Wednesday, May 4, 2011

What Am I Doing (Naturally) to Lower my Blood Pressure Reading

Well lets start of this blogging-again-thing with a health post update.  Not long ago, I went to the doc for a visit and of course blood pressure readings were done.  Mine was still high, even after losing all the weight that I have.

To be honest with I'm one of those cats that has "whitecoat issues" too.  I get pretty ramped up in the doc's office, worried, etc.  So my blood pressure there is, I'm sure, higher than normal. 

And this time, when they took it, I didn't feel all light-headed afterwards like I would have nearly 60lbs ago.

But still.

I figure it's higher than it actually should be and I decided to take action in order to lower those numbers.

But I ain't taken no medicine fer it, dagnabit.

In this Primal lifestyle that I'm living, it naturally turns one's mind to all things well, natural.  So now when I have an issue with anything, I check my diet, my activitiy, etc before I think about pharmaceuticals.

Don't worry, I'll take medecine if I have too, but believe me when I say that I FIRMLY believe that once we give our body the tools to deal with something it can (and will) reverse many-a-bad-thing that might be plaguing it.

So here is my plan over the next 6 weeks to lower my blood pressure.  At the end of that run, I'll share the numbers with you (both starting and ending ones).  Pardon the rawness of these notes but I just copied what I'd written for myself in Evernote and simply turned it into the heart of this post.
  1. Continue improving my lean body mass by losing fat - this summer I should be back at high school weight.
  2. Exercise more (Grok-like) to help heart oxygenate the blood better.
  3. Breathe deeply ( I've been thinking about it for some time.  So now I START my day this way)
  4. Increase potassium 2000-4000mg daily (look on MDA for primal sources)  (Artichokes, Celeriac, Fiddlehead Ferns, Radishes, Pumpkin)
  5. Decrease salt intake.  Drop salt from cooking altogether (see if anybody even notices, lol).
  6. Dark chocolate, 85% cacao powder please, lower % need not apply
  7. Take a supplement?  Coenzyme Q10 reduces BP 17/10, 60-100 mg (3 times per day)
  8. Drop coffee AND soda = less caffeine = less restricted blood vessels = lower blood pressure.
  9. Go to tea (should lower systolic - top number - by 7 points in 6 weeks)
  10. Work a little less - think about it less - and focus on peaceful things more.
So there you have it.  That's my plan.  No prescription meds.  Nutritionally based and supplementation.

Just from items 7 and 9, I should see a drop of 24 points of systolic pressure in 6 weeks.  That'll be with NO side effects kids.  Sound like a plan ANYBODY could follow?  Imagine what other benefits I'll see would ya?

I challenge you to take a look at your nutritional life, see what's shaking, what's working .. what's not.  One thing I've learned about fitness this past year is that the FIRST thing you have to do is PAY ATTENTION to YOUR body.  Listen to it, notice it's reaction to your environment, food, exercise, stress, etc

It'll tell you what it needs if you pay attention.  Changing your thinking along those lines WILL lead to REAL improved health. 

Trust me, I know.  I've an old belt, from last year, that is SOOOooo SIX notches ago. It helps me to remember where things were and where things are now.

Remember that guy from the Dos Equis commercial, the Most Interesting Man in the World?  He always says "Stay Thirsty my friends".

I'll add "Pay attention my friends". 

2 comments:

Heather said...

Paying CLOSE attention - and the results are wonderful and there are MORE to come! :D
Doing a wonderful job; proud of you!

Jane`or Janie said...

Was looking at some old pics a few weeks ago and I was totally amazed at the before and after look in the weight loss.....sure are looking good little buddy.....keep up the good work and I'll stop with the salt when I cook too...lol Proud of all your hard work...love you Mom