Olive Leaf Lowers Blood Pressure

Olive Leaf Lowers Cholesterol, Blood Pressure           

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A new study has found that 1,000 milligrams (mg)of olive-leaf extract can lower both cholesterol and blood pressure in certain patients. The extract was one called “EFLA®943.” It worked in people who had mild “hypertension.” 

This is high blood pressure, a condition that’s common throughout the Western world. Previous studies on rats indicated that olive leaf could be yet another herbal medicine that influences our blood pressure.

So Swiss and German scientists tested the idea in humans — specifically, in 20 identical twins who had high blood pressure. They were given placebo or either 500 mg or 1,000 mg of olive-leaf extract. After two months, they measured blood pressure and discovered that those who were taking the herb had significant reductions in blood pressure. More studies, as usual, are needed.

Cancer Patients Turning to Alternative Medicine

A new American Cancer Society study shows that many cancer patients use complementary and alternative medicines to improve their quality of life. The most common include prayer, relaxation, supplements, meditation and massage. Other methods, though, such as acupuncture, biofeedback, homeopathy and acupressure, are not so common.

It shows that cancer patients use similar methods as others with chronic diseases. About half of all cancer patients are believed to use supplements and relaxation therapies, but there is a gap here, as the least-used alternative treatments were hypnosis, biofeedback and acupuncture or acupressure. This was surprising, as these methods have been found to be successful in providing relief for cancer-related symptoms such as pain. All cancer patients should know that many complementary therapies could provide help in coping with the disease — and with the side effects of chemotherapy, as well.²¹

Probiotics Useful for IBS: Studies

Two new studies in the journal Nutrition in Clinical Practice illustrate that probiotics are effective in managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). They both find that one probiotic bacterium in particular is effective: Bifantis. This is a form that is found in supplements marketed as “Align.” The probiotic fights inflammation and can get the gut to function healthily again.

One study compared Lactobacillus to Bifantis, as well as placebo. After two months, patients taking Bifantis had the greatest reduction in IBS symptoms. The second study found that Bifantis was significantly superior to placebo in improving stomach pain, bloating, bowel dysfunction, straining and gas at the end of the four weeks. The great effects on inflammation suggest that Bifantis could be used to treat other inflammatory conditions — such as arthritis — but that, for now, we will have to wait and see.

Few of our related articles are :

• An Overview of Blood Pressure
• Olive Leaf Lowers Cholesterol, Blood Pressure 
• Ease Blood Pressure with Dark Chocolate 
• Keeping Your Kidneys Healthy 
• Truth About Alcohol and High Blood Pressure 
• Blood Pressure

Alcohol & Blood Pressure

Truth About Alcohol and High Blood Pressure

Certain types of alcohol, high in flavonoids, exert a benefit on your heart. They can protect this vital muscle from the conditions that trigger disease. One of them is high blood pressure. But the news isn’t all good around this link. Can alcohol help reduce hypertension? Does it help trigger it? A look at the medical literature suggests both.

One study found that, compared to the non-drinkers, those who drank every day or apart from food were at a greater risk of high blood pressure. Having one drink or more a day — typically hard liquor — led to systolic (the upper number) and diastolic (the lower number) blood pressure levels rising 2.7 and 1.4 mm Hg, respectively. For those who had more than two drinks a day, blood pressure levels rose by 5.0 mm Hg. The risk of having high blood pressure increased only in those who claimed that they drank without food.

Drinking alcohol outside of food is associated with a higher risk of death from all causes, including heart attacks.

Alcohol-related high blood pressure seems unrelated to the type of alcohol ingested, be it beer, wine or hard liquor.

Results from two of the largest U.S. population studies show that the risk of hypertension differs between men and women. In women, light-to-moderate alcohol ingestion lowered the hypertension risk; whereas heavy drinking (four or more drinks a day) significantly increased the risk of hypertension. However, in men, not only were there no health benefits with light-to-moderate alcohol ingestion, but also a definite increased risk of hypertension was observed with just five drinks per week.

In the large Physicians Health Study (14,125 men), those who reported monthly, weekly, or daily ingestion of alcohol experienced reduced total and cardiovascular death regardless of whether they had hypertension or not, as compared to those who rarely or never drank.

One drink every month reduced the overall heart risk by 18%.

Based on a meta-analysis of 15 randomized placebo-controlled studies with 2,234 subjects, reduction in alcohol intake led to lowering of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by-3.31 and -2.04 mmHg, respectively. This degree of a blood-pressure-lowering effect is comparable to sodium restriction. It is known that a 2.0-mmHg reduction of the diastolic blood pressure leads to a 17% decrease in the prevalence of hypertension, a six-percent drop in the risk of coronary heart disease, and a 15% reduction in the risk of stroke.

Only ever drink in moderation, always drink with food, and, if you have questions, speak to your doctor about the risks and benefits of alcohol.