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Lower Hypertension… w/ Polyphenols
“Accumulating evidence indicates that polyphenols have potential protective roles for various CVDs. Hypertension (HTN) is among the hazardous CVDs accounting for nearly 8.5 million deaths worldwide.”
I am a long-term cancer survivor. I live with more than a dozen serious long-term side effects. Chemotherapy-induced hypertension aka blood pressure in particular.
This post is not about cancer or the health challenges caused by chemotherapy and radiation. This post is about managing my long-term and late stage side effects without any conventional medications. My heart health in particular.
I was diagnosed with chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy (CIC) in late 2010. I also developed chronic atrial fibrillation (Afib). As a result I have an increased risk of blood clots and high blood pressure. Or I should say that high blood pressure comes with CIC.
My first cardiologist prescribed metroprolol. I did not react well to this medication. I resolved then to try to manage my heart health (chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy, hypertension, Afib, etc.) without conventional meds. I have an echocardiogram annually to keep any eye on my heart metrics.
The articles linked and excerpted below explain what polyphenols do for my heart health. The four supplements that I consider to be the most important for me are:
- Cocoa Powder-
- Resveratrol-
- Curcumin-
- Green Tea Extract-
I also live a heart healthy lifestyle with daily, moderate exercise, frequent sauna, lots of fruits and veggies in my diet, a tiny bit of red wine each week, all evidence-based non-toxic, non-conventional therapies.
If you would like to learn more about evidence-based therapies to lower your blood pressure, scroll down the page and post a comment or a question. I will reply to you ASAP.
To Learn More about Chemotherapy-induced Hypertension- click now
Thanks,
David Emerson
- Cancer Survivor
- Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Recommended Reading:
- Chemotherapy-induced Cardiomyopathy-
- Chemotherapy-induce Atrial Fibrillation (Afib)-
- Chemotherapy-induced Hypertension-
- Chemotherapy-induced Heart Valve Damage-
ncRNAs and polyphenols: new therapeutic strategies for hypertension
“Polyphenols have gained significant attention in protecting several chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Accumulating evidence indicates that polyphenols have potential protective roles for various CVDs. Hypertension (HTN) is among the hazardous CVDs accounting for nearly 8.5 million deaths worldwide.
HTN is a complex and multifactorial disease and a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors play major roles in its development. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms are still elusive. Polyphenols have shown to cause favourable and beneficial effects in the management of HTN…”
What are polyphenols?
“Polyphenols are a category of compounds naturally found in plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, tea, dark chocolate, and wine.
They can act as antioxidants, meaning they can neutralize harmful free radicals that would otherwise damage your cells and increase your risk of conditions like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease (1Trusted Source).
Polyphenols are also thought to reduce inflammation, which is thought to be the root cause of many chronic illnesses (2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source)…
More than 8,000 types of polyphenols have been identified. They can be further categorized into 4 main groups (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source):
- Flavonoids. These account for around 60% of all polyphenols. Examples include quercetin, kaempferol, catechins, and anthocyanins, which are found in foods like apples, onions, dark chocolate, and red cabbage.
- Phenolic acids. This group accounts for around 30% of all polyphenols. Examples include stilbenes and lignans, which are mostly found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and seeds.
- Polyphenolic amides. This category includes capsaicinoids in chili peppers and avenanthramides in oats.
- Other polyphenols. This group includes resveratrol in red wine, ellagic acid in berries, curcumin in turmeric, and lignans in flax seeds, sesame seeds, and whole grains…
May lower blood sugar levels
Polyphenols may help lower your blood sugar levels, contributing to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
That’s partly because polyphenols may prevent the breakdown of starch into simple sugars, lowering the likelihood of blood sugar spikes after meals (7Trusted Source)…
Among polyphenols, research suggests that anthocyanins may offer the most potent antidiabetic effect. They’re typically found in red, purple, and blue foods, such as berries, currants, and grapes (10Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source).
May lower your risk of heart disease
Adding polyphenols to your diet may improve heart health.
Experts believe that this is largely due to the antioxidant properties of polyphenols, which help reduce chronic inflammation, a risk factor for heart disease (3Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source)…
May prevent blood clots
Polyphenols may reduce your risk of developing a blood clot…
However, excess platelet aggregation can cause blood clots, which can have negative health effects, including deep vein thrombosis, stroke, and pulmonary embolism (17Trusted Source).
According to test-tube and animal studies, polyphenols may help reduce the platelet aggregation process, thereby preventing the formation of blood clots (18Trusted Source, 19Trusted Source, 20Trusted Source).
May protect against cancer
Research consistently links diets rich in plant foods to a lower risk of cancer, and many experts believe that polyphenols are partly responsible for this (5Trusted Source, 21, 22Trusted Source).
Polyphenols have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, both of which can be beneficial for cancer prevention (23)…
May promote healthy digestion
Polyphenols may benefit digestion by promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria while fending off harmful ones (26Trusted Source, 27Trusted Source)…
May promote brain function
Polyphenol-rich foods may boost your focus and memory.
One study reports that drinking grape juice, which is naturally rich in polyphenols, helped significantly boost memory in older adults with mild mental impairment in as little as 12 weeks (32Trusted Source).
Others suggest that cocoa flavanols may improve blood flow to the brain and have linked these polyphenols to improved working memory and attention (33Trusted Source, 34Trusted Source, 35Trusted Source, 36Trusted Source)…”
9 Benefits of Maca Root (and Potential Side Effects)
“Maca is a cruciferous vegetable and therefore related to broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale…
The taste of maca root powder, which some people dislike, has been described as earthy and nutty. Many people add it to their smoothies, oatmeal and sweet treats…
Maca root powder is very nutritious, and is a great source of several important vitamins and minerals (2).
One ounce (28 grams) of maca root powder contains:
- Calories: 91
- Carbs: 20 grams
- Protein: 4 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Fat: 1 gram
- Vitamin C: 133% of the RDI
- Copper: 85% of the RDI
- Iron: 23% of the RDI
- Potassium: 16% of the RDI
- Vitamin B6: 15% of the RDI
- Manganese: 10% of the RDI
Furthermore, it contains various plant compounds, including glucosinolates and polyphenols (1Trusted Source, 3, 4Trusted Source)…