Blood Pressure Advice

Review by Jesse James:

Robert Kowalski, author of "The Blood Pressure Cure," said that in order to lower your blood pressure without drugs, you should first know your blood pressure.

"What I really recommend is a home blood pressure monitor. It's no more expensive than bathroom scales," he said.

Kowalski said he has five secret weapons.

The first is a tomato extract called lycomato, a product made by several different brands.

Kowalski said that in two separate studies, "(Patients) took one pill (of lycomato) a day and it brought their blood pressure down eight to 11 points."

Kowalski said the next step is to have a nightly cup of cocoa -- not the mixes, but real cocoa filled with polyphenols -- and the darker the cocoa the better. He said to make it with skim milk and a little sweetener.

"What it does is relax the lining of the arteries called the endothelium, making it more flexible and pliable so that the blood can more easily flow through," he said.

The third step in the process is to take arginine, an amino acid. Kowalski said it's a precursor to nitric oxide.

"The nitric oxide again causes the lining of the artery to expand and relax," he said.

Kowalski said that because arginine is metabolized rapidly, he recommends a sustained release formula.

But a warning comes with arginine. In Kowalski's book, he warned about a Johns Hopkins study of arginine and heart attack patients.

"There were six deaths in the arginine group and no deaths in the placebo group. So, my recommendation would be not to use this until more studies show that it is safe," said Dr. Charles Cummings, a Baltimore cardiologist from Mid-Atlantic Cardiovascular.

The fourth step on Kowalsi's list includes taking MegaNatural BP grape seed extract. The extract is sold under a number of brand names. Kowalski's book cited studies that showed an eight- to 11-point drop in blood pressure.

No. 5 on Kowalski's list was pycnogenol, an antioxidant made from pine trees. He said it's another nitric oxide producer.

"Here's my little trick. (It's kind of like a) salt substitute. Instead of being sodium chloride, it's potassium chloride," he said.

Kowalski said people need more potassium to balance the sodium. He said if people don't like the taste of pycnogenol sprinkled on food, try cooking with it.

"You won't taste it, and at every meal it becomes high in potassium to blunt the sodium," he said.

Cummings said Kowalski made some very good points in his book.

"It is true that by adopting some of the changes he suggests, we can reduce our medications significantly. But the idea that someone who's been on blood pressure pills for a long time can get off them is completely is unrealistic," he said.

Kowalski said people with high blood pressure should at least know about the medications they are taking, but don't frown about them. He said that sends a message to the brain.

"The body perceives it as something is wrong. Cortisol and norepenephrine are released, causing the blood pressure and heart rate to go up," Kowalski said.

Kowalski had another tip for those with high blood pressure.

"Find a way every day just to be nice to yourself. It helps you reduce your blood pressure, and it's better than taking a pill," he said.

Kowalski also recommended deep breathing for two to three minutes, three or four times a day. He said it's another way to help bring your blood pressure down.

Good book to read Before you take the doc's drugs!

Review by Fred Vogt:

Bob Kowalski's book "The Blood Pressure Cure" is for anyone that wants to take control of their elevated blood pressure and reduce it without resorting to prescription medication. He describes various ways to impact and lower blood pressure. A straight forward easily read book that gives practical advice and even includes recipes for tasty dishes to help lower blood pressure. I've read through the book twice and implemented some of his recommendations (my favorite is adding cocoa to my smoothies) with the result that I have lowered my systolic reading by 10 points! Highly recommended.

Review by doulos:

I enjoyed this book very much because of its focus on turning to the Lord to aid in our struggles with stress. Medically the advice is very similar to what I have received from my own holistic doctor, with a few things that I have not heard before. However, in this book Colbert adds the spiritual dimension which I believe is invaluable. There are a few cases where he misused scripture, which always gives me "heartburn", but this book is essentially sound. In the world we live in stress is primarily a spiritual issue, which then affects our bodies. Colbert has good advice on how to deal with both aspects of the problem.

Review by S. Richardson:

This is a wonderful little book, if you suffer from high bp,the

information in this gem, will give you valuable insights into foods, and vitamins, that will help to lower your bp,plus godly

principles,that will encourage you to stick to these guidlines, Dr.Colbert's streight forward approach, will inspire you. God wants us to live in divine health, this book and others by Dr. Colbert will put you on the right track.

Review by Big Foot's Mom:

I'm only giving this book 3 stars because I think someone needs to temper the other reviews with some common sense.

This book is a good starting point for anyone dealing with or concerned about hypertension, but before investing in and ingesting all of the supplements recommended on pages 132-133, I think a person needs more information from additional reputable sources to be certain they fully understand the risks and benefits of taking any of these nutrients in supplemental form. There are risks of adverse side effects and toxicity from supplements that are not there when you get what you need from the foods you eat. Those risks vary with things such as your age, pregnancy, illness, surgery,and medications you may be taking, not just the dosage. Each person's circumstance's are unique, so these recommendations should not be considered one-size-fits-all. I don't think this book emphasizes enough how important it is to keep your doctor current about any herbs and supplements you are taking and in what doses.

Below is some of the references I use to better understand the functions and risks of all of the nutritional supplements out there. They will open your eyes about how cautious you need to be about any supplements you take.

Vitamins, Herbs, Minerals, & Supplements: The Complete Guide by H. Winter Griffith, M.D.

A-Z Guide to Drup-Herb-Vitamin Interactions by Schuyler W. Lyninger Jr. et al

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Potassium But Were Too Tired To Ask by Betty Kamen, Ph. D.

The Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center at

http://lpi. oregonstate.edu

http://www.nutritiondata.com (This is the best website for tracking calories and nutrients in foods and recipes! More complete than any book I've found.)

http://www.consumerlab.com (This site is like Consumer Reports for supplements. Requires a subscription for complete access, but there is still a lot of good info for free there.)

Review by :

This is the book that I and all patients with high blood pressure have been waiting for. The incredible science is presented in a way that all nonmedical persons can understand what high blood pressure is, what problems it causes and most importantly how to prevent and treat it with natural means and life style changes. The author has academic credentials as outlined in the back of the book . This book is based on an article published in a peer- reviewed journal called the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association, which makes it very credible. The author backs up all information and suggestions with references. There is even an appendix for medical persons to read. This book differs from all the others that have been published in many respects. It offers a step by step program on how to treat high blood pressure. There are suggestions on nutrition ,diet, supplements, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, weight control, exercise ,prescription drugs and much more. This will become the BIBLE of high blood pressure for the lay person as well as medical persons. Every patient with high blood pressure should get a copy of this book and read it. Every person who has a friend or loved one with high blood pressure should give it to them. Medical doctors, Chiropracters, Osteopathic physicians, Naturopathic physicians, nutritionists, registered dieticians ,nurses and other health care providers should recommend this book to their patients with high blood pressure. The information in this book could be lifesaving. Dr. Houston has combined the best of traditional and natural medicine in a scholarly book that is readable. It will be a great reference source for anyone with this disease. I would highly recommend it.

Review by M. Micarelli:

Loads of information, I found it very helpful in my search for a non beta blocker treatment.

Review by NCW:

I was given this book by my wife after struggling (unsuccessfully) with a sudden and dangerous rise in my bp. I went from a lifetime of normal readings to stage 4 hypertension (190/160) at age 39. Over the course of the next nine months, I was on a variety of anti-hypertensives -- three different bp meds simultaneously -- at high doses with only limited success and terrible side effects. I read this book and a month or so later, decided to give Dr. Moore's theory a try. I followed the K factor diet for three months and also quit drinking caffeine. My bp's plunged within weeks and after a few months, I was off all but one med and that was reduced to a very low dose. My doctors -- including a nephrologist -- were stunned by the results. I can't recommend it enough.

Review by :

This book details ways for a person with hypertension to lower their blood pressure using natural methods. Dr. Moore is an M.D. and PhD who has done years of research in this area. He concludes that a low level of potassium (K) is a major casue of hypertension. He gives dietary instructions on how to raise your potassium, and lower your sodium. The book is well documented and is very readable. It is an encouraging book for those who have hypertension, but want to try a treatment more natural than using prescription medications. I recommend it to my patients. Russell Tweet M.D.

Review by Nicole:

This book is full of excellent recommendations for lowering blood pressure effectively. The author takes the work out of science for the consumer and presents it in an easy to understand format that makes sense - unlike the thousands of medical studies you'd have to sift through to learn the same things. I personally am distrustful of some doctors and definitely pharmaceutical companies and wanted a way to lower my blood pressure naturally without medication. The Blood Pressure Miracle is the best way I've found to do it! Definitely worth a read - worked for me!

Review by david_34:

I ordered this with a little skepticism, but after using some of the information in this book, I can see it making a big difference in my health, and in my life.