RISE IN BLOOD PRESSURE

[AngelSprings]

Hi
I've attempted to eat healthily for many years, and have kept very well until I discovered I was pre-diabetic a few years ago. So, of course, | cut the carbs and when I went for the yearly MOT test earlier on in the year the nurse was pleased with my blood glucose reading as I'd managed to reduce it to within normal limits. I've also kept an eye on my blood pressure for a long time, and it's usually been in the 120/80 region, until a couple of months ago when it shot up to 150/80. These high readings occurred after I'd had a really awful cough for a week, and afterwards I did wonder whether it was Covid and should have at the time tested for it. I don't want to start taking medication as I've managed to avoid it for a lifetime, but have always taken supplements. So I'm looking for supplements to take to lower my blood pressure. Has anyone had any success with lowering blood pressure through natural means? Over the last couple of days I have been drinking hawthorn tea, and this has lowered it a bit, but it makes me want to fall asleep. I do have salt on my food, Celtic salt full of natural occurring minerals, and I certainly do not want to remove this from my diet, because food without salt is tasteless. I'd welcome any suggestions. Best wishes.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Hi
I've attempted to eat healthily for many years, and have kept very well until I discovered I was pre-diabetic a few years ago. So, of course, | cut the carbs and when I went for the yearly MOT test earlier on in the year the nurse was pleased with my blood glucose reading as I'd managed to reduce it to within normal limits. I've also kept an eye on my blood pressure for a long time, and it's usually been in the 120/80 region, until a couple of months ago when it shot up to 150/80. These high readings occurred after I'd had a really awful cough for a week, and afterwards I did wonder whether it was Covid and should have at the time tested for it. I don't want to start taking medication as I've managed to avoid it for a lifetime, but have always taken supplements. So I'm looking for supplements to take to lower my blood pressure. Has anyone had any success with lowering blood pressure through natural means? Over the last couple of days I have been drinking hawthorn tea, and this has lowered it a bit, but it makes me want to fall asleep. I do have salt on my food, Celtic salt full of natural occurring minerals, and I certainly do not want to remove this from my diet, because food without salt is tasteless. I'd welcome any suggestions. Best wishes.

Maybe try potassium salt? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(25)00074-X/fulltext

 

[AngelSprings]

Hi, what a coincidence, I've just been across to my local superstore and purchased some Lo-salt which is high in potassium chloride! I'll feed back on how successful it is, but thank you for prompt reply. Kind regards.

 

[silver minion]

I would consider reducing the amount of salt. Even if the salt contains other minerals it still contains mostly sodium which can contribute to higher blood pressure.
My husband eats a lot of oily fish like sardines and mackerel which he says helps his joints and circulation. He notices the difference if he doesn't eat fish for a week.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Hi, what a coincidence, I've just been across to my local superstore and purchased some Lo-salt which is high in potassium chloride! I'll feed back on how successful it is, but thank you for prompt reply. Kind regards.

Let us know how it goes!

Potassium salt is recommended by the WHO etc etc etc as a simple hack for improving BP by reducing sodium intake (or maybe more accurately, improving sodium/potassium balance). But I think the diff in taste is probably noticeable for many people.

FWIW, me: I was approx one bazillion over a gadzillion at diagnosis, now avg about 105/65. I cut sodium by a lot, down to sub 1000mg per day now. Losing a bunch of weight seemed to make a big difference. Moving to a "plant forward" (as they say) diet may or may not have had an impact too, apart from the sodium reduction & weight loss. And lots of exercise has helped, no doubt. EDIT: Oh - also quitting smoking, doh 🙂

But BP responses to various things varies a lot by individual - no universal magic bullet, tho sodium reduction may come close, to a modest extent perhaps.

 

[Inka]

I’d reduce the salt/sodium too @AngelSprings Years ago there was a programme on TV where they had a group of people basically eating as much fruit and veg as they want. They gave them one olive a day to provide the necessary salt - and the reductions in blood pressure were stunning. I’ve always remembered that. Remember that salt is in processed foods too, so watch that as well.

 

[Eddy Edson]

I found it pretty easy to train myself to do without much salt. Tastes actually improve once you remove the rough effect of salt & these days I actively dislike it when it's at all noticeable. Eg "artisan bread" around where I live seems to be a marketing ploy for pretending that salty bread is somehow healthy & I find it inedible.

 

[AngelSprings]

Right, I've taken careful note of all your suggestions! Cut down on the salt and eat more fish! I've just finished lunch, a portion of salmon, roasted tomatoes and shitake mushrooms done in the air fryer, and a small slice of Hovis Nimble spread with Pro Activ. And on the side of the plate a smidgeon of Lo-salt. Wish me luck!

 

[Proud to be erratic]

I’d reduce the salt/sodium too @AngelSprings Years ago there was a programme on TV where they had a group of people basically eating as much fruit and veg as they want. They gave them one olive a day to provide the necessary salt - and the reductions in blood pressure were stunning. I’ve always remembered that. Remember that salt is in processed foods too, so watch that as well.

I imagine (guess) that those olives from that TV programme had been soaked in brine, rather than oil and the freely available fruit and veg had already excluded any salt from veg cooking, seasoning etc. Thus providing the necessary salt.

I mention this in case someone thinks olives previously soaked in brine, can be freely eaten without the hidden penalty of increasing sodium intake within a standard day's food. As a young man I disliked olives, some sort of food prejudice I'd acquired from my childhood I think. Nowadays I have an enduring love for them, all colours, all degrees of hardness or sharpness of flavour. I rarely add salt to season or flavour any meal or snack and far prefer the potassium high Lo-salt.

 

[Inka]

The fruit and veg was all raw @Proud to be erratic I can’t remember the premise of the programme but the idea was they were given lots of raw fruit and veg and could eat as much as they wanted. However, there was no salt in any of that so they gave them an olive each a day, which provided the necessary tiny amount of salt.

My point was their blood pressure dropped dramatically - because of the greatly reduced salt.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Right, I've taken careful note of all your suggestions! Cut down on the salt and eat more fish! I've just finished lunch, a portion of salmon, roasted tomatoes and shitake mushrooms done in the air fryer, and a small slice of Hovis Nimble spread with Pro Activ. And on the side of the plate a smidgeon of Lo-salt. Wish me luck!

Good luck with your planned changes @AngelSprings

Tastes do change and adapt, and fairly soon I think you’ll be used to the reduced level of salt, and the lower level will still provide the savour, just as sweetness becomes more apparent in things when the tongue isn’t being bombarded with overly sugary foods?

 

[Inka]

Yes, the olive was soaked in brine @Proud to be erratic If anyone’s interested, I found a brief clip of the programme I mentioned:

And an article:

BBC NEWS | Magazine | Going ape

The experiment lasted 12 days. They reduced their average salt intake from 12g per day to 1g. Also “…the cholesterol levels dropped 23%, an amount usually achieved only through anti-cholesterol drugs statins. The group's average blood pressure fell from a level of 140/83 - almost hypertensive - to 122/76. Though it was not intended to be a weight loss diet, they dropped 4.4kg (9.7lbs), on average.”

 

[JimG]

I have had a couple of issues where the pressure has been high but when I've had it rechecked later, it had dropped down. I reduced salt, don't include it in cooking only ever sprinkle a small amount on boiled eggs and never on anything else. Food doesn't taste bland without salt and you soon notice salty food and, for me now, salt spoils the food. I've also, for other reasons reduced caffeine and it's mostly decaff coffee, decaff tea and fruit and herbal teas. Certainly no Coca Cola etc. That's helped.

 

[nonethewiser]

Never really used a lot of salt in first place but switched to low salt few years back to help reduce bp, really only used salt on things like eggs cooked all ways & chips but rarely use much salt in cooking, much prefer black pepper.

 

[Chelseagirl]

Hi, what a coincidence, I've just been across to my local superstore and purchased some Lo-salt which is high in potassium chloride! I'll feed back on how successful it is, but thank you for prompt reply. Kind regards.

I was advised by my cardiac consultant to avoid this like the plague! Better to reduce normal salt intake.

 

[Leadinglights]

I was advised by my cardiac consultant to avoid this like the plague! Better to reduce normal salt intake.

I think people just think because it is not sodium chloride but potassium they can use just as much as they wanted and usually it was more because it doesn't actually taste as 'salty' as normal salt. As a consequence it can upset electrolyte balance.
It can be like when people go abroad and get an upset stomach and they think they have been really careful about the water but it can sometimes be the minerals in the bottled water they are getting which is very different to what they are used to.

 

[Chelseagirl]

I think people just think because it is not sodium chloride but potassium they can use just as much as they wanted and usually it was more because it doesn't actually taste as 'salty' as normal salt. As a consequence it can upset electrolyte balance.
It can be like when people go abroad and get an upset stomach and they think they have been really careful about the water but it can sometimes be the minerals in the bottled water they are getting which is very different to what they are used to.

And also that the sodium is replaced by potassium, which if there are any cardiac issues can make them worse. Stops ACE inhibitors working properly too.

 

[AngelSprings]

Hi Chelseagirl, thank you very much for the warning about potassium chloride. Who would have thought that a product readily available in all major superstores could have such dire effects! Thank goodness I've only had a small amount over two days! To be brutally honest I don't want to give up salt entirely, as I enjoy it on my food too much. And up to the time of having the covid/cough bug earlier on in the year I was having the Celtic Salt on a daily basis, and my blood pressure readings were consistently 120/80. To keep our blood glucose levels within normal limits is a hard task. I've never been into eating cakes, however I do love potatoes in any form but try not to have them. Chips, jacket potatoes, mashed, they make a meal for me so much more appealing. And sometimes to satisfy that food noise for potatoes I do occasionally indulge, but they have to have a sprinkling of salt on them. They wouldn't have the same appeal without it.

I'll attempt to reduce the amount of Celtic salt I have, and if all fails I'll pay a visit to the doctor, but hopefully not!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Have you experimented with celeriac @AngelSprings ?

That can be eaten mashed, or as chips etc. And many members here find it a useful adjunct or replacement (eg a 50:50 mash of all-celeriac doesn’t quite hit the spot).

 

[AngelSprings]

Hi everydayupsanddowns, yes I have tried celeriac, and I do know lots of people enjoy it, but for me it doesn't quite hit the spot. But thank you for trying. Actually, after exiting my computer a memory came to me, which might help me to reduce the salt in my diet. Vogel's Herbamare! A mixture of herbs and salt, which I used for years and enjoyed. Right Holland and Barrett here I come!