Magnesium & Lower Blood Pressure
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What is Blood Pressure?
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Blood pressure is a measurement of the force blood exerts against the artery walls as it circulates throughout the body. Blood pressure measurements are usually written as systolic/diastolic. Systolic pressure is the pressure exerted while the heart is pumping. Diastolic pressure is the pressure exerted between beats of the heart.
A person can have high systolic blood pressure, high diastolic blood pressure or both. High blood pressure requires the heart to pump harder to move the blood through the body, which can lead to heart attacks.
Magnesium and Blood Pressure
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According to Lisa Nelson, magnesium produces a vasodilator called prostaglandin E1. Vasodilators dilate the artery walls so that blood flows more easily through them. Magnesium also acts within body cells to regulate the amount of sodium, potassium and calcium. Too much sodium relative to the amount of potassium in the cells causes higher blood pressure.
Getting Magnesium from Diet
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Nelson says that people who eat a magnesium-rich diet have lower blood pressure. Magnesium-rich foods include peas, beans, spinach, broccoli, nuts and whole grains. In addition to eating high-magnesium foods, it is important to keep sodium intake low in order to lower blood pressure.
Magnesium Supplements
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If dietary changes do not appear to adequately lower blood pressure after a few weeks, consider taking a magnesium supplement. Nelson says supplements of 500 mg or less can significantly lower blood pressure.
Safety
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Lifeclinic.com says high blood pressure can be caused by another serious medical condition. For this reason, it is important to discuss high blood pressure with a doctor, who may prescribe medications in addition to change in diet or a magnesium supplement to control other diseases or high blood pressure itself.
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