About half of those with essential hypertension are resistant to insulin. For such people a blood sugar lowering diet would be very helpful.
The late doctor Robert Atkins treated hypertension very successfully on a low carbohydrate diet with the addition of nutritional supplements.
Since most people drink too little water and ingest too much salt, getting these two in balance is often all that is required. About 60% of hypertensives are thought to be responsive to reduced salt intake.
Fatty Acids
The omega 3 fatty acids taken as fish oils can lower blood pressure. They improve pliability and flexibility of blood vessels, lower inflammation and relax blood vessels.
Garlic
Regular consumption of garlic reduces the risk of heart disease. It lowers cholesterol, prevents blood fats sticking to the walls of the arteries and lowers elevated blood pressure. It also inhibits substances that constricts blood vessels.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 enhances the immune system and protects against free radicals. It is particularly valuable in treating heart conditions. In one study 26 patients with essential arterial hypertension were treated with oral CoQ10, 50mg twice daily for 10 weeks. At the end of the treatment, systolic blood pressure decreased from 164.5 to 146.7 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure decreased from 98.1 to 86.1 mmHg on average.
Vitamin C
Since essential hypertension is associated with an abnormal antioxidant status and reduced levels of nitric oxide, in both of which vitamin C has important roles, one would expect this vitamin to be able to reduce high blood pressure and it does.
In one study of hypertensives taking 500mg a day, a significant drop in blood pressure was observed.
Other Valuable Nutrients
L-arginine, a non essential amino acid converts to nitric oxide which in turn has profound effects on the endothelium, to allow arteries to relax and lower high blood pressure. Positive effects are seen from 2g to 9g a day.
Important minerals include calcium, magnesium and potassium. The amino acid taurine encourages the excretion of excess fluid and relaxes blood vessels.
