Alzheimer's Prevention by Eating Foods That Lower Blood Pressure

While it's true that Oatmeal has many health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, lowering bad cholesterol, reducing hypertension (high blood pressure) and lowering one's risk of heart disease, oatmeal, like other foods that lower blood pressure, may also play a role in the prevention of Alzheimer's Disease.

Many studies have been conducted that purport to show a link between hypertension and Alzheimer's. Smoking, for instance, has long been thought to be a risk factor for Alzheimer's. Other studies have shown a 40% reduction in the disease by using anti-hypertensive drugs, particularly diuretics and calcium channel blockers.

At the same time, a 6 year study conducted by Gina Fujikami, showed a significant correlation between prevalent dementia and low systolic blood pressure (SBP) in patients age 71-93. The discrepancy has been addressed by concluding that hypertension is still a significant risk factor, but once a patient has Alzheimer's, forgetting stressful memories plays a role in reducing blood pressure. Or in other words, high blood pressure is a cause of Alzheimer's and low blood pressure is a result of the disease.

So, if lowering one's blood pressure can help prevent Alzheimer's, the question is weather one should use diet as a means to achieve that goal or weather other methods such as medication, breathing therapy, mineral supplements, vitamins and exercise would be equally effective?

We believe all may have a role, but developing a healthy diet is a great place to start! By including foods that lower blood pressure in your diet, calcium channel blockers, potassium-sparing diuretics and other blood pressure lowering drugs might be avoided or at least minimized.

Here is a short list of some of our favorite blood pressure lowering foods:

Apples

Bananas

Blueberries

Oatmeal

Olive Oil (especially extra virgin)

Whole grain bread and pasta (with little or no sugar)

Dark Chocolate

Garlic

Spinach

Swiss Chard

Winter Squash

Raspberries

Strawberries

Pomegranate Juice