Poor Diet and Inactivity - Drivers for Hypertension
Elevated blood pressure is a leading indicator of circulatory system dysfunction. When blood vessels contain the plaque of atherosclerosis, the unhealthy fats in our diet cause the red blood cells to clump together and move sluggishly instead of flowing freely. Additionally, the high-fat American diet causes arteries to spasm and constrict, further reducing blood flow for 4 to 6 hours after a meal.
Where arterial plaque exists, less space is available for blood to flow through. In addition, a loss of elasticity in the walls creates further resistance to blood flow. Consequently, the heart has to pump harder to force circulation through the narrow and stiff arteries. This causes pressure on the walls of the vessels to rise.
Healing with Good Diet
The primary cause of high blood pressure is years of eating the standard American diet, rich in bad fats and high in sodium. Changing to eating whole plant foods (fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, seeds, and nuts) as at least 2/3 of every meal will increase blood flow within hours. The arteries begin to heal as soon as you start consuming a natural, plant-based diet.
As soon as the fats from feedlot animal products and processed foods cease coating the blood cells and causing them to clump, spasms and constriction in the vessels ceases. With such relief, blood pressure frequently drops to normal within days.
House Cleaning
Regular physical activity and weight control are also primary contributors to healthy blood pressure as these help in keeping the arteries free of fatty deposits. Think of how quickly your house would become utterly filthy if you never did any cleaning!
Our bodies are our original and most important homes. Most diseases Americans die from are the result of years of ingesting clogging substances while rarely taking out the trash.
Exercise is one powerful way your body has of cleaning itself and pushing out accumulated toxins and wastes. Your lymphatic system, for example, is cleansed only by physical activity or massage. Since most of us don’t get a daily massage, if we’re sedentary, the lymph doesn’t get cleansed and that can contribute to much chronic illness.
Resources:
- Effect of Dietary Fat on Experimental Hypertension. (1985) Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism [On-line]. Available: http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Doi=176974
- Hypertension. (2009) Dr. McDougall’s Health & Medical Center [On-line]. Available: http://www.drmcdougall.com/med_hypertension.html
