Tip! Eating red grapefruits is one of the best high blood pressure remedies there is. Eat several a day, if possible.

When the demand for butter exceeded the ability of farmers to supply this desirable fat … the search for a substitute started us on a road to trans fats, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Not until 20 years ago did we finally discover the dangers of trans fats.

How Did Trans Fats Enter our Food Supply?

In the 1860s butter was in great demand and there just wasn’t enough to satisfy everybody. Emperor Louis Napoleon III offered a prize for a substitute … and so, the first margarine was invented by a French chemist. It was created from clarified beef fat.

It wasn’t until 40 years later that the process of hydrogenation was developed … and the door to deadly trans fats was opened. Butter rationing during two worlds wars and the lower cost of margarine … had more and more people switching to this butter substitute — made from cheap vegetable fats.

Tip! Weight - people who are overweight are more at risk of high blood pressure than those who are of normal weight. Blood pressure tends to rise as body weight increases.

When vegetable oils are hydrogenated … their molecules are chemically re-arranged. This produces a fat — trans fat — that becomes semi-hard at room temperature. Basically, trans fats mimic the saturated fats that our taste buds love. We are naturally drawn to the taste and the consistency.

The semi-solid trans fats are great for baking … and not expensive like butter or lard. This is a big plus for food processors … and the reason trans fats are found in most baked goods — as well as fried foods. While this cheap alternative to butter is a boon for the food makers … it is a dangerous bust for consumers. In the US alone, an estimated 100,000 people die prematurely every year … due to the use of trans fats.

So What’s so Bad About Trans Fats?

Trans fats have the worst effect on your cholesterol levels of all fats. They drive up your levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol … at the same time lowering your levels of heart-protective HDL cholesterol. Trans fats’ overall effect on your cholesterol levels is … twice as bad as the effect of saturated fats.

Tip! Diet - a diet high in fat and sugar can cause blood pressure to rise. The healthier the diet, the less risk there is of high blood pressure and of blood pressure related disease.

Recently, trans fats have also come under fire for damaging the lining of your arteries. It’s this damage that leads to hardening of the arteries and higher blood pressure. The linings of your arteries play a very important role in controlling blood pressure. When these vital linings become damaged, their function is impaired — resulting in high blood pressure.

How Can You Avoid Trans Fats?

Although trans fats were first used in margarine … most margarines have eliminated this deadly fat. But, they’re still found in many baked goods and fried foods. In fact, because of their low cost and convenience — trans fats keep foods from spoiling — hydrogenated oils are being used even more.

Tip! Don’t use pulse rate as a direct measure of exercise intensity if blood pressure medications are being used, as these can decrease pulse rate significantly.

Keep clear of donuts, French fries, pastries, fast foods … even the seemingly healthy granola bar often contains this dangerous fat. Check labels carefully … avoid any food that contains hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Finally, a Little Help from the FDA

Fortunately, it is starting to get easier to find these dangerous trans fats — and avoid them. As of January 2006, the FDA is requiring food makers to list the trans fat content … on the Nutrition Facts label found on all products.

Even a small amount of trans fats in your diet is bad for your heart health. Switch over to healthier fats today. Not all fats are bad for you. In fact, some fats will even help you lower your blood pressure. Olive oil, nuts, and fatty fish will give your body a good dose of healthy fats.

Tip! Smoking - cigarette smoking does not cause high blood pressure. Smoking reduces the oxygen supply to the heart and increases the heart’s demand for oxygen.

Kevin Riley is a long-time natural health advocate and researcher … and the author of the exciting new program “Get Natural! Drop Your Blood Pressure”. Discover more at http://www.naturalbloodpressure.com

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Healthy New Years Resolutions can be more powerful than you think. Why? Because humans are allergic to change. That is why many diets fail. People drastically change their routine and they upset the cart. They eventually go overboard, derail the diet and go crazy on powerful food urges. That is why I teach my clients to make small daily changes. Changes that eventually become habits. Humans like habits. They are part of our daily routine. That is why I never dismiss the power of Healthy New Year0s Resolutions. It is a chance to start small healthy habits and or eliminate small unhealthy habits.
It has been found that once you do something for 21-28 days consistently you develop a habit that is hard to erase. The secret is not to try to change your entire lifestyle in one day or month. The health secret that I preach year round is to find small healthy practices or habits and implement them as a part of your daily routine. A secondary benefit from these new habits is that you become more confident and happy with yourself that you get to the next level. You are ready to go to the next level!
Your habits […]

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If you are interested in losing weight, then there are only two ways by which you can achieve it. The first method is reduction of your energy intake through diet plan and the second method is increasing your energy expenditure through exercises. People are looking on better options that will help them raise their metabolism, which is energy expenditure. Can you believe that you can lose weight by drinking green tea?
There are three types of tea categorized according to their oxidation level or fermentation process. They are black tea, oolong tea and green tea. Green tea is pan heated and steamed baked which prevent oxidation and that0s why the leaves are green. Researchers have found that for persons who are drinking the combination of both caffeine and extract of green tea energy expenditure is high with burning calories more than persons drinking either caffeine or the placebo. It is surprising to find that extract of green tea shows a significant result of increase in metabolism and fat oxidation. Researchers stress that the substances available in green tea that are called as catechins are initiating weight loss which stimulates your body for burning calories and also decreasing fat in your body. […]

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