The 10-Step Plan to Lower Your Blood Pressure in 4 Weeks--Without Prescription Drugs

So far I've only done 2 of the 10 steps listed but it still helped. The numbers are down from a couple of months ago. You will learn a lot by reading this book. Highly recommended if you want to lower your Blood Pressure and not use drugs to do it.

This is an excellent book;;;simple and easy to understand using every day foods and recipes that are doable. It includes a lot of information that I wasn't aware of and altogether very informative and makes a lot of sense.

Easy to read. I've started implementing some of the steps and have seen a difference in my blood pressure. I've been able to reduce some of the prescription dosage levels. Trying to make the steps a lifestyle change.

It was somewhat complicated, at first, to operate, but once I started to use it on a regular basis, I got the hang of it. If a person is impatient, they will have a difficult time because you must get use to using it properly.

This review is only about the Kindle version. I've read most of the book in a paperback version from the library, but now I need to return it and thought it would be nice to have an e-book version that I would have with me pretty much all the time (I carry my small tablet with me just about everywhere, including restaurants, so I though it be a handy reference). Many of the charts in the book, such as the menu plans in the appendices and the various "power foods" for different nutrients such as potassium or calcium are rendered as lists by the Kindle app on my tablet, and because the formatting is lost, it's difficult to figure out what numbers belong with different meal items, which items are part of which meal, etc.

I learned a lot from this book. I would highly recommend the purchase of this book. I also think reading the book has permanently changed my eating habits for the better & lightened up how I eat. I read this book with great interest and took many notes.

My main complaint with the book is her use of Splenda, which I wouldn’t touch with a 10 foot pole, since it’s an artificial sweetener. There is controversy on issues like eating salt and soy, but since my blood pressure needs to come down, I will go along with her recommendations for now, and keep researching.

I am happy to find a book that helps one find a different path than taking medications.

This book is not the last I will read on the subject as many ways of eating are out there. So I am still researching but this book gave me a great start and after 2 weeks my bp has decreased already following her recommendations.

Almost forgot to mention that this book was very well written, concise, & well organized & an easy read. I give her huge credit for that...that is rare.

A waste of money for me. The book is well researched and well written and has much to offer, but for me it was disaster.
I get migraines. Major triggers for these devastating headaches are Red Wine and Chocolate. Not just for me, but for many migraineurs.

Can you take Omega-3 fish oils? Can you eat Yogurt? Can you drink Red Wine and do Chocolate? Can you take supplemental CoQ10, and Magnesium? I cannot. All these trigger headaches for me. I will sadly return the book. So disappointed to begin reading and see all this was the same information I have read for many years, granted in a nicely packaged and organized form, and with so many recommendations I have tried and know give me horrible headaches.

Not sure how this can be helped. After all, to publish the 10 steps outside of the book sort of gives away the plan and perhaps not so many would buy the book for the details, but, wow, it would be helpful to those of us not able to follow a number of the key parts of the plan.

If you are a fan of the Governmental food and nutrition guidelines, I think you would like this book better than I did. Some of the recommendations have recently been the topic of needing modification based on recent medical study results that point in different directions. I tend to agree with the latest statistical results more. Very well oganized thought and might work for someone else. Personally have tried most of the recommedations before and they did not work for me.

...but it doesn't. At least it's well-written and much easier to digest/understand than the book by Barbara Roberts which I've read before reading this one.
However, my cholesterol is still too high with 260.

As I already lost a lot of my ability to remember a certain word or somebody's name (short-term memory) from taking Tamoxifen for 18 months in 2009/2010, I'm also against taking statins, because I'm very afraid of more memory loss (I was prescribed Lipitor in December 2016 by my primary care physician, but never took it),.
My question is HOW can I really lower my cholesterol without taking statins and without extreme work out?
I've changed my diet to low sugar and low sodium (only 600 mg sodium per day), walk twice a day for 30 to 40 minutes at a brisk speed and followed all advices that Janet Bond Brill gave in her books on lowering cholesterol and on lowering blood pressure and lost 22 pounds just by going low-sodium, but my cholesterol didn't get lower after 3 months.

I also wonder very much why the big pharmaceutical companies since 1985 (when they developed statins) never were able to develop an alternative that's not causing memory loss, insomnia or increased urination at night? They had more than 30 years to develop something that lowers cholesterol, but does not turn otherwise healthy and intelligent patients into vegetables.

I learned a lot from this book. I would highly recommend the purchase of this book. I also think reading the book has permanently changed my eating habits for the better & lightened up how I eat. I read this book with great interest and took many notes.

My main complaint with the book is her use of Splenda, which I wouldn’t touch with a 10 foot pole, since it’s an artificial sweetener. There is controversy on issues like eating salt and soy, but since my blood pressure needs to come down, I will go along with her recommendations for now, and keep researching.

I am happy to find a book that helps one find a different path than taking medications.

This book is not the last I will read on the subject as many ways of eating are out there. So I am still researching but this book gave me a great start and after 2 weeks my bp has decreased already following her recommendations.

Almost forgot to mention that this book was very well written, concise, & well organized & an easy read. I give her huge credit for that...that is rare.

A waste of money for me. The book is well researched and well written and has much to offer, but for me it was disaster.
I get migraines. Major triggers for these devastating headaches are Red Wine and Chocolate. Not just for me, but for many migraineurs.

Can you take Omega-3 fish oils? Can you eat Yogurt? Can you drink Red Wine and do Chocolate? Can you take supplemental CoQ10, and Magnesium? I cannot. All these trigger headaches for me. I will sadly return the book. So disappointed to begin reading and see all this was the same information I have read for many years, granted in a nicely packaged and organized form, and with so many recommendations I have tried and know give me horrible headaches.

Not sure how this can be helped. After all, to publish the 10 steps outside of the book sort of gives away the plan and perhaps not so many would buy the book for the details, but, wow, it would be helpful to those of us not able to follow a number of the key parts of the plan.

...but it doesn't. At least it's well-written and much easier to digest/understand than the book by Barbara Roberts which I've read before reading this one.
However, my cholesterol is still too high with 260.

As I already lost a lot of my ability to remember a certain word or somebody's name (short-term memory) from taking Tamoxifen for 18 months in 2009/2010, I'm also against taking statins, because I'm very afraid of more memory loss (I was prescribed Lipitor in December 2016 by my primary care physician, but never took it),.
My question is HOW can I really lower my cholesterol without taking statins and without extreme work out?
I've changed my diet to low sugar and low sodium (only 600 mg sodium per day), walk twice a day for 30 to 40 minutes at a brisk speed and followed all advices that Janet Bond Brill gave in her books on lowering cholesterol and on lowering blood pressure and lost 22 pounds just by going low-sodium, but my cholesterol didn't get lower after 3 months.

I also wonder very much why the big pharmaceutical companies since 1985 (when they developed statins) never were able to develop an alternative that's not causing memory loss, insomnia or increased urination at night? They had more than 30 years to develop something that lowers cholesterol, but does not turn otherwise healthy and intelligent patients into vegetables.

I was desperate for some solutions to reduce blood pressure without drugs. I understand the relationship between calcium, vitamin D3 and potassium, however there was lots of emphasis on getting calcium from food where it is stated that dairy products are the best and main source. With cow's consuming pesticide infected food, antibiotics and bovine, dairy products are the worst source of calcium humans can consume, particularly women. As I continuously read about consuming dairy products, particularly yogurt, in this book, I couldn't help but gag and imagine the pain of the continuous diarrhea I get from going near cow's milk. The author has completely disregarded those who are completely lactose intolerant. I'll continue to finished the book until the end, but it's references to food sources of calcium are not applicable to me or my friends. This info is quite dated. Sorry for any graphic descriptions.

This should be a hand-out in every doctor's office when someone is diagnosed with high blood pressure. Blood Pressure Down is divided into 2 parts. The first section is entitled "Everything you Need to Know about High Blood Pressure and Your Health" - and that is exactly what it delivers. It fully explains the condition and how it can cause other serious problems. Part 2 is a ten-step plan to lower your blood pressure. This includes diet, exercise, supplements and weight loss. There are 8 appendices that follow with progress charts, checklists, meal plans, recipes and more.

Having been through four home blood pressure monitors that just were not accurate enough to depend on, I was very pleased with the information included in this book about an organization (and their website) that tests and rates all of the different BP monitors. I chose an inexpensive recommended model and I finally had very accurate readings for a home model.

I'm not likely to follow the strict diet with fish, soy and tofu and beans of all types, but there is enough included that I can make important changes to my diet and make a difference. I am adding the supplements, using other tips and fully expect good results.

The key to functional success with long term goals is not deprivation. It is knowledge.

Blood Pressure Down is the ultimate tool chest that provides a wealth of ideas and information on how to lower blood pressure and take less prescription drugs. This is not a quick fix, or band-aid, or an ultimate cure-all. It gives a straight forward way to understand what is potentially damaging and how to tweak bad habits without going to the extreme.

There are sensible nuggets of wisdom that can be incorporated into daily life without ridiculous crash diets.

"...bananas are Mother Nature's sweet blood-pressure-lowering medicine because of their potassium content..."

"Coffee is... linked with reduced risk of developing a number of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's. Coffee is loaded with magnesium..."

Of course, everything should be in moderation. But for those individuals needing a little more guidance, the author has produced sample weekly optimal BP-lowering strategies that combine food and exercise, all the way down to guided meal and snack suggestions, calorie counts and mineral consumption.

Brill's clever approach and deft knowledge has taken on both the psychological and physiological factors of a healthier lifestyle to deliver the most comprehensive, sustainable and empowering program.

Read entire review here:
bookendchronicles DOT blogspot DOT com

Thankfully, my blood pressure has always been within normal range. However, my husband has high blood pressure. He takes prescription medication for it. I would like to see his blood pressure improve by a change of diet and adding exercise to his daily agenda. We try to do those two things, but life is busy with full-time jobs, two teenagers and a new baby. Yet, those are just excuses.

I came across Blood Pressure Down: The 10-Step Plan to Lower Your Blood Pressure in 4 Weeks Without Prescription Drugs and I immediately thought of my husband (and my mother). My husband and I have both read the book. We are going to try some of what's included in the book. Yes, diet and exercise are part of the plan, but the author provides specifics for diet, such as eating bananas and why. There is one step of the plan that we won't be implementing to lower hubby's blood pressure, but 9 out of 10 should be enough. Now, all we need to do is get rid of the excuses!

Also included are meal and exercise plans, as well as several recipes. I honestly don't see us eating as healthy as the book suggests, but any improvement is worth celebrating, right? Giving up his favorite foods doesn't make hubby happy, but having variations or substitutions, which are provided in the book, does help him make some of the suggested alterations in his diet.

I don't have high blood pressure, but I will be making these changes with my husband, not only to support him, but to improve my health as well.

I received this book from FSB Media in exchange for my honest review.

Fancy lowering your blood pressure without medication in 4 weeks without medication? Blood Pressure Down by Janet Bond Brill is a clearly-written, easy to read book on this subject. The first part, about 60 pages, explains the "mechanics" of high blood pressure and dire consequences of not managing it well.

Part 2 goes straight into the 10-step plan.

1. Lose 5 pounds
2. Cut the salt
3. Eat bananas (for the potassium)
4. Eat spinach (for the magnesium)
5. Eat Yogurt (for the calcium)
6. Eat Soy (as a meat substitute)
7. Eat dark chocolate (for the flavonoids)
8. Drink red wine (for the resveratrol and procyanidin)
9. Take vitamin D3, Coenzyme Q10, Omega-3 fish oil, vegetable juice.
10. Exercise

Everybody already knows about having to lose weight, cut salt and exercise. What I find most useful about this book are the tables showing the amount of mineral or vitamins in common foods. I'm a little surprised that there's more potassium in baked potatoes than bananas.

However, it should be noted that diet control and restriction alone will not work for everybody. These steps work best for those suffering from secondary hypertension - those caused by electrolyte imbalances and kidney issues. Those without any specific cause, also known as essential hypertension, may not response to diet therapy. Those with arteries already clogged are also unlike to see any significant improvement sans medication in 4 weeks.

Overall, the book still provides valuable information and it's a very good and easy read. Just take the "without prescription drugs" part with a pinch of salt.

Anybody who has high blood pressure and wants to bring it under control, and every doctor who treats patients with high blood pressure, should read this book.

Written by a registered dietitian with a solid background in science, this book is a no-nonsense, well-researched, and documented guide to proven methods to lowering blood pressure. Many people who are diagnosed with hypertension by their doctor are immediately put on medication, often with little or no consideration given to lifestyle changes that could bring blood pressure under control. In addition, those who seek out information from authoritative sources like the American Heart Association are given general information to lose weight, eat more fruits and vegetables, and cut salt. While those methods are indeed effective, the information leaves much for the individual to figure out on their own. This book provides a step-by-step guide that doesn't leave the reader guessing.

What I like most about this book is that Dr. Brill gives very specific steps for putting those recommendations, and others, into an action plan that is very doable. The first three chapters of the book explain what high blood pressure is, what it does to the body, and why it needs to be taken seriously as a health problem. The second part of the book lays out her ten-step plan for lowering blood pressure. Instead of the general recommendation to "lose weight", her prescription is to "lose five pounds" - an action that is very doable, especially with the steps she outlines on how to lose five pounds in four weeks. "Cut the salt" is another part of the plan, but she gives specific information about the top twenty foods that provide the most sodium in the diet, plus additional specific tips. Each chapter provides the sound scientific research behind why each step is effective in lowering blood pressure. The 8 appendices at the end of the book include such things as pocket cards to take with you to the grocery store, sample meal plans, and recipes.

After reading the entire book, I walked away thinking, "I can do this. I know exactly what I need to do and it's easy." I highly recommend this book to anyone who has been searching for a non-medicinal way to lowering their blood pressure.

If you are a fan of the Governmental food and nutrition guidelines, I think you would like this book better than I did. Some of the recommendations have recently been the topic of needing modification based on recent medical study results that point in different directions. I tend to agree with the latest statistical results more. Very well oganized thought and might work for someone else. Personally have tried most of the recommedations before and they did not work for me.

Do you have high blood pressure? According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey almost one-third of all United States adults have high blood pressure. You hear the diagnosis of high blood pressure from your doctor but what can YOU do about it.
This book outlines ten practical ways to lower blood pressure. Step by step the author guides the reader into examining his/her eating habits and suggests other alternatives. For example, the author recommends eating dark chocolate, which contains the blood pressure-lowering ingredient,flavonoids,
This book is a must read for anyone interested in lowering his/her blood pressure. As the author so eloquently stated "The Blood Pressure Down plan is not about deprivation but instead urges you to tap into Mother Nature's spectacular bound of natural blood-pressure-lowering food..."

This reviewer was provided a copy of the book by the publisher in order objectively review it.

Excellent, easy-to-understand way to lower blood pressure, but I have a question -- has anyone tried combining the diet plans in this book with the diet plans in Dr. Brill's other book "Cholesterol Down"? It confuses me because many of the foods and portions of foods are different. We can't eat everything in both diets! Don't these two health issues frequently happen together? If one of these books helps with both issues, which would you choose? (I've read these as library books but plan to buy one or both.)

Dr. Brill has created another well-researched book that can help consumers lower their blood pressure and improve their overall health and well-being. Taking a food-based (rather than a medication-based) approach, Dr. Brill lays out a clear plan that empowers people to lower their blood pressure while staying nourished and satisfied. The book also provides tons of delicious recipes to help people consume more heart-healthy foods. It also guides the reader toward a fit, well-balanced lifestyle by including specific but realistic exercise plans. Whether you want to lower your blood pressure, or prevent high blood pressure, this book is for you. I highly recommend it!

Janet Bond Brill is a brilliant clinician who is gifted at marrying the evidence with the practical tips that anyone and everyone can benefit from. This book deserves prime space on every physician's bookshelf, but even better, clearly on their desk for patients to see, especially if they have high blood pressure, but even if they don't and want to lower their chances. The chapters are well-organized and flow well, and throughout the book are evidence-based guidelines and caveats, and it's delightful to see dark chocolate and red wine on the list!

There's a great chapter on must-have supplements and another excellent chapter on exercise. Who better than Dr. Bond Brill, with a PhD in exercise physiology, to guide one through a safe regimen, and the stress-busting tips are excellent as well!

As a Registered Dietitian of 23 years and author of 3 patient-based cookbooks, I also give a BIG thumbs up to Janet's recipes in this book! They sound absolutely yummy, yet are pretty simple to make, so I can't wait to serve them to friends this summer! Cheers, Janet, to a truly fabulous book that MANY people will benefit from!

If there's one word for the information in this book it's "practical." It contains a lot of very useable information that everyone with high blood pressure should know, including exactly what it is, how to monitor it at home, and how to lower it using foods, all of which are healthy for you for a number of reasons (helps kill multiple birds with one stone!). The exercise and supplement recommendations are all very realistic and doable as well, and the appendix in the back includes some great meal plans and recipes that show you how to put all the recommended foods together as meals and snacks. Overall a great book - highly recommend!

I'm a registered dietitian...so I should know all this, but I don't. Dr. Brill reviewed all the medical literature to come up with 10 simple steps to lower your blood pressure without drugs. In my classes everyone knows about cutting back on salt, but there is so much more. Along with cutting back on sodium chloride you want to increase your food sources of potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

One of the steps is to "Eat Bananas" but there's an extensive 2 page list of other foods high in potassium like pistachios, beans, and cucumbers. Another step is to "Eat Spinach" but the chapter is really more about upping your magnesium intake - and thank goodness, another 2 page list shows that spinach isn't the only way :). Give me edamame or pine nuts instead!

What I was most excited about was the chapter on soy. I'm enjoy many of the meat substitutes but they're loaded in salt. So, this chapter (and the recipes in the back) offered me other ways to enjoy soy like throwing them in a smoothier or Tofu Scramble with Avocado.

I've been recommending her other books (including Cholesterol Down)- and now this is on my recommendation list, too.

Blood Pressure Down is a practical guide for people wanting to manage their blood pressure without medication.

If you prefer a quick overview, scanning the table of contents and studying Appendix 2 will give you the plan basics.

If you want to know "how" and "why", the ten chapters covering each step provide detailed information about the rationale, science and cautions behind each recommendation. Documentation for each step is up-to-date and from reliable resources.

As a Registered Dietitian with several decades of experience, I have accumulated dozens of "healthy" recipes. In Blood Pressure Down, I discovered several new recipe ideas. In addition to new information and recipes, I enjoyed this book's empowering approach. You can do these 10 steps!

If you have blood pressure issues, know someone with blood pressure problems or want to learn more about this common disease, this book is a great resource.

I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher for review.

Blood Pressure Down is an excellent resource, not only for people who already have high blood pressure and are on medication, but also for those who want to try nondrug approaches to lowering their blood pressure. It is also written for those who want to prevent high blood pressure. Written in clear, concise, and accessible language, this book describes a doable, 10-step plan to lower blood pressure.

This book explains what high blood pressure is, and the various ways in which it harms the body, and the lifestyle methods of controlling high blood pressure. The steps are neither exotic nor expensive, and the emphasis is placed on appropriate food choices, four supplements, exercise, and stress management. Dr. Janet Brill explains in clear, concise language the steps needed to lower blood pressure. For example, when she discusses the need to consume 4,700 milligrams of potassium, the chapter is titled "Eat Bananas". However, her recommendation doesn't end there; Dr. Brill also provides a list of high potassium foods to help readers track their intake and 10 tips to eat more potassium.

Possibly the best thing about this book is that it provides help, not hype. Rather than simply providing opinions, Dr. Brill provides scientific facts, backed by reference lists from peer-reviewed journals. Sample meal plans are included as well as tips on eating out, and an astonishing 52 recipes. Nutritional analysis has been provided for each recipe. There are instructions on how to calculate your BMI, and how to meditate. Thre is also a page, intended to be photocopied, for tracking your weight and blood pressure. This book helps to set you up for success in lowering your blood pressure!

Dr. Janet Bond Brill does it again - writing another practical guide for improving health! In Blood Pressure Down, she walks the reader through 10 simple steps to lower blood pressure. The reader will not feel deprived by following this advice, instead, will be empowered to create new habits that will help them feel better while enjoying delicious meals. As a medical nutrition therapist, I strongly recommend this book to my clients with high blood pressure. Well researched and brimming with advice one can live with and enjoy, this book includes useful meal plans and recipes and focuses on healthy foods to include for improved blood pressure and overall health.

Good information reference book on hypertension and will continue to refer back to it. However, in the how-to sections (Chapter 4 and on) it constantly refers you to the appendices, some of which are too small to read on the kindle. So, as a day by day guide it's fairly useless. Suggestions... Make the appendices forms and charts available online. Email them to buyers of the Kindle versions (Probably a logistics nightmare) or re-do the Kindle version with reformatted charts. As is, it's probably better in the print version.

Blood Pressure Down: the 10 step plan to lower your blood pressure in 4 weeks without prescription drugs. Janet Bond Brill, PhD, RD, LDN. Three Rivers Press.© 2013.
This eye-opening book could also be called "An Owner's Manual for a Healthy Cardio-vascular system". After reading this book, eight words pop to mind: "Read this book NOW! Might save your life!" OR someone you know.
The scary truth according the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicates 67 million Americans--or almost one in three US adults--has high blood pressure- or the "silent scourge". High blood pressure is a MAJOR factor in kidney failure, strokes and heart attacks. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is a killer.
As a clinical Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist at a major Boston medical, I accepted a complimentary copy of this book to learn practical ways to encourage healthier eating with our hospitalized clientele: including our high risk obstetric population. Messages in this book apply to everyone!
Several factors contribute to elevated blood pressure: genetics, lifestyle choices- alcohol, tobacco, physical activity, stress- weight status and what you choose to eat. Clearly you have no control over your genes! But you have control over excess body weight, inadequate physical activity as well as not eating foods with excess salt, fat, sugar and calories. That is only 50% of the equations. What is really front page news is what foods to add everyday which makes A HUGE difference to reducing high blood pressure!
YES IT CAN BE PLANTS AND NOT PILLS THAT GETS THAT BLOOD PRESSURE DOWN! Adding more natural foods which have been scientifically shown to reduce injury to blood vessels--components of the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stopping Hypertension) including low fat dairy, spinach (and many other vegetables), bananas (and other fresh fruit), yogurt, tea, soy protein- [tofu, soy nuts, edamane], dark chocolate, red wine in moderation are among her 10 recommendations.
Dr. Brill presents the science behind blood vessel health from a bio-chemical perspective from the foods she recommends (she is a PhD registered dietitian nutritionist with an impressive list of publications) after convincing everyone to ditch high salt foods. She emphasizes the ratio of sodium to potassium in the role of blood pressure regulation. Potassium from fruits and vegetables has a blood vessel relaxing impact by influencing the production of nitric oxide, a known blood vessel dilation agent. In addition, too much sodium (salt) and inadequate potassium causes the body to retain more fluid, adding to blood pressure by a volume factor. (Caution with adding potassium if you have kidney disease however). When making recommendations for including more food sources, she will give you the low-down on the various bio-chemical mechanisms thought to be involved. Explanations are presented in everyday language everyone can understand! (YAY!)
Dr. Brill makes suggestions of adding 3 supplements to discuss with your doctor: vitamin D3 (not D2), coenzyme Q10, omega 3 fish oil. Also including 8 oz of low salt vegetable juice and 30 minutes of daily activity complete her 10 sensible recommendations.
Lastly Dr. Janet Brill makes it easy to follow her advice by providing over 50 recipes which include many foods known to reduce blood pressure. Following her direction, you can lower your blood pressure in FOUR weeks! Not only might you ditch some of your high blood pressure medication (and save $!) but you're likely to drop a few pounds, lower your cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose readings. Major health benefits from changing what's on your dinner plate!

Miriam Erick, MS RDN, July 7, 2013
Boston, MA
Author: Managing Morning Sickness: a survival guide for pregnant women. Bull Publishing, 2004.

As a registered dietitian I am always trying to stay on top of the latest research and books that come onto the market. When I came across this one I was so excited to read it since many of my patients suffer from high blood pressure and cholesterol. I was already familiar with Dr Brill's other book, Cholesterol Down so I expected this to be just as good. Blood Pressure Down is a great reference both for doctors, registered dietitians, and the lay reader. It is laid out in an easy to read manner that everyone can enjoy. It has 10 easy to follow practical steps along with research for those who want more detailed information. There are also great exercise tips in the back along with easy to follow recipes. I would definitely recommend this book to my patients as a great reference along with nutrition counseling.

I love this book, no gimmicky false promises. This is a book based on facts, science and the years of experience Dr Janet Bond Brill brings to you the reader or the individual with high blood pressure. Dr Brill has done it again, another great book to solve the problem of millions of people suffering from high blood pressure. It is a very reader friendly book that is easy to put into practice. Gita Patel MS RD CDE CLT LD

A lot (I mean a LOT) of unsupported "evidence" as to various protocols to reduce high BP in risk populations (not the everyday layman with no BP problems, but AT RISK populations).

Take coffee for example. It does have good levels of magnesium so when it is stated that coffee is good to drink because of its magnesium levels (which are moderate compared to many other foods), that sounds great. Except that magnesium has very little beneficial impact on high BP.

Actually the amount of magnesium in a cup of brewed regular coffee is pretty minimal... like about 7mg per 8 oz. cup (other sources tested at magnesium as low as 3 mg per 100 gram serving)...

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/beverages/3898/2

Magnesium impact on BP....

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
(Toward bottom under hypertension)

http://m.hyper.ahajournals.org/content/31/1/131.full

Note how games are played. This site says that magnesium is VITAL for BP levels, but the link they provide does NOT say that!

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/

So what do REAL studies say?

http://m.hyper.ahajournals.org/content/36/1/137.full

Now this covers ONE topic out of several offered. Yet there are similar problems with most (yes, potassium DOES improve BP, but bananas are not the highest source and are too loaded with carbs to be healthy).

How many other topics can be researched (really researched) and dismantled??? Simply going through schools teaching outdated nutrition and physiology and getting a bunch of initials behind your name (and having a family history that screams of GENETIC causations) does not make one an "expert"!

(Let one maybe look into SALT next, and how few people at risk for high BP have a salt sensitivity.... and, oh yeah, how salt is a VITAL component that the body requires for basic life! So, let's just dictate that everyone greatly reduce their salt intake while never having a salt sensitivity induced high blood pressure problem, but now having various salt deficiency problems - to include LOW blood pressure likelihoods!).