Nutrition Facts and Health Blog

High blood pressure, otherwise referred to as hypertension, is a common condition that affects many people today who live into their sunset years. Blood pressure is the force of blood pressing against the arterial walls. When the pressure is too high, it raises the workload of the heart, which eventually damages the arteries. If left untreated, hypertension can lead to stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure. This condition is sometimes referred to as a silent killer as it may not have external visible symptoms, hence the need to eat healthy and watch your diet.

Juices for high blood pressure can help you maintain and keep your condition under control. Keep in mind that hypertension is a life-long condition; hence it is important to formulate a life-long dietary plan that would be complimented by regular exercises, to help keep the condition under control, thereby reducing the risks of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. These juices work by:-

First and foremost, juices for high blood pressure will work as calcium channel blockers which will significantly slow down the movement of calcium from what you consume to the cells of the blood and heart vessels. Because calcium is known to cause strong heart contractions, the juices can ease contractions of the heart and help relax your blood vessels. It is to be mentioned that most fruits and vegetables contain calcium in substantial amounts, so it would be best to avoid those that are potent in calcium. Apples, lemons, honeydew melons, tangerines etc can make good juices for high blood pressure.

The other characteristic that you should look out for in good juices for high blood pressure should be ACE inhibitors. ACE inhibitors work by reducing the supply of angiotensin II in the body, a substance that leads to narrowing and contraction of blood vessels. The result is relaxed, well dilated arteries and low blood pressure meaning less pressure on the heart. Good examples of these juices are carrot and grapefruit juice.

Spinach juice is also great for controlling high blood pressure. Spinach is a known potent source of magnesium, hence will play a significant role in preventing heart diseases. Spinach juice will also contain folate which will help protect the body from homocysteine, a compound which can lead to strokes and heart attacks.

Brocolli juice has also been associated with hypertension, thanks to its high source of potassium and chromium that are known to help in insulin and blood sugar regulation. Another important juice, although a little controversial as to the amount of juice that one should take, is tomato juice. Tomatoes are a potent source of potassium, vitamins A, C, and E, and calcium.

As previously mentioned, the last thing you would want for a hypertension case is calcium. But on the flip side of the coin, Tomato juices are potent sources of lycopene, a very powerful antioxidant known to reduce heart disease risks. So ensure you consult a dietician or nutritionist before relying on tomato juice as a natural way of controlling your high blood pressure condition.

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Elijah is a contributor for MethodsofHealing where you can get some interesting information on sleep apnea .

Doctors use several equations to calculate how many calories a person should eat each day to maintain a stable weight. The most precise ones include height, weight, age, sex, activity level, and stressors like an injury or disease. The simplest way to estimate your daily target for calories is to multiply your weights in pounds by :-

* 12 if you are sedentary (little or no exercise)
* 13.5 if you are somewhat active (light exercise one to three days a week)
* 15.5 if you are moderately active (moderate exercise like brisk walking – you break into sweat – three to five days a week)
* 17 if you are highly active (vigorous exercise or sports six to seven days a week)
* 19 if you are highly active (daily vigorous exercise or sports and a physical job)

For example, a somewhat active person who weighs 45 pounds (66 Kg) needs about 1950 calories a day (145 times 13.5) to keep a steady weight.

To lose weight, start by reducing your intake by 250 calories per day. That’s one can of cola and two butter cookies, or 50 gms of potato chips. If you keep that up for a year, you could shed 20 pounds. Add in more exercise, and you could make it 30 pounds.

Doctors use several equations to calculate how many calories a person should eat each day to maintain a stable weight. The most precise ones include height, weight, age, sex, activity level, and stressors like an injury or disease. The simplest way to estimate your daily target for calories is to multiply your weights in pounds by :-

* 12 if you are sedentary (little or no exercise)
* 13.5 if you are somewhat active (light exercise one to three days a week)
* 15.5 if you are moderately active (moderate exercise like brisk walking – you break into sweat – three to five days a week)
* 17 if you are highly active (vigorous exercise or sports six to seven days a week)
* 19 if you are highly active (daily vigorous exercise or sports and a physical job)

For example, a somewhat active person who weighs 45 pounds (66 Kg) needs about 1950 calories a day (145 times 13.5) to keep a steady weight.

To lose weight, start by reducing your intake by 250 calories per day. That’s one can of cola and two butter cookies, or 50 gms of potato chips. If you keep that up for a year, you could shed 20 pounds. Add in more exercise, and you could make it 30 pounds.