Mailbag! BANISH High Blood Pressure Naturally

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted September 14, 2021

I’ve been under a lot of pressure lately and my health is suffering. Do you have anything you can recommend to lower stress and high blood pressure?

–Ricardo from Atlanta, GA

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Ricardo,

You’re not alone – we’re all stressed out by these crazy times.

And stress, as you’ve correctly noted, can have long-term consequences for our health… especially our blood pressure.

But not in the way most people think.

If you’ve been measuring your blood pressure yourself, you may have noticed that the numbers climb when you’re stressed. But that rise in blood pressure is the result of a temporary increase in hormones like cortisol, and it has no long-term effect on your blood pressure.

What tends to happen, though, is people who are under stress eat worse and reach for alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs to help calm down. And those actions have a HUGE effect on blood pressure.

So, what can you do to be healthier and keep your blood pressure down?

Let me show you.

• Start with sleep. Anxiety and sleep go hand in hand. Most of us know we feel more anxious when we don’t sleep, but getting enough sleep can be a tough battle. Natural supplements like L-theanine, melatonin, and chamomile can be very effective.
• Calming herbs. I recommend herbs for sleep (like chamomile, hops, and valerian) to people who have anxiety and have found that they work pretty well. Try taking a half-dose of an herbal sleeping formula in the morning and see how it works.
• Exercise. Anxiety and exercise also go hand in hand— exercise reduces anxiety. Find something that works for you that you enjoy. The more you can make exercise fun, the better.
• CoQ10. This antioxidant/enzyme is found throughout our bodies and is used for energy production. Since our heart is one of the most energy-hungry organs in our bodies, it needs CoQ10. CoQ10 has been shown to lower inflammation, reduce blood clots, lower blood pressure and help prevent skipped beats like arrhythmias or atrial fibrillation.
• Potassium. Potassium is needed throughout your body, but especially in your heart. This in one mineral, however, that you need to get through your diet, so make sure you load up on foods like sweet potatoes, bananas, mushrooms, zucchini, peas, and cucumbers.
• Fish oil. The EPA/DHA found in fish oil has been shown to be heart-healthy and help manage blood pressure. Take between one to three grams a day.  Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids like those found in fish oil can reduce heart disease by up to 52 percent. Fish oils work by reducing inflammation and softening up arteries so they stay flexible.

Dr. Scott Olson, ND

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Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND