Focus on adding potassium-rich foods into your eating plan rather than potassium supplements. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, including potassium-rich foods like squash, potatoes, oranges, beans, apricots, prunes, chicken, salmon and low-fat yogurt can help you meet your needs.

Lastly, reducing intake of high-sodium foods, such as snack foods, frozen meals like pizzas, french fries and highly processed meats, like cured meat and cold cuts, is also important in promoting healthy blood pressure.

When reading a food label, you can examine the sodium content by looking at the Daily Value of sodium. Rather than focusing on one meal, it's useful to think about your sodium intake throughout the day.

For example, if you ate lunch out on-the-go, try to eat dinner at home. This can help you to manage your sodium intake in a way that works for your lifestyle.

When cooking, replace some salt by seasoning with fresh and dried herbs, such as garlic, basil, oregano, cumin, parsley and paprika, to name a few. Having high blood pressure can increase your risk of other diseases. Oftentimes, the only way to know your blood pressure is elevated is to have it checked.

If you have high blood pressure, your health care provider will recommend lifestyle changes, such as reducing sodium intake, increasing intake of whole foods that are rich in potassium, regular exercise and smoking cessation.

In certain instances, blood pressure medication may be recommended. You might be wondering if certain supplements can help. While there are some supplements or foods that can provide blood pressure benefits, there are others that should be avoided, either because they have variable effects on blood pressure or because they can interfere with your medication.

Always discuss your supplements and medications with your health care provider for your safety and well-being. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising.

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Today, ginseng is sometimes called an "adaptogen," which is a substance that is supposed to help the body better cope with mental or physical stress.

Scientists have not found any evidence that adaptogens exist. But ginseng has been studied for several conditions, and it is one of the most popular herbs in the United States. Many studies of Asian or Korean ginseng have used combinations of herbs. So it is not always possible to say whether ginseng by itself produced the results.

Research on Asian ginseng has included the following conditions:. It has been said that Asian ginseng boosts the immune system, which might help the body fight off infection and disease. The best evidence is that it may help reduce your risk of getting a cold or flu. Studies have found that ginseng seems to increase the number of immune cells in the blood and improve the immune system's response to a flu vaccine.

In one study, people got either ginseng or placebo for 12 weeks, and got a flu vaccine after 4 weeks. The number of colds and flu were two-thirds lower in the group that took ginseng. Two studies found that ginseng lowered the chance of getting a cold. In one double-blind, placebo-controlled study of people, those who took mg of ginseng daily for 4 months had fewer colds.

When they did get a cold, it was less severe and shorter than the colds of people who took placebo. Asian ginseng seems to be an antioxidant. Antioxidants help rid the body of free radicals, which are substances that can damage DNA and contribute to heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions.

Preliminary studies suggest Asian ginseng may improve the symptoms of heart disease in people. It also may decrease LDL bad cholesterol levels and raise HDL good cholesterol. Asian ginseng's effect on blood pressure is more complicated. Some studies suggest it lowers blood pressure while others found that it causes blood pressure to rise.

This has led researchers to question if ginseng increases blood pressure at usual doses, but lowers it when doses are higher. Until researchers know for sure, you should not take ginseng if you have high blood pressure unless your doctor tells you it is OK.

Although American ginseng has been studied more for diabetes, both types of Panax ginsengs may lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

However, in a few studies it looked like Asian or Korean ginseng raised blood sugar levels. Some people think that the ginsenosides in American ginseng might lower blood sugar while different ginsenosides in Asian ginseng could raise blood sugar levels. Until researchers know more, you should not take ginseng if you have diabetes without your doctor's supervision and monitoring.

People who take ginseng often say they feel more alert. Several studies report that Asian ginseng may slightly improve thinking or learning. Early research shows that Asian ginseng may improve performance on such things as mental arithmetic, concentration, memory, and other measures.

Some studies have also found a positive effect with the combination of Asian ginseng and Ginkgo biloba. Most of the studies have found that ginseng does improve mental performance. But they have measured different kinds of mental function. That makes it hard to know exactly what the effects of ginseng are.

For example, one study found that people who took ginseng increased their ability for abstract thought. But it did not create any changes in their reaction time or concentration levels. There have been a number of studies using Asian ginseng for athletic performance in people and laboratory animals.

Results have been mixed, with some studies showing better strength and endurance, others showing improved agility or reaction time, and others showing no effect at all.

Even so, athletes often take Asian ginseng to boost both endurance and strength. Asian ginseng was also found to reduce fatigue in a study of people.

Asian ginseng is sometimes credited with helping the body deal with physical or mental stress. While these properties can be difficult to study, there is some evidence that ginseng both Asian and American can improve quality of life, although quality of life can be hard to measure, too.

A study of men and women living in Mexico City found better quality of life measures energy, sleep, sex life, personal satisfaction, and well-being in those taking Asian ginseng. Another well-designed study found that people who took a nutritional supplement with ginseng said they had better quality of life than those taking the same supplement without ginseng.

Asian ginseng is widely believed to boost sexual performance. But there are not many studies to back this up. In animal studies, Asian ginseng has increased sperm production, sexual activity, and sexual performance.

A study of 46 men has also shown an increase in sperm count as well as motility. Another study in 60 men found that Asian ginseng increased sex drive and decreased erection problems.

Also, in one study of 45 men, those who took mg of Korean ginseng 3 times per day for 8 weeks had less trouble getting an erection than those who took placebo. Several studies suggest that Asian ginseng may reduce the risk of some types of cancers.

In one observational study, researchers followed 4, people for 5 years. They found that those who took ginseng had lower risks of lung, liver, pancreatic, ovarian, and stomach cancers.

But the study could not be sure that other things, including healthy eating habits, were responsible for the lower risk of cancer. The study also found that taking ginseng only 3 times a year led to a big reduction in cancer risk. Several studies suggest that Asian ginseng slows down or stops the growth of tumors, although researchers are not yet sure how it might work in humans.

More research is needed. There have been only a few studies of ginseng for menopausal symptoms. Two well-designed studies evaluating red Korean Asian ginseng suggest it may relieve some of the symptoms of menopause, improving sense of well-being and mood, particularly feelings of depression.

People took ginseng along with a vitamin and mineral supplement. Other studies show no effect. The ginseng plant has leaves that grow in a circle around a straight stem.

Yellowish-green, umbrella-shaped flowers grow in the center and produce red berries. Ginseng has a taproot that looks a little like the human body, with 2 "arms" and 2 "legs. Ginseng is not ready to be used as medicine until it has grown for about 6 years. Asian or Chinese and Korean ginseng are the same plants, but grown in different areas.

American ginseng is a relative of the same species, native to North America. Asian ginseng supplements are made from the ginseng root, and the long, thin offshoots, called root hairs.

Both Asian or Korean and American ginseng have ginsenosides, saponins that are ginseng's active ingredients. Asian ginseng also contains glycans panaxans , polysaccharide fraction DPG, peptides, maltol, B vitamins, flavonoids, and volatile oil.

White ginseng dried, peeled or red ginseng unpeeled root, steamed before drying is available in water, water-and-alcohol, or alcohol liquid extracts, and in powders or capsules. Asian ginseng root is also available for making decoctions boiling the root in water.

Read the label carefully to make sure you get the type of ginseng you want. If you are looking for Asian ginseng, make sure you buy Korean, red, or Panax ginseng. If you are looking for American ginseng, you should buy Panax quinquefolius.

Eleuthero Eleutherococcus senticosus , which is sometimes called Siberian ginseng, does not have the same active ingredients as Asian or American ginseng. Asian ginseng comes in different forms and is often used in combination with other herbs or nutrients. Talk with an experienced health care practitioner to find the right dose for you.

Healthy people who want to boost physical or mental performance, prevent illness, or better resist stress should take Asian ginseng in cycles. For example, take every day for 2 to 3 weeks, then stop for 3 weeks, then start back. The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease.

However, herbs can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care under the supervision of a health care provider, qualified in the field of botanical medicine.

Asian ginseng should not be taken continuously; take periodic breaks and consult a trained herbal prescriber if you are considering long-term use. Download the PDF to view the article, as well as its associated figures and tables.

To the Editor. Several other users also had hypertension but no other symptoms. These results have raised a number of questions concerning the magnitude of the changes in the blood pressure.

The 22 subjects in whom hypertension developed following chronic abuse of ginseng all had substantial elevations in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Eight of these subjects used. Siegel RK. Ginseng and High Blood Pressure.

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Pre-clinical evidence indicates the potential for ginseng to reduce cardiovascular disease risk and acutely aid in blood pressure BP control. Clinical evidence evaluating repeated ginseng exposure, however, is controversial, triggering consumer and clinician concern. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess whether ginseng has an effect on BP.

Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed methodological quality and risk of bias. Heterogeneity was assessed and quantified.

With so many supplements on the market, this can be a tricky task. Supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration; therefore, knowing how to choose the best product for you is important.

If you purchase supplements that are not high-quality or third-party tested , you could be taking supplements that contain other ingredients that may not be safe for you, or simply wasting money on things that aren't effective.

Certain supplements can interfere with medications taken to lower blood pressure, while other supplements have actually been shown to increase blood pressure. Before purchasing supplements, it's always important to become informed by researching and discussing options with your medical provider.

While there are many supplements that—when taken in conjunction with a healthy diet and lifestyle—may have the potential to help lower blood pressure, this article will focus on which supplements you should avoid if you have high blood pressure. You'll also learn how you can improve your blood pressure naturally through different dietary strategies as well.

Licorice has long been used as an herbal remedy for gastrointestinal symptoms and is being investigated for its potential role in treating other diseases. However, The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health states that long-term ingestion of licorice root or high intakes of licorice candy has been associated with increased blood pressure and decreased potassium levels.

A condition known as hypokalemia may occur when potassium levels are too low. Hypokalemia is an electrolyte imbalance that can cause muscle weakness, gastrointestinal symptoms and, in serious cases, cardiac arrhythmias and respiratory failure.

Licorice intake may also interact with certain types of blood-pressure-lowering medications, reducing their effectiveness.

Additionally, if you are taking Lanoxin for congestive heart failure or abnormal rhythms, licorice could increase your risk of Lanoxin toxicity, says the American Heart Association. Diets rich in potassium have been known to help reduce blood pressure.

Potassium is a mineral and electrolyte that helps maintain fluid balance by enabling the excretion of excess sodium, which lowers blood pressure. It also relaxes your blood vessel walls.

Although dietary intake of potassium is helpful in reducing blood pressure, people with high blood pressure who take medication should be cautious when supplementing with potassium. In fact, the American Heart Association, discourages the use of potassium supplements in people with high blood pressure who take angiotensin-coverting enzyme ACE inhibitors because it can interfere with how the medication works, resulting in high levels of potassium in the blood.

Without medical supervision, it's best to avoid ginseng, due to its varying effects on blood pressure. At low doses, panax ginseng has been found to increase blood pressure in those with low blood pressure , while high doses can lower blood pressure in healthy subjects.

On the other hand, other studies have found it to have a neutral effect on blood pressure. The results are highly mixed.

Researchers highlight the need for more high-quality, randomized, clinical-controlled trials that assess blood pressure and use standardized types of ginseng root or extracts to determine ginseng's role in cardiovascular health. Lastly, if you are taking blood thinners, ginseng can interfere with their effects.

Made from the seeds of the guarana plant, guarana can be formulated into powders, liquid tinctures and capsules and is commonly used in energy drinks that contain caffeine.

The seeds contain a potent form of caffeine and, once they are processed, the byproducts can contain even higher levels of caffeine. Compared to a coffee bean, a guarana bean is thought to have four times the amount of caffeine. It's important to know how much caffeine is in your supplement.

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that high intakes of caffeine may increase blood pressure for few hours after consumption, especially in people who are not accustomed to consuming caffeine and who already have high blood pressure.

Stimulants like caffeine can also increase your heart rate. Though individual reactions to caffeine are different, it's probably best to avoid these types of supplements. Keep in mind that this list may not be extensive.

There is always a potential for other supplements and vitamins to impact your blood pressure. If you notice that since beginning a new vitamin, herb or mineral that your blood pressure has increased, stop taking it and reach out to your health care provider for guidance.

What you eat can have an impact on your blood pressure. Diets that are high in sodium and low in potassium can increase the risk of developing high blood pressure. Research has shown that diets rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, unsalted nuts, seeds, healthy fats like extra-virgin olive oil, and less processed meat can be beneficial for blood pressure.

In fact the DASH diet, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension , was created in the s to help reduce and treat high blood pressure.

Time and time again this type of eating pattern has been proven to be effective in lowering blood pressure. According to the National Heart, Lung and Bloood Institute , the DASH eating plan is a balanced and flexible eating style that helps to promote heart health.

It consists of eating mostly whole foods, which keeps sodium intake low. The goal is to keep sodium intake to less than 2, milligrams per day; however, lowering it to 1, milligrams per day may help reduce blood pressure even more.

A sample day on a healthy eating pattern for high blood pressure may include:. Don't be discouraged if the way you eat looks very different from this.

Making small changes slowly can yield positive results and assist you in easing into this new way of eating while also making it feel sustainable for the long term. Focus on adding potassium-rich foods into your eating plan rather than potassium supplements.

Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, including potassium-rich foods like squash, potatoes, oranges, beans, apricots, prunes, chicken, salmon and low-fat yogurt can help you meet your needs.

Lastly, reducing intake of high-sodium foods, such as snack foods, frozen meals like pizzas, french fries and highly processed meats, like cured meat and cold cuts, is also important in promoting healthy blood pressure.

When reading a food label, you can examine the sodium content by looking at the Daily Value of sodium.