“Keeping just a few pounds off can significantly affect your risk of getting high blood pressure or diabetes,” says cardiovascular health expert Lawrence Appel at the John Hopkins School of Medicine. Most Americans don’t realize how simple modifications can tack on an extra ten years to their lives.

It was previously assumed that if you had heart attacks and congestive heart failure in your family, then you were doomed and if your genetic slate was clean, then you’d be fine. However, health experts are finding that long hours, high stress and sloppy lifestyle habits are contributing to a rise in patients suffering from hypertension.

Over at the Harvard School of Medicine, researchers have developed a dietary program known as “DASH,” an acronym for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The DASH diet includes: 8 grain servings, 5 vegetable servings, 2-3 low fat dairy servings, 1-2 servings of meat, poultry or fish and 5 servings per week of nuts, seeds or beans.

Saturated fats and sugars should be limited and serving sizes generally run 1/2 cup cooked, 1 cup raw or 2 tbsp nuts and seeds. Exercise is crucial! Within just two weeks, the diet already began having an effect on Dr. Gabe Mirkin’s patients, with 70% returning to normal blood pressure levels. He says that increasing minerals like magnesium, calcium and potassium had a strong impact, as did limiting fat and sodium. The diet triggers a diuretic effect, much like certain medications that work to “flush the system.”

In addition to the DASH Diet, certain “super foods” and supplements give high blood pressure sufferers high hopes for recovery. Several studies show the effectiveness of Q10, a coenzyme that reduces both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as fish oil supplements that pack the body with the necessary omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids it needs to perform better. Traditional Chinese medicine recommends garlic, chestnuts, turnips, honey, Chinese celery, hawthorn berries and mung beans to decrease high blood pressure.

Thirty minutes of moderate-intense exercise at least four days per week is the official 2003 American Heart Association standard for optimal heart health. For people who may not be able to meet strenuous standards, walking for three ten-minute intervals per day is recommended.

Additionally, yoga is a good low-impact exercise that decreases stress and may also help reverse high blood pressure. Many Americans find that treadmills and bicycles are their best allies when it comes to an enjoyable workout they can stick to.

High blood pressure may be helped by a diet high in potassium. Learn more about the effects of potassium on blood pressure with tips from a doctor in this free health video. Expert: Dr. Robin Terranella Bio: Dr. Robin Terranella has a medical degree from Bastyr University and has trained at Wu Hsing Tao Acupuncture School. Filmmaker: Dustin Daniels

Since most of the causes that trigger high blood pressure stems from improper dietary intakes, we should give concern as to how our body eliminates the resulting wastes. These wastes are either eliminated through the kidney or through the large intestines.

Fiber as waste binder plays a pivotal role in preventing high blood pressure through proper waste elimination. Thus, we can improve our health conditions, by adding dietary fibers to our daily meal plans.

In as much as our body produces a lot of waste materials, some known excesses such as sodium and glucose tend to overwork the kidneys. High-fiber diets can help the digestive system by its inherent ability to bind other food, which then allows proper digestion to take place.

As the normal digestive processes occur, other organs such as the kidneys and the large intestines without cause for stress or hormonal imbalance, will also perform proper waste disposal.

As a form of standard dietary guide, persons weighing about 120 pounds are required to partake at least 25 grams of dietary fiber, while a person who weighs as much as 200 pounds should have at least 35 grams of dietary fiber.

Insoluble or Hard fiber – often found in wheat bran is also known medically as the “water carrier”. As a water carrier, this fiber can produce stool consistently and regularly. As this fiber passes through the intestinal tract, the water it carries help to dissolve unwanted and sometimes toxic wastes. Thus, it aids greatly in preventing disorders such as appendicitis, diverticulosis, hemorrhoids as well as reduce cancer risks.

Pectin – a mixture of polysaccharides found in plant cell walls useful in reducing cholesterol and has the ability to bind even the bile acids produced by the liver. Other dietary fibers ideal for selective waste absorption are saponins and guar gums.

High fiber is present in almost all fruits and vegetables but is particularly high in cereals and grains.

Effects of Fiber and Water in your Diet

However, in order for fiber to work effectively, fiber needs water. Unless there is sufficient water the stool that fiber produces cannot be expelled with ease out of the digestive system. Without the water the stool will be dry and hard. For people experiencing high blood pressure, they will have to drink more than four glasses daily, as this will help eliminate sodium.

Ways to Increase your Dietary Fiber

The best way for fiber to work effectively is to start your day with high-fiber cereals. Make your meals complete by eating fruits, vegetables, grains, and tubers. If you want to snack on something, make it fruits or high-fiber snacks and always make it a point to drink plenty of water.

Inadequate fiber, will lead to accumulation of wastes in the body and wastes as we all know can lead to complications and other bodily disorders. Hence, improving our diet by adding dietary fibers, can help eliminate the factors that trigger high blood pressure.

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