“I just don’t understand . . . why did my blood pressure suddenly go up?!”
I get this question EVERY SINGLE DAY.
Hypertension (elevated blood pressure) is one of the triad symptoms of metabolic syndrome. After practicing medicine for over 26 years, I can tell you that if you have hypertension or elevated cholesterol, you have insulin resistance. PERIOD.
Many people are so used to having borderline or elevated blood pressure, and not successfully controlling it through caloric restriction, they are told it is a “genetic problem,” placed on blood pressure medication and sent on their way. That’s actually how I was taught to treat blood pressure when I graduated from medical school.
Yet, we have missed the proverbial boat.
The problem is, and I’ve seen in for 26 years, that most people who are never taught about insulin resistance and the correct diet, you included, will experience a progressive elevation in blood pressure over time. Your doctor will continually raise your blood pressure medication. And, you will eventually find yourself taking four or five different blood pressure medications at maximal doses.
Again, when asked, your genetics will be blamed, and that is the end of it.
This allows the CEO and the board of directors of drug companies to have life-long products that pay for their homes in Aspen Colorado and their yachts. Seriously.
But, is that really the end of it?
When I realized the problem with blood pressure was actually insulin resistance, I began to see immediate reductions in blood pressure within one to two weeks in patients without giving them any blood pressure medications. I was shocked.
So much of a reduction in blood pressure would occur, that if I didn’t warn the patient that they should begin to back down their current blood pressure medications, they would experience symptoms of dizziness, light-headedness, headache and a few patient’s nearly passing out.
I often wondered why applying a ketogenic or carnivorous diet had such a profound effect on blood pressure so quickly. Dr. Robert Lustig helped answer that question for me.
In order to understand how the Standard American Diet (we call it the SAD diet in my office) raises your blood pressure, it is important to understand how the body processes the basic sugar molecule. Sugar is made of one glucose molecule bound to a fructose molecule.
This molecule, sugar, when ingested, is broken down in the body and 20% of the glucose is metabolized in the liver, the other 80% is sent on to be used as fuel throughout the body. The fructose molecule, however, is where the problem with blood pressure can be found.
100% of the fructose is metabolized by your liver, and the byproduct of fructose metabolism is a rise in uric acid and a decrease in nitric oxide. Uric acid is produced by the liver and this inhibits the production of nitric oxide.
The diminished nitric oxide in the presence of an increased level of glucose (stimulating increased insulin production) constricts the blood vessels and raises your blood pressure. This effect will raise your blood pressure for up to 48 hours. Yes, that donut you just ate raised your blood pressure for the next 48 hours.
It will also cause your legs to retain water and to swell. . . but, that’s for another email.
All of this can be seen below. If you are science nerd, you can read about it in Dr. Lustig’s 2010 article.
So, how do you lower your blood pressure through diet?
First, cut out ALL the simple sugars. These include anything with table sugar, high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup. Cut out things that act like fructose, as well. I’ve found clinically that Monk Fruit and Allulose have a similar effect on blood pressure.
Second, limit your overall intake of other sources of carbohydrates including any type of bread, rice, pasta, tortilla, potato, corn, carrots and fruit.
Yes, I said it. STOP EATING FRUIT and stop drinking fruit juice! Yes, ocavado is a fruit. Tomatoes are fruits.
Your fruit is sweetened by fructose (natures candy), and when taken with other forms of glucose can have the same effect as table sugar. If you have high blood pressure, cut out your fruit . . .
No, I really don’t care what the Diet Doctor or Paul Saladino have said about fruit, they’re not responsible for your blood pressure or your blood pressure medications.
Third, if you are taking blood pressure medications, you will need see your doctor about close monitoring of your blood pressure medication, as it can drop within 1-2 weeks of making these dietary changes.
Using things that improve your nitric oxide availability also help your blood pressure naturally. These are things that contain nitrogen. Nitrogen is what makes herbs and plants green. Hibiscus, Moringa and Dandelion contain high levels of nitrogen. That’s why this herbal product helps blood pressure. Yes, its the same product we use to help prevent infections.
I hope that helps.
To Your Health & Longevity,
Adam Nally, DO
President/CEO
DocMuscles
DrNally@DocMuscles.com
(623) 584-7805 – Work
www.DocMuscles.com
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