Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is defined as a constantly high systolic blood pressure of over 140mmHg and diastolic blood pressure of more than 90mmHg. Readings are taken three times to determine if the patient has hypertension.
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a modern epidemic with a high prevalence rate worldwide. Every year, one in three people is diagnosed with high blood pressure. The morbidity and mortality rate in hypertension is very high, mainly due to complications arising from high blood pressure, namely cerebral, cardiac and vascular diseases. This dramatic increase in the number of hypertension cases is due to the high concentration of fats present in the diet. Fortunately, high cholesterol in the blood is one of the modified factors in high blood pressure development.
What is bad cholesterol?
Cholesterol obtained from food products has several forms. Good cholesterol is high-density lipoprotein HDL, while low-density lipoprotein LDL, very low-density lipoprotein VLDL, and TGC triglycerides are bad cholesterols.
How does cholesterol cause high blood pressure?
When the organism’s internal environment is changed due to some inflammation, certain inflammatory cells migrate into the walls of blood vessels and accumulate low-density lipoproteins and become enriched in lipids. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. For this reason, the flexibility of the blood vessel becomes reduced. The elasticity of the walls of blood vessels decreases and the ability to accept a large amount of blood. The inevitable result of this change is increased blood pressure within the altered walls of blood vessels.
Blood pressure also increases because the lumen of blood vessels increases, and when blood passes through blood vessels due to an enlarged lumen, its flow becomes fast and turbulent, and in this way, an increase in blood pressure is caused.
Hypertension occurs when there is congestion of the capillaries that lead the blood to vital organs or an accumulation of platelets in the form of thrombi. Then there can be a fatal disease such as heart attack or stroke. HDL cholesterol is good because it is not deposited in the blood vessels and does not clog them.
Plants that lower cholesterol in order to control hypertension
Nature has given us many beneficial plants with many useful compounds that can prevent the oxidation of LDL, deposition atherosclerotic material in blood vessels, and reduce the risk of hypertension. Here are some of the herbs used to control and reduce high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Hypertension and oats
Oats are rich in glucans. Glucans are a well-known hypocholesterolemic agent. The oat bran diet showed a decrease in the total concentration of cholesterol in the blood by almost 19% and LDL cholesterol by 24%, which reduced the incidence of hypertension. Consumption of 5 grams of porridge daily successfully reduced cholesterol concentration by 5%.
Lens
Lentils are a rich source of phytosterols, a compound that prevents cholesterol absorption in the body. This compound fights cholesterol through a system of mixed micelles, which are formed due to bile pigments on cholesterol to destroy cholesterol through digestion.
Olives
Olives are a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids contain oleic acid and polyphenols. Animal studies have shown a significant reduction in circulating LDL and VLDL and triglycerides due to the presence of these two compounds.
Artichokes
Animal studies have shown that artichoke extract indirectly effectively inhibits cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver. This causes inhibition of enzymes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis, thus preventing hypercholesterolemia and thus hypertension.
Celery
The effects of celery on rats fed a large amount of LDL through diet were observed through an extensive experimental study. Half of the rats received celery dog extract. The other half did not. In the rats given celery, a significant reduction in cholesterol and LDL levels was observed, thus preventing hypertension.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek or Greek seed is known for its hypolipidemic effects. Its seeds were tested on subjects in whom a decrease in serum cholesterol concentration was observed quickly. Fenugreek also has an antioxidant effect that prevents cholesterol and its deposition in blood vessels.
Hawthorn
Hawthorn berries have a very high level of triterpenic acid. Hawthorn reduces the serum concentration of cholesterol by inhibiting its absorption. This property makes hawthorn very useful, and it also reduces the activity of acetyl coenzyme A and acetyltransferase enzymes which have a vital role in cholesterol metabolism. One animal study showed that hawthorn reduced cholesterol levels by 22%.
Basil
Basil has the ability to cleanse the body of highly sensitive reactive free radicals that stimulate oxidative stress, which leads to the formation of atherosclerotic cholesterol deposition in blood vessels. In this way, basil prevents hypercholesterinemia and thus high blood pressure hypertension.
Flaxseed
Flaxseed is rich in lignans, which lower cholesterol levels. It helps in reducing the level of LDL cholesterol inside the body and thus reduces the possibility of high blood pressure.
Summary
Many other herbs contain compounds that help lower cholesterol levels and improve blood circulation. It is essential to know that these herbal products are completely safe to use without any additional side effects. These herbs should be included in the diet after consultation with your doctor to avoid worsening high blood pressure.
Their regular consumption can cause a significant reduction in cholesterol and thus prevent hypertension. Complications of hypertension such as diabetes mellitus, stroke, angina, heart attack, visual disturbance, and kidney disease can be prevented by diets based on the above herbs’ consumption.
