Hypertension, is it reversible?

Hypertension, Primary or Essential is mainly caused by lifestyle. Secondary hypertension is usually as a result of a side effect to medication or a comorbidity, like Kidney disease etc.

Pills treat the symptom, not the cause. You don't have a deficiency in beta-blockers, you have a dysfunction in your daily habits.

The blood pressure lowering pills, thiazides diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, alpha blockers, vasodilators etc all come with side effects:

• Fatigue

• Dizziness

• Sexual dysfunction

• Nutrient depletion

• Sleep disruption

There are more unpleasant side effects.

The practices I recommend: The non-negotiables:

• Walk daily at least 30-60 minutes

• Strength training, 3-4 times/week

• Reduce sugar & refined carbs (a high carb diet leads to an increase insulin resistance, Insulin and hunger hormone Leptin secretion, this causes sodium retention and disrupts the cellular electrolyte balance and may cause blood vessel constriction).

• Prioritise sleep, establish a strict circadian routine. Bed by 10pm - Rise by 6am.

• Deep breathing (in phase), any breathwork you prefer as long as you do it everyday for at least 6-8 minutes.

• Deliberate cold exposure

No side effects, only benefits.

Include these in your diet:

• Beets (boost nitric oxide)

• Pomegranate (natural bretablocker)

• Coconut water (potassium)

• Coriander seed water (boosts circulation)

• Cayenne Pepper (studies suggest that cayenne pepper helps remove lipid deposits from arteries & helps dilate them)

• Walnuts (soaked) aid lipase function & promote lipase enzyme that helps breakdown fats & lipids

• Thoroughly cooked Leafy greens (magnesium + potassium)

• Garlic (vasodilation)

• Wild-caught salmon (omega-3s)

• Avocados (balance sodium/potassium)

Food is medicine.

Avoid these entirely:

• Processed carbs & all added sugar

• Low fat, foods labelled 'free from'.....

• Seed oils (canola, rapeseed, soybean, sunflower, etc)

• Fizzy drinks like Coke

• All types of Alcohol

• Sedentary lifestyle

• Chronic stress

These cause systemic inflammation and raise the blood pressure.

Let me touch upon the Salt myth, salt can only raise your blood pressure if you routinely eat lots of junk, processed foods and if you are deficient in potassium & magnesium.

Primary Hypertension is reversible and can be done fairly quickly, don't let false and bad science mislead you...