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Contrary to what most people think, those afflicted with hypertension are not merely uptight or nervous. The condition is not solved if someone just "chills out."
Doctors aren't certain exactly what causes elevated blood pressure. They do know, however, it can kill you or (less serious scenario) cause strokes, heart attacks, blindness, kidney disease and other illnesses.
The old stanbys in treatment of hypertension are losing weight, exercise, avoiding salt and possibly medication.
However, recent research has found that upping the amounts of fruits and vegetables in a daily diet can be impressively beneficial. A study subjected 459 adults with high blood pressure to three diets: Some ate a typical American diet, sparse in fruits, vegetables and dairy products. Others consumed a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and dairy products. Others consumed a diet rich in fruits and vegetables but similar in other ways to the typical American diet.
The third group ate a combination diet, low in total fat and rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products, with moderate amounts of meat, fish and poultry.
The best results came from the combination diet, which reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. People with the highest blood pressures had the most success. The diet rich in fruits and vegetables also lowered blood pressures but not nearly on such an impressive scale.
These findings should make Americans more willing to consider dietary means rather than medical in improving their health. Or, perhaps, they may consider both avenues.
Recommended amounts of items on the most successful diet were nine to ten servings of fruits and vegetables per day and about three servings of low-fat dairy products. Current amounts of the items in the average American diet are about one-third of those amounts.
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Southwest Bariatric Nutrition Center
Scottsdale, Arizona