You need another drug to take like you need another hole in your head. More meds are the LAST thing you want to deal with.
But if your blood pressure starts climbing again, that’s the very next thing your doc will suggest. Another prescription on top of the ones you’re ALREADY choking down every day (including, quite possibly, a different BP drug).
It’s not just another pill to swallow, either. It’s also another set of risks to face.
Plus, more of those low-energy days when you feel like something the cat dragged in because of the combined effects of just too many meds. Experts even have a name for it. It’s called polypharmacy.
And seniors are, particularly at risk. In fact, 25 percent of adults between 65 and 69 are on five or more meds. And 46 percent of folks 70 to 79 are taking at LEAST five drugs.
But new research has uncovered a simple way to trim those extra points off your blood pressure, no meds needed. In fact, you can pick up a bottle of this BP solution at your local grocery store.
And if you play your cards right, you might even be able to cut back on the drugs you’re already taking, too.
Grocery store find helps tame blood pressure
As we get older, blood pressure tends to rise. Gaining weight can send it climbing too. Plus, the more processed foods we eat… you guessed it… the more likely it is for our blood pressure to head into the unhealthy zone.
Of course, you CAN’T do anything about your age. But you CAN do something about those other two factors. Switch to cooking lower carb meals with fresh ingredients at home, and you can even kill those two birds with one stone.
And now, new research reveals one MORE way to start taming your blood pressure without drugs. And it just might turn out to be the EASIEST solution yet.
It’s a humble flavonoid called quercetin. You’ll find it in ordinary, everyday fruits and veggies, including onions, apples, grapes, broccoli, and cherries.
But one of the richest food sources of quercetin is capers. These little pickled gems… which are the flower buds of a common Mediterranean shrub… are packed with between 180 and 230 mg of quercetin in less than a cup.
Plus, quercetin is also available as a supplement on its own and in antioxidant blends. Check the supplement aisle or online for a variety of choices.
Drive down BP without drugs
The new analysis of 17 clinical trials finds quercetin can boost HDL “good” cholesterol and cut triglycerides. But, most importantly, the nutrient can also shave more than THREE points off systolic (“top number”) blood pressure numbers.
That’s an average, of course. Some folks lost up to FIVE points off their blood pressure.
Quercetin comes with virtually no risk of side effects. But the same can’t be said for blood pressure meds. In fact, they can make older folks, in particular, a little unsteady on their feet, leading to a risk for falls and other problems. Plus, they’ve been linked to memory issues.
And since most older Americans are already on other meds – often including other drugs for blood pressure – they can add to the overall polypharmacy burden, increasing the risk of side effects and other problems.
The downside, of course, is that while three to five points could get many seniors below the line, helping them avoid drugs, others might need a little more help.
Good news. There’s something else you can add to the mix that could do the trick.
Lycopene, a natural carotenoid found in certain red fruits such as tomato and watermelon, can have an even more powerful effect on blood pressure.
Just 15 mg per day could shave up to 10 points off the systolic number. And that means it can be as good as… or even better than… many blood pressure meds, but without the ugly risks.
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