Q. Is there anything in the way of vitamins or herbs that a person can take instead of a prescription drug for high blood pressure? I’ve heard about garlic, but I don’t like it much. Is there anything else?
A. The newest candidate for natural blood pressure control is beet juice. A study in the journal Hypertension (online Feb. 4, 2008) showed that two cups (500 ml) of beet juice lowered blood pressure by approximately 10 points. That is better than many prescription drugs. The effect lasts up to 24 hours.
Beets are high in dietary nitrate and increase the amount of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide (NO) helps blood vessels relax, lowering blood pressure. NO has anti-inflammatory activity and discourages blood clot formation.
A diet rich in vegetables and even dark chocolate can also lower blood pressure. Pomegranate and grape juice, magnesium supplements and breathing exercises can be beneficial. We evaluate a wide range of blood pressure medicines and alternative approaches in our book, Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy. It is available from libraries and bookstores or online at this website.
