This is the everything-you-need-to-know-to-be-as-healthy-as-possible newsletter, brought to you by Kristy Russ, pharmacist and health consultant. I have close to 20 years experience in helping people improve their health.

I help people get healthy, and more importantly, stay that way so they're not miserable and just slowly dying for the last 20 years of their lives, which IS the "norm" today.

For even more information go to www.antioxidants-make-you-healthy.com


Hi,

I've been back from vacation for over a week now. Isn't it amazing how it only takes a few days to feel like it was forever ago?

To be honest though, I'm pretty excited to get back to work on a huge project that I'm super passionate about. I think you'll be excited about it too when I'm finally ready to introduce it. It's what many of you have been asking me for. Stay tuned...

I thought it best to continue on with the heart health theme from last time and discuss something that's one of the most common things I deal with in the pharmacy.

8 Ways to Naturally
Lower Blood Pressure

Well, the good news is that the answer is a huge "YES!". Unfortunately, the usual reaction to my recommendations that follow tells me that it's not going to happen, so now they're back to being angry about the pills again...

Here's why the negative reaction: the 2 best ways to lower your blood pressure is regular exercise and weight loss. 'Nuff said I think.

1. Seriously though, most people with high blood pressure are also overweight and losing weight will lower your blood pressure. And it doesn't have to be all or nothing either. Generally speaking your blood pressure will go down by 1 mm of Hg for every kilogram you lose. That means that only a 5-10 kg weight loss would be about the same as taking an average dose of blood pressure medication.
2. Even if you aren't overweight, regular exercise can lower your blood pressure 5-10 mm of Hg- that's about as good as most medications. That's because exercise makes your heart more efficient and it can pump more blood with less effort- that means less pressure on your blood vessels.

   And we're not talking running marathons here- just getting moving for about 20 minutes most days is enough. After about a month, you should start seeing good results. Of course the effects go away if you stop the exercise...

3. For those of you who would rather pop a pill than change your lifestyle (don't laugh- that is the majority of society and hey, you gotta be realistic right?)... you could take a calcium and magnesium supplement.

   Both of these minerals have a natural relaxing effect on your blood vessels (and other parts of your body too- a topic for another day). That effect can lower your blood pressure up to 5 mm of Hg- not huge, but it can make the difference between needing medication and not. Plus the added benefits for the rest of your health...

   I highly recommend Active Calcium because it's in the proper ratio that your body needs, it's highly bioavailable (meaning you'll actually absorb it) and it has no toxins in it (others often have a lot of mercury & PCB's in them).

4. Of course there's no point taking calcium & magnesium if you're not going to limit your salt intake. Salt can increase your blood pressure, so try to cut it out as much as you can. Besides putting the salt shaker away, avoid processed food as much as possible- that's where most of our HUGE salt intake comes from.
5. Also try to increase your potassium intake . Potassium can help counteract the effect of the salt, so be sure to get enough. Bananas and oranges are good sources of potassium. Of course, the Essentials has all you need (and I know you're taking those already if you've learned anything from me by now ;-)
6. Make sure you keep your alcohol consumption to "normal" levels (men = 2 drinks/day, women = 1/day). These levels or below can have some beneficial effects on your blood pressure (but don't start drinking if you don't normally- it doesn't work that way). Anything above these levels can actually raise your blood pressure quite significantly- strange but true.
7. Quit smoking. Nicotine directly raises your blood pressure up to 10 mm of Hg. Again, 'nuff said.
8. Limit your caffeine to 2 cups of coffee or less. Caffeine also directly increases your blood pressure. Not nearly as much as nicotine or for as long, but you don't want it in your body all day long.

See? Lots of things you can do besides medication to lower your blood pressure.

If you don't have high blood pressure, be aware that it naturally increases as you age, so you might want to start following some of these tips now and prevent it.

Another Grateful Customer...

Thank you! "

-- Ed, senior citizen

What program is he talking about?

Because Laughter Really IS Good Medicine...

1. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.

2. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.

3. On the second day, the knee was better, and then on the third day it disappeared.

4. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.

5. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.

6. Discharge status: Alive, but without my permission.

7. Healthy-appearing decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert but forgetful.

8. The patient refused autopsy.

9. The patient has no previous history of suicides.

10. Patient has left white blood cells at another hospital.

11. Patient's medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40-pound weight gain in the last three days.

12. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.

13. Between you and me, we ought to be able to get this lady pregnant.

14. She is numb from her toes down.

15. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.

16. The skin was moist and dry.

17. Occasional, constant, infrequent headaches.

18. Patient was alert and unresponsive.

19. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life until she got a divorce.

See you next time...

Good Health to You,

Kristy Russ, BScPharm
Pharmacist and Health Consultant

P.S. Discover the secret of "true prevention". You'll not only feel better now, but you'll also have that quality of life in the future that you've always imagined for yourself. Click here to find out more.