Lowering Blood Pressure: Omega 3s Help!

“The... patient should be made to understand that he or she must take charge of his own life. Don't take your body to the doctor as if he were a repair shop. ~ Quentin Regestein ”

New study finds fatty acids have small, but important effect on hypertension
Eating a diet rich in liberal servings of fish, nuts and seeds containing
omega-3 fatty acids nutrients can help lower a person’s blood pressure

According to Dr. Jeremiah Stamler, professor emeritus of preventive medicine
at Northwestern University in Chicago, who worked on the study, there is an
alarming trend taking place, “a large percentage of people between ages 20
and 60 have a rise in blood pressure, and by middle age many have high blood
pressure.” In order to stem this tide, “We’re looking at dietary factors
that may help prevent that rise, and omega-3 fatty acids are a small, but
important piece of the action,” Stamler said.

THE STUDY
The study accessed the relationship between diet and blood pressure in over 4,500 men and women, ages 40 to 59, who lived in Japan, China, Britain and the United States.

Researchers adjusted for 17 variables known to influence blood pressure such as age, gender, weight, salt intake and exercise based on the in-depth details provided about their diets and alcohol consumption, gave urine samples and had their blood pressure measured twice at each of four study visits.


THE RESULTS
The people who ate diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids had slightly lower blood pressure, on average, than people who ate diets with less of the nutrient, the researchers reported in the American Heart Association Journal Circulation.

In a statement, Dr. Ueshima, who also worked on the study, said,
“With blood pressure, every millimeter counts. The effect of each nutrient is apparently small but independent, so together they can add up to a substantial impact on blood pressure.

If you can reduce blood pressure a few millimeters from eating less salt, losing a few pounds, avoiding heavy drinking, eating more vegetables, whole grains and fruits (for their fiber, minerals, vegetable protein and other nutrients) and getting more omega-3 fatty acids, then you’ve made a big difference.”

The researchers published their findings in the June 2007 issue of American Heart Association Journal Circulation.

(Article Source MSN: Omega-3s can lower blood pressure)

EAT WELL... BE WELL!