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High Blood
Pressure? Go Bananas.
One of the most popular fruits, bananas,
can actually function as a blood pressure lowering agent.
More and more studies are pointing in this direction.
We have known for some time that potassium can lower
blood pressure to some extent, and bananas are high
in potassium. More startling, however, is the recent
discovery that bananas contain a natural compound used
in our most popular hypertensive medications!
One of the most popular classes of
anti-hypertensives (blood pressure medicines) is known
as ACE inhibitors and ACE blockers. These medications
are prescribed by physicians and rank near the top of
the list for treating patients with high blood pressure,
patients following heart attacks, and patients with
congestive heart failure. This class of drugs has also
shown a protective effect on the kidneys in patients
suffering kidney problems from diabetes. In fact, this
is one of the safest types of blood pressure medicines
you can take. It is available in a one-pill-a-day dose
form, and the newer varieties of the ACE blockers have
almost no side effects.
Now here's where bananas come into
the picture. The latest studies indicate that bananas
contain a natural ACE blocker and can lower blood pressure
up to 10% in patients who consume two bananas daily.
Isn't it incredible how science is continually catching
up with God's nutrition plan for man? Scientists have
considered the ACE drugs to be a major breakthrough,
and now we discover that they were there all the time!
Please note that blood pressure is
nothing to be taken lightly. There is a reason it is
called the "silent killer." As blood pressure readings
approach 140/90 and above, a silent but deadly process
begins weakening the body. Strain is placed on the heart
muscle, and thickening in the pumping chamber of the
heart (left ventricular hypertrophy) occurs. The incidence
of heart attack and stroke begin going up, and the kidneys
begin suffering damage. Many people feel that if their
blood pressure is up, they will have some visible sign
such as headaches or nosebleeds. These problems do occur
in certain cases, but they are the exception to the
norm.
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