• No-Pill Ways To Reduce Blood Pressure

No-Pill Ways To Reduce Blood Pressure
By Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D.

You thought you were ready to roll … until you’re standing in front of the room and realize that the thing you felt rolling around by your feet on the plane was the thumb drive with your presentation on it.

Of course your blood pressure is going to go up. It even will when someone gets crazy in traffic or when you think you’ve lost your credit card. That’s what your body is designed to do when there’s stress: Run away. But that’s not always an option today (you can’t very well run away from the podium or the traffic jam). So try these YOU Docs strategies for helping you stress less and stay healthier:

1. Lose it. We mean weight. The more body fat you pack, the more trouble your body will have getting your blood pressure down after stress.

2. Work it. Build some muscle. Your blood pressure returns to normal more quickly after a stressful event if your blood vessels are toned. And the stress of building muscle (that’s good stress) through physical activity tones your blood vessels.

3. Leave it behind. When college students recalled an injustice that had been done to them, their blood pressure went up. And it stayed elevated longer in those who couldn’t muster up any forgiveness for what happened. Forgiveness is a simple way to make yourself seriously healthier without a prescription.

Published by Henry Sapiecha 7th Sept 2009

The Four Moves That Change Your Health
By Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D.

Want health reform? Don’t wait for consensus in government (it might take a while). Start your own personal health reform by doing just four things. The result: You can dramatically change your health by cutting your stroke risk in half. Yes, half. Considering that someone dies from a stroke every three to four minutes, that’s a blockbuster-size change.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Don’t smoke. And if you do, quit (check out RealAge.com for a “breathe free” program that really works).

2. Stay active. In the study, desk sitters who did 30 minutes of physical activity a day, or people whose jobs kept them active (and didn’t work out in their off hours), saw this reduced risk of stroke. Note the key words: “Every day!”

3. Drink one or more alcoholic drinks a week (but less than 14). What’s a drink? A small glass of wine, a single shot of spirits or a half pint of beer. Fine to keep up this habit if you already do it, but don’t take it up just for your health.

4. Eat nine or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day (the study found that five was effective; we say you shouldn’t stop there). The researchers didn’t just go on hearsay, asking participants to recall what they ate; they checked vitamin levels to be sure.

That’s beyond easy. It’s tasty, smart and makes you feel great. What happens in government is still important ,

but change starts with YOU.

Published by Henry Sapiecha 25th August 2009