juice daily for one year had a total reduction of systolic blood pressure between 5% and 21%. These results are promising and there appears to be no harm of having some pomegranate juice every day. There is also emerging evidence that suggests that this juice might help with heart disease in other ways.
.....I still feel that one overlooked supplement for cardiovascular disease is niacin (vitamin B3). Niacin and its related vitamins (nicotinic acid, nicotinamide and niacinamide) are responsible for assisting in over 200 chemical reactions in the body. The current focus for niacin is its ability to help lower cholesterol. Higher doses of niacin, 1-2grams a day, can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, raise HDL (good) cholesterol and lower triglycerides. These higher doses should only be taken under recommendation from your physician. The most troublesome side effects of niacin, at these doses, are a very intense flushing and stomach upset. Taking it in divided doses after meals, and slowly increasing the dose over |
several weeks, can reduce these problems. Some people take a ‘no-flush’ version of niacin called Inositol Hexanicotinate. While it does not cause a flushing reaction; there is some evidence to suggest that it might not work as well as regular niacin in reducing cholesterol. Niacinamide also does not cause flushing but is ineffective in lowering cholesterol.
....I always love to express the benefits of good quality dark chocolate whenever I can. Luckily, this is the perfect place to do it. The daily consumption, of about 50-100 grams, of dark chocolate has been shown to reduce systolic blood pressure by about 5 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by about 3 mmHg. While this is a dramatic change, it is very easy to do. Be wary of the kind of chocolate you buy; most 'chocolate bars' found at store checkouts are nothing more than sugar and saturated fat. Both of these items are not helpful for heart disease, so look for the dark chocolate elsewhere. Read the labels and look for a bar that contains between 60-80% cocoa mass. You can go higher than this, but the taste gets a little intense. Lindt makes a 99% |
cocoa mass bar, but this one is not for the faint of heart. Don't forget that while chocolate can taste great, it is also very high in calories. For example 100 grams of dark chocolate can have up to 500 calories and contain 30% fat. So like with all treats and vices, moderation is the key.
.....I usually save the strangest supplement for last. This one is taken straight from the tabloids; "naturally occurring amino acid can help reduce blood pressure, help erectile dysfunction and peripheral vascular disease." This one is partially true; the amino acid L-arginine can be helpful for many of these conditions. This amino acid is converted into nitric oxide, a potent vasodilator, by cells that form the inner surface of blood vessels. The doses required range from 3-20 grams a day. This supplement might not be for everyone; it might worsen gout, asthma and may cause hypotension (low blood pressure). So talk to your Physician or Peoples Pharmacist before trying this supplement..
Written By Ian Lloyd, Pharmacist & Chartered Herbalist
Peoples Pharmacy, Victoria |
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