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A24 HEALTH
Wednesday 4 september 2019

Treating Blood Pressure Problems

[hypertension]

natural supplements. With low, weak blood or low blood sugar, hy-
Clinically, I have found that there are many rea- poglycemia, the body tightens or constricts the
sons that produce high blood pressure, weak blood vessels to increase oxygen and glucose
blood, or anemia, high cholesterol, pre- diabe- movement.
tes, stress, tight blood vessels or liver problems. Constriction of the blood vessels is the body’s
Fortunately, we can treat many of the different way to raise the blood pressure. By narrowing
reasons that develop hypertension with natural the passage in the blood vessels, blood flows
dietary supplements made from organic food. more slowly to the organs and the arms and
Low blood count reduces your blood’s ability legs. I prescribe Biotin supplementation to re-
to carry oxygen through your body. To com- duces systolic blood pressure by helping arter-
pensate, your heart starts beating faster and ies be smoother and able to relax more. Mari
stronger. Blood pressure rises. The human body Watanabe-Kamiyama reported in the British
needs vitamin B12 to make red blood cells, Journal of Nutrition that biotin has beneficial
nerves, DNA, and carry out other functions. The effects on hypertension and the frequency of
average adult should get 2.4 micrograms a stroke.
day. Like most vitamins, B12 can’t be made by Biotin is one of the B complex vitamins that help
the body. Instead, it must be gotten from food the body convert food into energy.
or supplements. In older people, B12 deficiency The word biotin comes from the ancient Greek
has been linked to dementia. This deficiency word “biotos,” which means “life” or “suste-
has also been linked to other neurodegenera- nance.” B vitamins, and specifically biotin, help
tive disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Par- keep your skin, hair, eyes, liver, and nervous sys-
kinson’s disease. tem healthy. Biotin is also a crucial nutrient dur-
Individuals who experience even slightly re- ing pregnancy, as it’s important for embryonic
By: Dr Carlos Viana duced levels of vitamin B12 also tend to have growth.
elevated homocysteine levels. Homocysteine When a new patient has blood pressure of 140
Hypertension, high blood pressure is a risk fac- is an amino acid used normally by the body in over 90 or more, I do a blood test to check for
tor associated with heart attacks and strokes. making energy and making muscles. Elevated Insulin resistance (pre-diabetes). The National
Blood pressure readings involve two number, concentrations in the blood are thought to in- Diabetes Information Clearinghouse reports
one above the other. The top number, which is crease the risk for heart disease by damaging high blood sugar contributes to high blood
also the higher of the two numbers, measures the lining of blood vessels and increasing the pressure. One of the proposed uses of the herb
the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats, risk of blood clot formation. Always make sure milk thistle is to lower blood sugar levels, which
that is, when the heart muscle contracts. The you are taking a B complex with your B 12 or may ultimately cause a decrease in blood pres-
top number is called the Systolic number. The other B’s. sure. Mayo Clinic states animal and laboratory
bottom number, the Diastolic, which is also the They work best together. research found milk thistle may be capable of
lower of the two numbers, measures the pres- When I studied and worked as a Traditional Chi- lowering high cholesterol levels. If this is true, milk
sure in the arteries between heartbeats (when nese Medical doctor in Shanghai one of our thistle may help lower blood pressure by elimi-
the heart muscle is resting between beats and principle natural medicines was rice that had nating excessive cholesterol within the arteries.
refilling with blood). a yeast or fungus growing on the grains. The For centuries natural physicians have used milk
yeast called Monascus purpureus, turns the rice thistle to help the liver detoxify.
I consider abnormal blood pressure to be more a red color. Called Red yeast rice, it has a long Get the Point! Years ago, nutritionists would
than 140/90. Like an overinflated tire or bal- history of use as both a food and a medicine take your blood pressure, have you eat one
loon, that can rupture, a burst blood vessel in in China. Red yeast rice contains natural mo- food and check your blood pressure ten min-
the brain causes a stroke and in the heart blood nacolin K, which has properties very similar to utes later. If your blood pressure rose more than
vessels that are blocked or broken can cause cholesterol-lowering prescription medications ten points, that food was considered to be intol-
a heart attack. When the largest artery in the known as statins. Besides helping the liver con- erant, or not good for you.
body, the aorta, is torn or ruptured, traumatic vert the cholesterol into a healthier bile, clinical The food – blood pressure connection is well es-
aortic rupture is a life- threatening condition. tests have looked at the benefits of red yeast tablished. Thankfully, we can use natural food
Blood pressure problems should not be ignored rice to treat other cardiovascular disorders, in- dietary supplements to help control our blood
and should instead, if possible, be treated with cluding hypertension, high blood pressure. pressure naturally.q