A wine and cheese party can be a fun way to relax and make new friends. It’s also a great way to lower your blood pressure.

Cheese and wine parties are great for large get-togethers. Make it lots of fun by having every guest bring a bottle of wine and an exotic cheese. It’s a fantastic way to try new wines and cheeses … and a perfect conversation starter.

A cheese and wine party is also the perfect way to relax … both yourself and your arteries. Wine is good for lowering blood pressure … and so is cheese.

~ A Glass of Red Wine ~

Red wine contains a protective antioxidant — the flavonol called resveratrol. This powerful antioxidant protects your arteries against the damage done by free radicals … and helps prevent hardening of your arteries.

The flavonoid in red wine also keeps your blood platelets from clumping together … stopping this first step in the formation of deadly blood clots. A glass of red wine keeps your blood flowing smoothly through your arteries.

Even more important for your blood pressure … recent studies have shown that drinking red wine improves the function of your artery linings. When the linings of your arteries are working well … they freely dilate and bring down your blood pressure.

A glass or two of red wine a day … this is the perfect amount to keep your heart and arteries young — and keep your blood pressure normal. The darker the red wine … the better. Dark red wines are higher in the protective resveratrol flavonoid. Forget about white wines … they pale by comparison.

~ A Wedge of Cheese ~

Although cheese has lots of saturated fat and can raise cholesterol levels … a little cheese is good for you. Like red wine, cheese is good for you if eaten in moderation.

During the cheese making process, while the milk is fermenting … peptides are released from the milk proteins. These peptides help control your blood pressure … by inhibiting the enzymes that convert angiotensin.

When the protein angiotensin is converted into angiotensin II. Angiotensin II is a peptide that constricts your arteries and increases the retention of water and sodium. This whole process really pumps up your blood pressure.

The other peptides — found in fermented milk products like cheese — put a stop to this reaction that ups the blood pressure. Eating a small wedge of cheese blocks the enzyme that creates angiotensin II, keeps your arteries relaxed, and keeps your blood pressure down.

~ Relax With a Glass of Shiraz and a Slice of Gruyere ~

After a hard day at the office … when tension has got your blood pressure creeping up … enjoy some nice cheeses with a glass of red wine. Relax … relax your arteries … bring your blood pressure back down to normal. Your heart will love you for it.

Written By : Kevin Riley

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a common disorder of blood circulation that may lead to fatal heart attacks, stroke, or even kidney diseases. Statistic shows almost 1/5 of adults in the West are affected by this dreaded disease.

Experts say hypertension could be hereditary. It is a common disease for people in their mid and old age than the young. Hypertension is affecting more men than women. However, women on contraceptive pills are prone to it. Not to mention also, short people and those under stress are very susceptible to it. Smokers should also be aware of this disease because they are likely to have high blood pressure.

Medications can help solve hypertension problem but the cure cannot be found on drugs. Drugs can only sustain what is deemed safe limits but cannot guarantee that there will be no attacks. Dietary practices and physical activity can help prevent or control hypertension. Obese people are more likely to have hypertension than slim bodied people. There are prescribed ideal weight for a particular height and age of a person. Trimming down to an ideal weight will be a big help.

Alcohol is not advised when you are hypertensive because it induces high blood pressure. But doctors advise one shot of red wine after every meal to help gain antioxidants. Taking more is not advisable.

Studies proved that foods low in salt are very helpful. Limit salt intake to 4 g a day or ask physician for better advice. Keeping the taste of your foods as natural as possible is the best diet.

While cutting down salt intake, consume more fruits and vegetables, especially foods rich in potassium such as dried apricots, nuts, and others. Potassium can help lower blood pressure. For those with kidney disorder, avoid taking potassium-rich foods as it can complicate the matter.

Calcium and magnesium are two dietary minerals that show positive effect against high blood pressure. Fruits and vegetables high in soluble fibre also show good sign of lowering blood pressure. Essential fatty acids such as omega 3 fatty acids from oily fish like tuna have also been shown to lower blood pressure. Garlic and moderate alcohol intake (1-2 shots per day) can have the similar effects.

Vegetarians have less incidence of high blood pressure probably due to high fibre content, flushing out toxic cholesterol and fats from the body. Many vegetables contain potassium, calcium, magnesium and vitamin C which can lower blood pressure. Above all, it is important to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. Precaution is definitely better than cure.

Written By : Casey Yew

Rudolf Weiss, the German herbalist, has some interesting ideas on low blood pressure. He describes it as being simply an aspect of a more deep seated problem. He also believes that when people have low blood pressure but no symptoms, that it does not require treatment. I do not suggest that this should replace your doctor’s advice though! But I find it interesting, as a possible complementary treatment option, to consider his view that low blood pressure is the product of a weak circulation. As such, gentle herbs that support circulation may be a useful adjunct to whatever other therapy is suggested.

He stresses the underlying factor of a regulatory imbalance. And he suggests herbs like rosemary, that have a tonic effect, would be a useful support. Particularly in times of mental or physical stress, or after surgery, or some other illness that may have weakened the body, like the flu. He does say that treatment should only be for a limited time. He makes the point that life insurance statistics indicate that people with hypotension on average live longer than people with blood pressure in the normal range. (Weiss, p185)

Rosemary is quite a diverse herb. It is used effectively for headaches, particularly migraine. The herbalist Michael Tierra writes that many headaches are caused by stomach problems, and that the volatile oils in rosemary have a very beneficial and calming effect on the stomach. Rosemary also contains salicylic acid, which is the precursor of aspirin. Though being in plant form it doesn’t have the long term side effects.

Rosemary is excellent for the circulation, and is often prescribed by herbalists for circulatory weakness (Fisher & Painter). The active constituents known as the flavanoids are heart and blood vessel tonics. So, as well as hypotension, rosemary is suggested for poor circulation, hypertensive headaches, and arrhythmias.

Externally, rosemary spirit is used for rheumatic problems (Weiss). It can also be massaged into the heart area.

Another active constituent of rosemary is rosemarinic acid, which is a phenolic acid. Rosemarinic acid has an anti-inflammatory effect. A study found that a rosemarinic preparation was effective in treating allergic asthma. It has also been found to suppress synovitis in mice. Synovitis is an inflammation of the lining of the joints, with swelling, which is quite painful. It is involved in rheumatoid arthritis. Rosemarinic acid can also prevent the activation of prostacyclin and complement, which leads to hypotension (Fisher & Painter).

Overall, this suggests that scientific research supports the herbalist’s uses of rosemary for hypotension, poor circulation, and rheumatic problems such as rheumatoid arthritis. One problem has been that products which contained rosemary had quite low concentrations, although some supplement manufacturers have begun to make a very concentrated rosemary product. Concentrations of rosemarinic acid in these range from 5% to 70%. And given that rosemarinic acid is an incredibly powerful antioxidant as well, this would make it a good choice for preventing heart disease.

References: 1. nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=64356
2. C Fisher & G Painter, Materia Medica Of Western Herbs For The Southern Hemisphere
3. R Weiss, Herbal Medicine
4. M Tierra, Planetary Herbology

Written By : Rebecca Prescott