I’ve got a webinar on high blood pressure coming up this Saturday that you should tune into.
Sign up here. Set a notification on YouTube here:
High blood pressure is a serious problem. If you haven’t heard, it’s linked to stroke, heart disease, metabolic syndrome (excess weight, diabetes), dementia, and premature death.
Not exactly a risk factor you want to have.
Blood pressure is also a big business, and you know what that means. Vested interests are hard at work expanding the market and making sure that everyone is taking their high blood pressure medications.
The truth is, high blood pressure is due almost entirely (99.99%?) to dietary and lifestyle choices.
So what are the top three mistakes that people make that cause high blood pressure?
They are (in my experience):
Mineral imbalances.
Lack of light.
Methylation problems.
I’ll be expanding on these more in my upcoming webinar (again, sign up here).
Why are these three problems my top picks for causes of high blood pressure?
1. Mineral Imbalances
The key mineral imbalances we see with high blood pressure are low potassium and magnesium intake relative to sodium and calcium. Note that I said RELATIVE, because the numbers are not absolute. Most people are consuming under 3 grams of potassium per day and over 2 grams of sodium. Increase the potassium load to 5 or 6 grams and keep the sodium around 2 grams, and watch what happens. I often see the blood pressure drop with just this simple intervention. Likewise, many people are loading up on calcium in supplements or dairy products, without realizing that they are actually not getting enough magnesium to balance that calcium. Calcium intakes can vary quite a lot, but what matters most (in my opinion) is getting your magnesium above 600 mg per day, at least. When we don’t have enough magnesium and vitamin D, calcium tends to deposit in places it shouldn’t be, like the arterial walls, where it causes the arteries to become inflexible. This in turn worsens blood pressure problems.
One of the biggest mistakes when it comes to minerals is dehydration. The amount of water you need each day varies widely based on your size and how much water you lose as sweat. I’ve noticed that people with high blood pressure tend to be consuming less than two or three liters of water each day. I generally start people at 1 to 3 ounces of water per inch of height each day. A 5’0” person (60 inches) needs at least 60 ounces of water and may need as much as 180 ounces.
I’m convinced that one of the primary drivers of high blood pressure today is actually heavy metal accumulation within the body. All heavy metals are associated with elevations in blood pressure. And I believe that this is a big part of why blood pressure improves with sauna therapy. You’ll also find that excess free copper is linked to high blood pressure. This is why I am not surprised to hear stories of major improvements in blood pressure from people who start LifeWave patches, specifically the X39. That’s why I routinely recommend them to people with high blood pressure. You can get wholesale pricing here.
If you’d like to share a testimonial about LifeWave patches/products with me, you can do so here. You an also join my LifeWave team by filling out this quick survey, which will give you access to zoom calls with Renita Brannan and I, during which we discuss how the patches work and how to use them.
Tune into my webinar to learn more about how minerals affect blood pressure. I’ll be discussing things like copper, zinc, and more.
2. Lack of Light
Sunlight reduces blood pressure. This is due to the effects of red and infrared light on cellular bioenergetics, as well as the effects of ultraviolet light on the proopiomelanocortin system and vitamin D synthesis.
Even if you can’t get an abundance of sunlight due to an indoor job or cold temperatures, you can get red and infrared light from light therapy panels and you can get infrared light from sauna. There is also a strong link between cardiovascular disease (including hypertension) and artificial light at night, which is why I’m so serious about people wearing blue blockers at night. Lack of light during the day is another situation in which I’ll recommend someone try 3 months of the X39 LifeWave patches (wholesale pricing here), which are another form of light therapy.
3. Methylation Problems
What are methylation problems? The methylation cycle is a complex system of reactions that all involve methylation. Vitamins like B-12, folate, B-6, and more all play critical roles in these pathways. These pathways control hormone and neurotransmitter production, which means that problems with these pathways can create massive problems with the autonomic nervous system, one of which is high blood pressure.
How do I assess for methylation problems? I check a urine organic acid test, and I run a hair tissue mineral analysis. The mineral balancing protocols I use include methylation co-factors (vitamins and minerals) to restore methylation. There are many, many more things we can do to support optimal methylation, but you have to start with the basics. The basics are the optimal amounts and ratios of minerals and vitamins in your diet and supplement protocol. We need testing for this.
You can become a patient and get testing through my practice here.
In the meantime, make sure to sign up for my webinar and set a notification on YouTube.
Until next time, be well,
Dr. Stillman