carbohydrates that break down more slowly, such as found in fresh fruit.

Raw honey is also a good sweetener, because moderate amounts have been known to help lower blood pressure. However, if you are diabetic or hypoglycemic, you still need to watch your blood sugar.

Animal fats, red meat and internal organs

Traditionally, qigong/chi kung practitioners were predominantly vegetarians, consuming very little, if any meat. If you are not willing to change completely over to a vegetarian diet, at least reduce your consumption of meat: limit yourself to white meat and fish. Eliminate animal fats, red meat and processed meat, such as sandwich meat, from your diet.

Other things you can do:

Replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats, such as extra virgin olive oil. Increase your fiber, as found in whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables. To avoid overcooking and destroying essential nutrients, steam or lightly stir fry your vegetables, and eat plenty of leafy green salads.

One particular vegetable to note in the fight against hypertension is celery. Traditional Chinese medicine have included mung beans, honey, water chestnuts, turnip and Chinese celery as a dietary treatment for hypertension. Also, studies have found consuming four stalks of celery a day will lower blood pressure significantly.

Another food supplement that helps lower blood pressure is the essential omega-3 fatty acids. Two of them are found in fish oils, particularly in salmon, sardines, tuna, halibut, mackerel, cod liver and lake trout. A third fatty acid is found in flaxseed, soy products, canola oil and nuts.

Your diet should also include foods high in magnesium, as found in soy products, legumes, seeds, nuts, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, avocados and dried apricots.

People suffering from hypertension are also lacking in calcium. However, you don’t have to consume dairy products to get your calcium. In fact, milk is not necessarily your best source of calcium because it is low in magnesium, a mineral required for your body to absorb calcium. If you take dairy products, consume only low-fat dairy foods.

Foods rich in calcium include soya milk, leafy greens such as collard greens, baked beans and canned salmon.

Finally, other foods not mentioned but also helpful in the fight against high blood pressure include reishi mushrooms, Chinese white fungi, shitake mushrooms and blueberries.

Any treatment for hypertension must include a healthy diet, and throughout history, qigong/chi kung has always been practiced in line with a diet of herbs and foods that promote health and wellness.

Look forward to my next article on the fourth qigong/ci kung practice for hypertension ? herbs and related supplements.

Originally posted 2009-11-03 09:48:26. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Most of these Qigong methods have a common factor. The rate of respiration is slowed down. This may be the chief parameter which accounts for their lowering of blood pressure.

Recent research shows that 3 or 4 15-minute sessions of slow breathing (less than or equal to 10 breaths per minute) can lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, usually within 8 weeks (1) ? (19). In one clinical trial, some diabetics were not able to sufficiently lower their respiration rate. However, with a longer training period a lower rate of respiration might be achieved.

The breathing exercise should be performed using normal, Buddhist or diaphragmatic breathing, like opera singers. The Daoists thought that normal breathing was one of the secrets of longevity. If you look at a baby in its crib you will only notice its stomach move up and down as it breathes. By contrast, when most seniors breathe their upper chest heaves up and down and there is no visible movement of their abdomen, a consequence of shallow breathing. A Chinese doctor looks at the abdomen of a critically ill patient. If it moves up and down as the patient breathes, the patient has a better chance of surviving than a patient with no visible abdominal movement on breathing. Thus, you may have to instruct patients so that normal or diaphragmatic breathing is done automatically.

Normal or diaphragmatic breathing can be practiced lying down or sitting in a chair. The practice methods are similar. The method of practice while sitting in a chair will be described. Inhale and exhale gently, smoothly and continuously through your nose. Sit comfortably, with your knees bent and your shoulders, head and neck relaxed. Place one hand on your upper chest and the other just below your rib cage. This will allow you to feel your diaphragm move as you breathe. As you inhale, the hand on your chest must move as little as possible, while the hand on your abdomen must move outwards. When you exhale, the hand on your abdomen moves inward, which you can help by slightly and gently pulling your abdominal muscle inward. Once again, the hand on your chest moves as little as possible. At first, you?ll probably get tired while doing this exercise because an increased effort will be needed to use the diaphragm correctly. Keep at it, because with continued practice, diaphragmatic breathing will become easy and automatic. Practice this exercise 5-10 minutes a few times a day.

Slow breathing has the physiological effect of relaxing the muscles surrounding the small blood vessels, which allows the blood to flow more easily. Alpha blockers block receptors in arteries and smooth muscle. This action relaxes the blood vessels and leads to an increase in blood flow and a lower pressure for the control of hypertension. The action in the urinary tract enhances urinary flow for an enlarged prostate. Slow breathing seems to have the same effect as alpha blockers. Thus, it may also reduce the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. This conjecture has not been subjected to clinical trials, but has worked on

Originally posted 2009-10-30 06:07:07. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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