UNIT 3 - Food and Blood Pressure

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Recorded Webinar

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Another significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease is high blood pressure - known medically as hypertension - contributing to half of all heart disease and strokes, as well as increasing the risk of kidney disease and blindness.  Worldwide, more than 1 billion people are estimated to have hypertension, with this number predicted to increase 1.56 billion by 2025.  In the United States, about one in three adults have high blood pressure.

ARTERIAL PLAQUE
As the plaques build up in our arteries, they restrict the free flow of blood.  As a result, our blood pressure goes up in an effort to ensure sufficient quantities of blood circulate through ever-smaller pipelines.  If the lines get too narrow and the pressure gets too high, the risks of stroke, aneurism and heart attack also increase.  The principles of the optimal diet are important steps toward removing excess fat and cholesterol from our arteries, and reducing blood pressure.

WEIGHT
Being overweight also directly contributes to high blood pressure.  Like all the cells in our body, fat cells need to be fed and every pound of fat requires an extensive capillary system to make it functional.  This means the heart requires greater pressure to get the blood through this enlarged system.  Understandably, obese peoeple are five times more likely to have hypertension.  

POTASSIUM
Potassium has shown to be an important partner in battling hypertension and it helps to counteract the effects of sodium in the body.  Potassium is found in fresh fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and legumes.  To bring down high blood pressures, we recommend nine fruits and vegetables a day.

ALCOHOL USE
Its not only alcohol consumption that is linked with increased blood pressure, alcohol is also energy dense.  So avoiding alcohol seems significant for bringing down blood pressure and weight levels.

Article and Video Review

animan protein, plant protein and hypertension

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