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Turmeric for High Blood Pressure
Effects of Turmeric on High Blood Pressure
Turmeric contains many substances, but one group, curcuminoids, has been well-studied and is known for its positive effects on cardiovascular function including high blood pressure.
For example, it elevates HDL cholesterol (the good kind) while lowering VLDL and LDL cholesterol (the bad kind); improves blood flow as much as exercise; is antiatherosclerotic (meaning it actively works against the clogging of blood vessels); and inhibits platelet aggregation, plaque formation, and lipid oxidation. All of this, in turn, spells very good news for our blood vessels and for helping us to maintain healthy blood pressure.
A 2019 systematic review analyzed 11 studies with a total of 734 participants. The results showed that systolic blood pressure was lowered in the people who supplemented with turmeric/curcumin for longer than 12 weeks indicating that turmeric may help to lower blood pressure when it’s taken for a long duration.
Why could reducing inflammation lower blood pressure?
When a medical professional talks about inflammation, they are usually referring to the process our body undergoes as it fights against things that are harming it such as injuries, infections, or toxins as it attempts to heal itself.
Think back, for example, to the last time you got a bad splinter by sliding your hand over a wooden handrail. As part of the very natural and necessary process of inflammation, your immune system released antibodies and proteins, as well as drastically increased blood flow to the damaged area, in a cascade of events that can last for several hours to several days, depending on the severity of the splinter. This is known as acute inflammation and will, if everything goes as it should, cease once our immune system has gotten the inflammation under control.
Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, happens when this process lingers on and our body is left in a constant state of high alert. This can happen with autoimmune disorders, untreated causes of acute inflammation, long-term exposure to toxins, or even a history of bad food choices. Over time, chronic inflammation will have a detrimental effect on your tissues and organs, including your cardiovascular system, and can lead to such things as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
What are the Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Turmeric Extract?
Turmeric extract, due to its high concentration of curcumin, exhibits a broad range of beneficial activities and is a potent anti-inflammatory agent, fighting inflammation at the molecular level by inhibiting an inflammatory signaling molecule called NF-kB. In fact, it is so powerful that it matches the effectiveness of some anti-inflammatory drugs, without the annoying side effects.
Blocking of NF-kB is one mechanism among others, such as lowering histamine levels and decreasing the activation of harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may explain why curcumin has anti-cancer and anti-viral properties along with powerful regulatory effects throughout the immune system.
You can learn more about the tumor-inhibiting effects of curcumin and the promising research on turmeric and cancer by reading this article:
Antioxidant Benefits of Turmeric for High Blood Pressure
Antioxidants are molecules that fight and neutralize free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are compounds that can cause harm if they build up at high levels but, fortunately, our bodies have their own built-in mechanisms for keeping them under control.
A growing body of evidence suggests that ingestion of antioxidants can play an important role in preventing or treating high blood pressure and even reversing heart disease, currently the nation’s No. 1 killer.
Perhaps not surprisingly, curcumin has been demonstrated to protect against free radical damage because it is a potent antioxidant. Researchers have found that extracts of turmeric and its curcumin component exhibit strong antioxidant activity, comparable to that of vitamins C and E.
Curcumin has been shown to increase glutathione levels, a beneficial antioxidant in plants and animals with a preventative role in reducing cellular damage caused by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS). Through these mechanisms, curcumin helps to boost your body’s natural defense systems to neutralize harmful free radicals that damage cells.
How to Choose the Right Turmeric Supplement
First, check the supplement facts label
While many turmeric supplements only have 50-100 mg of turmeric extract per capsule, Active Atoms contains 750 mg of premium Turmeric Extract per capsule.
It's important to get enough Turmeric Extract (not Turmeric Powder) because Turmeric Extract contains the highest concentration of curcuminoids, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich active ingredients in turmeric.
For more information about reading turmeric supplement labels and avoiding these 5 turmeric products on Amazon, you can read this article:
Misleading claims about Turmeric – 5 examples and how to read labels
Next, check for absorption
It is important to note that turmeric, on its own, is poorly absorbed by the body.
Active Atoms contains BioPerine®, a patented black form of black pepper shown to significantly increase the absorption and bioavailability of turmeric to maximum health benefits.
Finally, check for lead testing
Check that your turmeric is tested for lead.
Active Atoms capsules are regularly sent to an independent lab to test for lead, but not all supplement companies do this.
You can feel confident you are getting a safe and pure product with Active Atoms.
Promote healthy blood pressure with Active Atoms
If you have high blood pressure or simply would like to prevent it, consult your doctor about supplementing with Turmeric.
And never forget that your most powerful defense against chronic illness is the one that is most wholly within your power: living a healthy lifestyle.
A high-quality diet, lots of movement, fresh air, natural sunlight, plenty of relaxation, restful sleep, and a solid stress-management activity like yoga, meditation, taking up an instrument, or even coloring every day in one of those detailed coloring books are your best bet for living a long and happy life.
In addition to those smart choices, add Active Atoms premium Turmeric Extract to your daily routine to fight inflammation and promote healthy blood pressure.
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