High blood pressure: Lifestyle changes to reduce reading

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It is estimated that one in eight deaths around the world is caused by high blood pressure. The condition is the main risk factor for a host of ailments, including kidney disease and stroke. Some of the well-known causes of the disease include poor dietary choices and irregular exercise. Fortunately, a combination of two oils may lower blood pressure significantly in days.

Blood pressure refers to the pressure exerted against the arterial walls while blood courses through the veins.

As pressure grows, so does the risk of clot formation, which is a precursor for both stroke and heart attack.

Keeping levels in check is therefore crucial, and some foods can help enable this when consumed separately or combined.

Sesame oil, for example, has proven beneficial for blood pressure control in a host of studies. But one body of research suggests combining it with rice bran oil to yield significant results.

READ MORE: How to live longer: The warm drink which protects against hypertension and heart disease

Devarajan Sankar research scientist in the Department of Cardiovascular Disease at Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital in Chikushino, Japan said: “Rice bran oil, like sesame oil, is low in saturated fat and appears to improve a patient’s cholesterol profiles.

“Additionally, it may reduce heart disease risk in other ways, including being a substitute for less healthy oils and fats in the diet.”

The study conducted in India divided a sample of 300 participants with mild to high blood pressure into three separate groups.

One group was treated with a common blood pressure-lowering medication, known as a calcium-channel blocker.

A second group received an oil blend, which they consumed an ounce of daily, with their meals.

A third group received a combination of the two aforementioned treatments.

Results revealed that systolic blood pressure dropped by an average of 14 points for those using the oil blend, and 16 points for those taking the medication.

Systolic pressure is the measurement of blood pressure that offers the best estimate of one’s cardiovascular risk and is, therefore, the most important of both measurements.

What’s more, those using both treatments combined saw a staggering 36-point drop in their systolic pressure.

In fact, this same group saw a significant reduction in the “bad” cholesterol levels, of 26 percent.

Doctor Sankar added: “The effect of the sesame oil on blood pressure may be due to polyunsaturated fatty acids, and the compound sesame – lignin present in sesame oil.

“Both compounds have been shown to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive rats.

“Sesame lignans also inhibit the synthesis and absorption of cholesterol in these rats.”

Other health benefits of sesame oil observed in the aforementioned studies include an increase in antioxidant status in hypertensive patients.

This helps protect cells from oxidative stress, which is a hallmark of both ageing and disease.

Doctor Sankar concluded: “Overall, we’ve added to the growing body of knowledge that suggests regular consumption of sesame oil as the sole edible oil is beneficial in many ways, including blood pressure reduction.”

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