Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
The mineral magnesium is responsible for over 300 functions within the body, but it is especially important for proper heart functioning and healthy blood pressure levels. Learn more about this important nutrient and which form might be best for you from Amanda Williams, MPH.
Many Americans lack magnesium, but this mineral shouldn’t be overlooked. It is involved in hundreds of processes within the body. If you’re not getting enough of this nutrient through your diet, supplementing is a great option.
quercetin
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey. Ph
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In our last episode, I discussed a nutrient called quercetin that’s found in really good foods and is also available as a supplement. It has a great influence on many things in the human body. For instance, it’s helpful with generalized, systemic, low-grade, chronic inflammation. With chronic, low-grade inflammation, you don’t feel it, but it’s there. It’s not good for your brain, eyes, heart or many other parts of the body. It’s not good for longevity. Quercetin helps to support a proper inflammatory response in the body. It is also good for lung health.†
Quercetin And It’s Influence on Inflammation, Lung Health & Blood Pressure, Part 1 – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 325. Listen Now >>
When you eat good foods that contain quercetin, the other ingredients in them amplify the benefits of the quercetin. All of these things work in a synergistic fashion and they’re really good for you. When you eat a Mediterranean diet, with lots of seeds, nuts, olives, high-quality olive oil, fish, fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables, you’re getting some quercetin and you’re getting some other related flavonoids.†
Blood pressure medication can prevent heart attacks and strokes, but we didn’t realize how beneficial lowering blood pressure was. This is even in people who never had heart disease, a heart attack or stroke. Lowering blood pressure a couple of points in the general population lowers their risk of developing heart disease later on. Heart disease can lead to dementia, kidney problems, vision problems and an increased risk of stroke and heart attack.†
Let’s discuss a new report that came out on high blood pressure, which is more technically known as hypertension. This report came out in the fall. In this report, Professor Rahimi from the University of Oxford said, “Greater drops of blood pressure with medication lead to great reductions in the risk of heart attacks and strokes.” He goes on to explain that this is regardless of the starting blood pressure level and this is both in people who have previously had a heart attack or stroke and in people who never had heart disease. They might have almost normal blood pressure.†
In the study, they divided people into two different groups: those who already had a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease and those who did not. Then they split these people up based on different levels of blood pressure. People with normal blood pressure were included in the study, as were people with really high blood pressure. Over an average of four years of follow-up, each 5 point mL reduction in the top figure of the blood pressure reduced the relative risk of a major cardiovascular event by about 10%. It also lowers the risk of heart failure by 14%. Even in otherwise healthy people, they’re showing that lowering blood pressure has an impact on health, longevity and survival.†
Heart Failure Is Scary But It Can Be Helped, Part 1 – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 319. Listen Now >>
Here’s a study looking at quercetin. You’re never going to get enough quercetin through your food. This is why it’s important to turn to supplements like our 500mg quercetin. This study is from July 2008. The researchers gave patients with high blood pressure 730mg of quercetin every day. Their blood pressure was typically 150/95, which is enough to really trigger a stroke or a heart attack or to damage your brain or kidneys. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, so everybody in the study either got quercetin or placebo for a certain amount of time. Then there was a washout period where people got neither to get rid of the effects of the quercetin and then they were switched over so that people who were previously on placebo were now on the quercetin. They found that over a 28-day period, quercetin helped lower blood pressure and it was a pretty good effect.†
Tune into the full podcast episode for more details on research showing the powerful benefits of quercetin.
Thank you for tuning in to the Invite Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Invite Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the Invite Health Podcast.
Every single year, a half a million Americans die due to hypertension. We can link a lot of this to diet and lifestyle choices. The good news is that there are some ways that you can support healthy blood pressure in a natural way.
Taurine is a unique amino acid that works alone in your body, unlike other amino acids. It plays an important role in the functioning of your heart, muscles, eyes, brain, and certain blood cells called platelets. On today’s episode, let’s discuss the benefits of taurine on your heart.
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey. Ph
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Minerals are so essential to good health, energy, and longevity and almost all people are low in at least one mineral. Potassium is one of those minerals that most people in the U.S. are truly low in. And it is extremely important for blood pressure control and for the body’s acid/base balance such as in being alkaline or conversely the Keto diet. Yet research is lacking especially in reference to the effects of many minerals on blood pressure.
We do know that salt, which is made out of the minerals sodium and chloride can raise blood pressure and we usually get far too much salt. However, what’s rarely discussed is the effects of the minerals Potassium and Magnesium on blood pressure control. They both help lower it, with potassium being more effective.
98% of Americans are deficient in Potassium.
-Jerry Hickey, Ph.
What is an Electrolyte and its function?
Potassium is in your sports drink because it is an electrolyte used for energy. Simply put, an electrolyte is a mineral that when mixed in water gives an electrical charge and this is a major way that our body conducts business physiologically. Other important electrolytes are sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, and phosphate.
Sodium is the major electrolyte in body fluids outside of our cells and potassium is the major electrolyte within our cells. So these two electrolytes, sodium and potassium, interact to balance our body fluids to prevent dehydration or to prevent fluid-related swelling which is called edema. This fluid balance is important for muscle and nerve function. Nerves and muscles are considered to be electric tissues of our body. For instance the electrolytes sodium, potassium, and calcium move in and out of cells and fluids through structures called ion channels that allow your muscles to contract. So, lacking any one of these three minerals leads to muscle weakness or muscle cramps.
How Grape Seed Supports Heart Health and Healthy Circulation. Click here >>
Sodium and potassium also interact to control our blood pressure.
Studies on Potassium and Blood Pressure
Three different meta-analysis’ from Europe says there is a significant association between potassium intake and lower blood pressure. European authorities go on to say, “European and American professional associations recommend to increase dietary intakes of potassium for the prevention and management of hypertension.”
The British Medical Journal (BMJ) reports cutting down on salt and increasing levels of potassium will have major health and cost benefits across the world – saving millions from heart attack and stroke. The number one cause of a stroke is high blood pressure. Modest salt reduction was studied in 34 clinical trials and researchers found after 4 weeks, blood pressure was lowered. This was seen in both men and women and in all races of participants in the study. Across the board, reducing blood pressure can prevent the risk of heart disease.
The Importance of Aged Garlic for Heart Health. Click here to listen now! >>
Lifestyle Changes Needed
If you are chronically stressed, you will not see a huge change in your blood pressure. Stress has a direct impact on this condition. You must be sure to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. This is critical – whether you are taking supplements or on medications, you must be sure to be eating antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables.
Thank you for tuning in to the Invite Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Invite Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the Invite Health Podcast.
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