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Unfortunately, researchers rarely consider nutrients in more complex
interactions. So it’ll likely be a long time until this aspect of the “ALA question” is considered. In the meantime, this does not mean that you need
to eliminate flaxseed and flaxseed oil from your diet! In addition to ALA there are many other healthful nutrients present, especially in whole flaxseed. However, it’s probably wisest to consult your nutritionally knowledgeable physician about what quantity of
flaxseed or flaxseed oil might be best for you. And since too much ALA can suppress “5-alpha-reductase”, if you’re a man, you might want to have your “5-alpha reductase” enzyme activity measured. This is easily done from a 24-hour urinary steroid test. Some physicians may also recommend a red blood cell membrane essential fatty acid test to make sure your ALA levels aren’t out of balance with other fatty acids.
Food allergy may be the culprit For some people with hypertension, food allergies can play a big part in the problem. Eliminating the allergens or desensitizing to them can help lower blood pressure levels, though no one has been able to successfully explain the connection. If you have a personal or family history of allergies, it’s worth investigating. Contact a member of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (316-684-5500; www.aaem.com) for a list of doctors near you who can help with thorough allergy screening.
The most notable individual case of allergy aggravated hypertension I’ve worked with involved a gentleman who was undergoing maximum antihypertensive drug therapy but still had blood pressure readings ranging from a minimum 180/120 to a maximum 220/150.
Once he discovered and eliminated all food allergies, his blood pressure dropped to a level ranging from 160/100 minimum to 180/120 maximum.
Biofeedback and exercise––old news, but underrated and underused Biofeedback is another valuable and frequently effective “non drug” tool for lowering blood pressure.
It’s not so much a “treatment” as it is a training program. Using external instruments, a reading is obtained of your body’s reactions to stress. Through practice, you learn to recognize the physiological responses you have that might be causing unhealthy reactions and teach yourself how to control those responses. Biofeedback centers are d in all major and most midsize cities. Check your local Yellow
Pages for listings. Exercise also can significantly lower high blood pressure. Even light exercise can make a big difference. The amount that’s healthy varies from person to person. Of course, it’s best to check with a doctor or other knowledgeable individual before starting a strenuous exercise program

If you’re concerned about blood pressure and wonder what your level might be, there are many places to
have it measured for free, including drugstores, fire
stations (when the firemen aren’t fighting fires), health
fairs, and “senior centers.” Home blood pressure monitoring equipment is quite accurate, and most places that sell it will teach you how to use it as well.
Nutrients: which to cut back on and which to increase
Sodium. You’ve probably heard that cutting WAY back on salt intake is an important step in lowering high blood pressure. However, researchers are finding more and more evidence that sodium restriction might not be best for everyone after all. If you have high blood pressure you might want to determine through trial and error whether or not salt restriction makes a
difference for you. Potassium. Sometimes it reduces blood pressure,
sometimes it doesn’t. Since a higher potassium level does reduce the risk of stroke, it’s always wisest to take extra potassium if you have high blood pressure, even if it doesn’t lower your actual blood pressure numbers.
Calcium and magnesium. For some individuals, about 1 gram (1,000 milligrams) of calcium daily can greatly reduce blood pressure by five to 10 points. For
others, calcium makes very little difference. It appears to work more often for those with insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia. If you do supplement
with calcium, it’s important to balance it with magnesium. Magnesium by itself can lower your blood pressure level, since it helps relax muscles, including those of the smaller blood vessels, thus helping to dilate them and improve blood flow. Supplementing with 300 to 400 milligrams daily is usually sufficient.
Vitamin C. A recent research letter sent to the medical journal Lancet reconfirmed that vitamin C lowers elevated blood pressure. Although this study used less, you should take a minimum of 1 gram twice daily.
Vitamin D. During the last few years, I’ve observed significant reductions in blood pressure in people I`ve worked with when they take vitamin D supplements.
Vitamin D achieves its blood pressure lowering effect by addressing one of the major causes of high blood pressure—a substance called angiotensin II.
Without adequate vitamin D, one of your genes (a tiny part of your DNA) initiates the formation of excess quantities of a molecule called renin. Renin
breaks down another molecule, called angiotensinogen, into angiotensin I. Angiotensin I is converted into angiotensin II by a substance known as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). That’s why most popular
patented “space alien” antihypertensives are ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).
But vitamin D helps prevent high blood pressure
by targeting the very first step in the process: It persuades the gene that controls the production of renin to become less active. When less renin is produced, less angiotensin is produced.
While vitamin D is very effective at lowering blood pressure, don’t expect overnight miracles: It frequently takes two to three months for significant
changes to start taking place and six to eight months for the vitamin D to take full effect. How much do you need? Well, recent research has reevaluated the safe upper limit for this vitamin, and
many experts now agree that it’s 10,000 IU daily (though some say it’s as low as 4,000 IU daily). But my target for optimal vitamin D intake is whatever it
takes to achieve a serum level of approximately 60 ng/ml. Since achieving this level will mean a different dose for everyone, it’s always best to work with your doctor to monitor your blood level of vitamin D.
The building blocks of healthy blood pressure Amino acids are the “building blocks” from which all proteins are made. In certain cases, supplementing
with them has led to lower blood pressure. At least one study devoted to each demonstrated that L-tryptophan and taurine can lower blood pressure in essential hypertension (high blood pressure with no known cause). The amount of L-tryptophan