Discover how hypertension can often be a symptom instead of a standalone issue. Explore the surprising link between vitamin D deficiency and high blood pressure, revealing how it affects your body's water control system. Learn about the critical role of potassium and why most people fall short of their daily needs. Uncover how dietary choices and insulin resistance might set the stage for chronic health issues. Plus, find out why certain seasons and skin tones can increase your risk of high blood pressure.
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Quick takeaways
High blood pressure is often a symptom of an underlying issue, necessitating a focus on root causes rather than just symptom management.
Vitamin D deficiency plays a critical role in hypertension, where adequate intake along with potassium can significantly help in regulating blood pressure.
Deep dives
The Nature of High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is primarily a symptom rather than a condition with an identified root cause, with about 95% classified as essential hypertension, which leaves its origins largely unknown. Factors contributing to this might include genetics and lifestyle choices, but the variability in individual responses to weight loss, salt reduction, exercise, and substance use indicates complexity in its causes. Interestingly, while lifestyle changes can help, many people with high blood pressure do not fit the common profiles, such as heavy salt consumers who remain normotensive. This highlights the issue with traditional treatments, as hypertensive medications often target symptoms without addressing underlying causes, and may not be effective in one-fifth of patients, emphasizing the need for a deeper exploration of the condition's origins.
Essential Nutrients for Managing Blood Pressure
A significant connection exists between vitamin D deficiency and high blood pressure, as low levels can trigger hormonal imbalances that constrict arteries and retain sodium, consequently elevating blood pressure. Furthermore, the relationship between vitamin D, magnesium, and potassium is crucial, as an adequate intake of these nutrients can help alleviate blood pressure problems; potassium is particularly potent in counteracting sodium's effects, while magnesium enables vitamin D's function. For individuals with high blood pressure, a daily intake of vitamin D around 20,000 IU along with sufficient magnesium and potassium is advised to support cardiovascular health. Additionally, a low-carb diet is recommended to address insulin resistance, which is often a precursor to high blood pressure, by reducing sugar and starch intake that depletes these vital nutrients.
Today, I’m going to tell you how to prevent hypertension and how to get rid of it if you already have it. Around 95% of high blood pressure is classified as essential high blood pressure, which means the cause is unknown.
Around 20% of the time, hypertensive medication doesn’t work because blood pressure is just a symptom of an underlying problem! If you treat a symptom and don’t address the root cause, you’re only camouflaging the problem.
Vitamin D deficiency can cause hypertension. Your body's water pressure control system runs higher if you’re low in vitamin D, causing vasoconstriction in the arteries and increasing blood pressure. When this system goes up, it also causes sodium retention. More sodium and more water mean higher blood pressure.
Potassium protects against excess sodium, but most people don’t get enough. You need 4700 mg daily.
The risk of high blood pressure goes up during the winter when vitamin D is lower due to lower sun exposure. If you have darker skin, you’re at an increased risk of high blood pressure and vitamin D deficiency.
Genetic high blood pressure problems are usually associated with a genetic problem with vitamin D. Insulin resistance is also connected to high blood pressure.
If you eat a lot of carbs or snacks frequently, you may develop insulin resistance, a precursor for high blood glucose and the root cause of many chronic health concerns, including a fatty liver, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and belly fat.
If there's too much calcium in your arteries, they can become stiff, increasing your blood pressure. Vitamin K2 can help direct calcium to the bone and teeth. It’s also vital that you have enough magnesium to prevent calcium buildup and clotting.
High blood pressure is typically treated with calcium channel blockers and beta blockers. Magnesium may act as a natural calcium channel blocker and beta blocker.
Try the following 4 things to lower blood pressure naturally:
1. 10,000 to 20,000 IU of vitamin D daily
2. 800 mg of magnesium glycinate daily
3. Low-carb diet
4. Increase potassium intake
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