Eat Cereal Cut Hypertension

Initial research that was present Tuesday at the American Heart Association's meeting had revealed having that morning bowl of cereal especially whole grain varieties just may decrease your risk for high blood pressure by up to twenty percent.

Numerous factors can cause or worsen high blood pressure or hypertension including over abundance of sodium, not enough exercise and obesity. Cereal by itself cannot maintain your blood pressure but consuming it on a regular basis is an easy way to prevent hypertension.

Dr. Jinesh Kochar, head researcher and geriatric specialist at Beth Israel Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts states that cereal can easily be added to the diet and is enjoyed by almost everyone. It costs far less than medications if you had hypertension.

The study had discovered whole grain cereals seem to provide a little more protection against hypertension than those cereals made from refined grains.

Dr. Julie Miller Jones, PhD, professor of nutrition at the College of St. Catherine, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and not part of the research stated cereal could be a better source of whole grains due to how it is served. With whole grain bread and other foods saturated fat is usually added. The other plus side to cereal is that nuts, raisins and fruit are usually added which contain fiber and potassium that aide in lowering blood pressure.

Researchers had examined data on more than 13,000 men who were part of the long running Physicians Health Study, the study is funded by the National Institutes of Health. All men in the study had normal blood pressure rates and average age was 52 when the study had started. Over the next 17 years half had developed hypertension.

In comparison to men who never consumed cereal those who averaged at least one serving each week had shown 7% less risk for hypertension. Those who had consumed cereal more than one serving a week had a higher decreased rate for hypertension. Two to six servings each week had shown 11% less risk and one or more servings each day had revealed 19% lower risk. To determine the effect of cereal researchers had taken into account other factors such as smoking history, fruit and vegetable consumption and age.

The food questionnaires in the did not ask to specifically list the brands used, the popular brand named cereals manufactured from refined grains had included Special K, Corn Flakes and Rice Krispies. While examples of brand named whole grain cereals included shredded wheat, bran and Cheerios.

Research is still required to see if cereal is associated to lower risks for hypertension among women. Dr. Kochar commented that past studies have shown women do receive heart benefits from whole grain cereals.

Other alternative treatments for hypertension and high blood pressure

Chiropractic

University of Chicago researchers conducted a study to see if chiropractic adjustment of the atlas vertebra could decrease blood pressure in patients with hypertension.

For the study had 50 patients with stage 1 hypertension who either were never on hypertensive medications or who had stopped taking them two weeks prior.

All patients received a chiropractic evaluation for the misalignment of the C1 by using radiographs and leg length checks. The other half received sham treatments in which they could not distinguish it from the actual treatments. Treatments were given for a period of eight weeks.

Researchers had discovered that those patients who had received the real chiropractic treatments had shown a remarked drop in blood pressure. At baseline pressure was 147/92.5 at end of treatment 129.8/82.2.

It was also noted that 85% of the patients had required only one treatment to see a decrease in blood pressure.

Acupuncture

A study had examined acupuncture for the treatment of high blood pressure and discovered that it does have long term effects on some patients keeping their blood pressure normal for around nine months.

Twelve acupuncture treatments over a six week period.

Dr. Randal Zusman, Director of blood pressure medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital had conducted the study.

In one of the most detailed study of its kind, patients with high blood pressure 140/90 had been given a series of twelve acupuncture treatments as noted back in February stating the study was still being conducted.

Among the participants one patient in his thirties who had blood pressure rate of around 145/95 with medication had decreased his blood pressure to 130/80. Since he has been receiving treatments his blood pressure is around 125/75.

Acupuncture may just be another choice alternative for high blood pressure.

Sources:

CNN

University of Chicago Medical Center

ABC News