Authors: Julian Whitaker, Whitaker
ISBN-13: 9780446522861, ISBN-10: 0446522864
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Date Published: February 2000
Edition: (Non-applicable)
Using diet, nutritional supplements, exercise and other lifestyle changes, Dr Whitaker shows how to prevent or manage high blood pressure without recourse to drugs and their unwanted side effects.
Offering a practical and engaging guide for anyone fighting high blood pressure, Whitaker (Reversing Diabetes, etc.), founder of the Whitaker Wellness Institute in Newport Beach, Calif., clearly explains what causes hypertension, how it's diagnosed and how to treat it. He focuses not just on the obvious causes, including poor diet and stress, but on lesser known factors such as thyroid problems and insulin resistance. Whitaker devotes the second half of the book to his program, which includes a regimen of diet and exercise along with consumption of vitamins and supplements, including garlic and Vitamin E. For those with dangerously high blood pressure, he advocates a two-week diet of vegetables, fruit and rice--a radical approach recommended only for severely ill patients. Most people with hypertension are able to eat a well-rounded, varied diet that is low in salt and includes very little dairy. Whitaker provides a list of fruits and vegetables permitted on his diet as well as a brief appendix of selected recipes. This is an informative and useful book for anyone who wants to control blood pressure primarily through diet and supplements rather than prescription medicine. (Feb.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
Acknowledgments | xi | |
Introduction | xiii | |
Part I | Hypertension and Its Related Risks | 1 |
Chapter 1 | Hypertension: Action Alert | 5 |
Measuring Blood Pressure | 7 | |
Making the Diagnosis | 8 | |
Check and Recheck Your Blood Pressure | 10 | |
What Do You Do if You Have Hypertension? | 13 | |
Chapter 2 | Understanding Blood Pressure | 15 |
The Pump and Pipes of the Cardiovascular System | 15 | |
Pump, Pipes, and Blood Pressure | 19 | |
Blood Pressure: The Rest of the Story | 21 | |
Two Types of Hypertension | 25 | |
Chapter 3 | Heart Attacks, Strokes, and Other Hazards of Hypertension | 28 |
Hypertension Wears Out the Heart | 29 | |
Top Risk Factor for Stroke | 30 | |
Hypertension and Your Brain | 31 | |
High Blood Pressure Increases Risk of Kidney Disease | 32 | |
Atherosclerosis and Arteriosclerosis: Causes or Results of Hypertension? | 33 | |
Chapter 4 | The Primary Causes of Hypertension | 35 |
Obesity and Hypertension Go Hand in Hand | 36 | |
Dietary Factors Contributing to Hypertension | 39 | |
Stop Smoking and Live Longer | 44 | |
Excess Alcohol Consumption Drives Up Blood Pressure | 46 | |
Chronic Stress and Blood Pressure | 47 | |
Chapter 5 | Less Obvious Causes of Hypertension | 49 |
Drugs That Raise Blood Pressure | 50 | |
High Blood Pressure as a Symptom of a Poisoned Planet | 53 | |
Risk Factors Beyond Your Control | 55 | |
Chapter 6 | Insulin Resistance: An Underlying Cause of Hypertension | 61 |
Understanding Insulin Resistance | 64 | |
How Insulin Resistance Raises Blood Pressure | 65 | |
Dietary Aspects of Insulin Resistance | 65 | |
Obesity and Insulin Resistance | 67 | |
Other Causes of Insulin Resistance | 68 | |
Insulin Resistance, Cardiovascular Disease, and Diabetes | 69 | |
What to Do About Insulin Resistance | 70 | |
Chapter 7 | The Dangers of Antihypertensive Drugs | 71 |
All Drugs Have Side Effects | 73 | |
Antihypertensive Drugs and Their Side Effects | 74 | |
Diuretics Cause Nutrient Losses | 75 | |
Beta-Blockers Weaken the Heart | 78 | |
ACE Inhibitors Block the Formation of Angiotensin | 80 | |
Calcium Channel Blockers Relax the Blood Vessels | 82 | |
Other Drugs for Hypertension | 84 | |
In Summary | 86 | |
Part II | Safe, Effective Natural Therapies for Hypertension | 89 |
Chapter 8 | Salt and Potassium: Dynamic Duo for Healthy Blood Pressure | 93 |
A Tale of Two Minerals | 94 | |
The Power of Potassium | 96 | |
How Much Sodium? | 98 | |
Salt Sensitives, Beware | 99 | |
How Do You Get the Potassium You Need? | 100 | |
In Summary | 103 | |
Chapter 9 | Magnesium, Calcium, and Other Beneficial Minerals | 104 |
Magnificent Magnesium | 105 | |
Magnesium Protects Against Insulin Resistance | 107 | |
Calcium, Hypertension, and Insulin Resistance | 108 | |
Trace Minerals Against Hypertension | 110 | |
In Summary | 113 | |
Chapter 10 | Nutritional Supplements Against Hypertension | 115 |
Who Needs Nutritional Supplements? | 117 | |
How Free Radicals Affect Blood Pressure | 119 | |
Antioxidants for Your Cardiovascular System | 120 | |
B-Complex Vitamins: Power Against Hypertension | 125 | |
Essential Fatty Acids Help Normalize Blood Pressure | 127 | |
Coenzyme Q10 for Hypertension | 130 | |
Arginine: An Amino Acid for the Heart | 131 | |
Herbs That Lower Blood Pressure | 132 | |
Putting Together a Nutritional Supplement Program | 135 | |
Chapter 11 | The Whitaker Wellness Diet for High Blood Pressure | 138 |
The DASH Study: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension | 140 | |
The Health Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet | 141 | |
The Whitaker Wellness Diet for High Blood Pressure | 146 | |
Glycemic Guidelines | 152 | |
Let Diet Make a Difference in Your Life | 155 | |
Your Guide to Eating Out | 164 | |
In Summary | 165 | |
Chapter 12 | The Hypertension-Water Connection | 166 |
The Hazards of Dehydration | 167 | |
Another Reason to Avoid Diuretics | 169 | |
Make Sure You Drink Enough Water | 170 | |
Make Sure Your Water Is Clean | 171 | |
In Summary | 173 | |
Chapter 13 | Exercise Your Way to Healthier Blood Pressure | 174 |
How Exercise Reduces Blood Pressure | 175 | |
Exercise Improves Insulin Resistance | 177 | |
Don't Fear Exercise-Induced Hypertension | 178 | |
Design Your Own Personalized Exercise Program | 179 | |
How to Begin a Walking Program | 181 | |
How to Make Exercise a Part of Your Life | 185 | |
In Summary | 187 | |
Chapter 14 | Reduce the Stress in Your Life--and Your Blood Pressure | 189 |
How Stress Raises Blood Pressure | 190 | |
Chronic Stress and Hypertension | 192 | |
Stress and "Pre-Hypertension" | 193 | |
Tips on How to Manage Stress | 194 | |
In Summary | 204 | |
Chapter 15 | Additional Therapies for Hypertension | 205 |
EECP Dramatically Improves Circulation | 206 | |
Reverse Atherosclerosis with EDTA Chelation Therapy | 209 | |
Lower Blood Pressure the Ancient Chinese Way | 211 | |
In Summary | 212 | |
Chapter 16 | Get Started Now! | 213 |
Work with Your Physician | 216 | |
Get Nutrition Insurance with Nutritional Supplements | 216 | |
Balance Your Minerals | 217 | |
Reduce Your Body Fat | 217 | |
Stop These Unhealthy Habits | 218 | |
Eat (Low-Glycemic), Drink (Water), and Be Healthy | 218 | |
Exercise Your Body, Mind, and Spirit | 219 | |
Try EECP, Chelation Therapy, and/or Acupuncture | 219 | |
Congratulations on Your Commitment to Optimal Health | 220 | |
Appendix A | Antihypertensive Drugs | 221 |
Appendix B | Keeping Track of Your Blood Pressure | 224 |
Appendix C | The Whitaker Wellness Diet for High Blood Pressure: Two-Week Menu Plan and Recipes | 225 |
Appendix D | How to Monitor Your Blood Pressure with a Sphygmomanometer | 252 |
Appendix E | Resources | 254 |
Alternative Medicine Organizations | 255 | |
Compounding Pharmacies | 255 | |
Health Information | 256 | |
Information on Specific Therapies | 256 | |
Products | 257 | |
Recommended Reading | 257 | |
Glossary | 259 | |
References | 267 | |
Index | 297 |