The Silent Killer
High Blood Pressure, or hypertension, is referred to as a "silent killer" because it can be deadly, but in the early stages is usually without noticeable symptoms. A diagnosis of hypertension is usually 'incidental' and made through a blood pressure reading by a health care practitioner. Hypertension can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, kidney disease, stroke and heart attack. It has been estimated that a reduction of 5 mmHg in systolic BP could reduce stroke mortality by 14% and decrease cardiovascular disease mortality by 9%.
Blood Pressure ReliefTM from AOR includes a combination of natural ingredients designed to help those with prehypertension or hypertension to lower their systolic and diastolic blood pressure, thereby supporting a healthy cardiovascular system.
Beating High Blood Pressure with Vegetables
Clinical trials have shown that diets high in fruits and vegetables can reduce blood pressure and the incidence of heart attack and stroke. The DASH diet, or “Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension”, is commonly recommended to individuals with hypertension. The main features of the DASH diet are a reduced sodium intake and the consumption of 8-10 servings of fruits and especially vegetables daily. The most dramatic blood pressure lowering effects have been associated with dark leafy vegetables, like beetroot, spinach and lettuce, which are high in nitrate content. Nitrates are converted by the body into nitrites, which are then converted into nitric oxide (NO), this pathway is called the nitrate-nitrite-NO or NOx3, 2, 1 pathway.
NO is a very important molecule in the body, and is vital for the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. Primarily it is a potent vasodilator, meaning that it widens the blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure. Furthermore, NO helps to improve blood vessel elasticity, improve the function of the cells lining the blood vessels (endothelial cells), prevent blood vessel inflammation and inhibit platelet aggregation. Platelet aggregation and endothelial cell dysfunction in the blood vessels can lead to arterial plaque build-up and clot formation, which can impede the flow of blood through the arteries, leading to an increase in blood pressure, as well as other dangerous outcomes, such as heart attack or stroke. Since nitrates act to reduce platelet aggregation, improve endothelial cell function, and promote vasodilation, they decrease blood pressure and improve overall cardiovascular health.
For example, beetroot juice, which is very high in nitrates, has been shown to decrease systolic blood pressure by as much as 10.4mmHg and reduce diastolic blood pressure by as much as 8.1mmHg, with the effect becoming noticeable just one hour after consumption. Another study found that administration of sodium nitrate to human volunteers resulted in a significant 3.7 mmHg drop in diastolic blood pressure after just 3 days of supplementation.
The problem is that many people find it very difficult to include a full 4-6 servings of vegetables, especially the highly beneficial leafy green ones, in their daily diet. Blood Pressure ReliefTM includes not only potassium nitrate as a direct source of nitrates, but also a proprietary nitric oxide generating veggie powder, to maximize NO production and reduce hypertension. The formula also includes vitamin C, which has been shown to help ensure the effectiveness of nitrate supplementation. Over time, supplementation with nitrates can become less effective, a condition called nitrate tolerance. However, research has shown that co-supplementation with vitamin C prevents tolerance from developing. Vitamin C has the additional benefit of being a powerful antioxidant, thereby having cardiovascular benefits in its own right.
Is NO Safe?
Nitrates and their reduced products have been consumed for thousands of years. For the last fifty years nitrates have been the subject of serious propaganda and regulatory restrictions. There have been suggestions that intake of these ingredients can cause cancers due to the link between cured meats and cancer. Yet population studies and various toxicological studies show that nitrates are important nutrients with significant health benefits of which we are being deprived. In fact various researchers suggest that nitrates are probably responsible for the health benefits associated with various fruits and vegetables and the so called “Mediterranean Diet”. In addition various vegetables are rich sources of nitrates and an intake of a plate of salad or a glass of beetroot juice offers many times the nitrate level that the regulatory bodies have set as an upper limit.
In light of this discovery AOR offers the world’s first series of supplements that incorporate the NOx 3,2,1 technology.
Additional BP Fighting Ingredients
Besides nitrates, numerous other natural ingredients have been shown to help reduce hypertension through a variety of different mechanisms. Blood Pressure ReliefTM contains three additional ingredients that help to make it one of the most complete and effective hypertension reducing products available. These include GABA (Gamma aminobutyric acid), hibiscus extract and chlorogenic acid.
GABA
GABA is a key inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. It is well known for its anti-anxiety effects, but is less often recognized for its effectiveness as an anti-hypertensive agent. In one Japanese study, supplementation with 80mg of GABA daily for 8 weeks reduced systolic BP by an average of 10 mmHG and diastolic BP by 5 mmHg in 50 individuals with mild hypertension (systolic BP ranging from 130 to 180 mmHg). Furthermore, certain anti-hypertensive drugs have been shown to increase GABA levels in the hypothalamus, highlighting the importance of this neurotransmitter in the regulation of blood pressure.
Studies in rats have shown that GABA is involved in the regulation of nerve cells that control the relaxation and contraction of the muscles in the blood vessel walls. GABA appears to induce blood vessel relaxation, resulting in a reduction in blood pressure.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus sabdariffa is an edible medicinal plant, indigenous to India, China and Thailand and is used in Ayurveda and traditional medicine. Hibiscus is a highly effective natural blood pressure reducer. Its anti-hypertensive properties have been documented in a variety of ¬in vitro, animal and human studies. In one study including 54 human subjects, treatment with a hibiscus tea produced dramatic improvements in their blood pressure in just 12 days. Systolic blood pressure was reduced by 11.2% and diastolic blood pressure by 10.7%. In another study, supplementation with Hibiscus (standardized to contain 9.6mg anthocyanins) was found to be as effective as the drug captopril at lowering blood pressure. Patients taking hibiscus for 4 weeks experienced a reduction in systolic blood pressure from 139.05 to 123.73 mmHg and in diastolic BP from 90.81 to 79.52 mmHg, on average. Furthermore, their blood pressure levels were not significantly different from the group taking captopril.
The anti-hypertensive effect of hibiscus is thought to be mostly attributed to the anthocyanin components of the plant. These act to reduce blood pressure through at least three different mechanisms, including vasodilation (possibly through an NO mediated pathway), a diuretic effect, and through the inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). ACE is an enzyme that produces angiotensin, a molecule that is a potent vasoconstrictor. For this reason, inhibiting ACE is one of the key approaches for reducing hypertension and is the target of many anti-hypertensive drugs.
Chlorogenic Acid
Chlorogenic acids are a class of natural compounds found in high quantities in unroasted or “green” coffee beans. Chlorogenic acids are powerful antioxidants and it has been suggested that they may help to prevent cardiovascular disease. In regards to blood pressure in particular, research has demonstrated that chlorogenic acid significantly reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with mild hypertension. In rats, chlorogenic acid not only reduced blood pressure, but also helped to prevent the negative effects of hypertension including endothelial dysfunction and vascular hypertrophy. In a study including 117 men with mild hypertension, supplementation with 180mg of chlorogenic acid for 28 days resulted in significant 5.6 mmHg and 3.9 mmHg decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure respectively.
Reigning in Hypertension
Hypertension is a growing problem in North America, affecting about 1 in 5 people in the United States alone. What’s worse is that 30% of those affected aren’t even aware that they have high blood pressure. Left uncontrolled hypertension can lead to a variety of serious health problems. Blood Pressure ReliefTM from AOR can help control hypertension and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications
DISCUSSION: BLOOD PRESSURE RELIEF™ is a potent formulation designed to support healthy levels of blood pressure through multiple pathways, including vasodilation, blood vessel relaxation, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition, and nitric-oxide generation.
60 Vegi-Caps
AOR04202
100% Vegetarian
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SUPPLEMENT FACTS:
Serving Size: 2 Capsules
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Chlorogenic acid 140mg
Hibiscus sabdariffa extract (15% anthocyanins)
64mg
Mixed vegetable concentrate (beet, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, celery, kale, parsley) 500mg
Potassium nitrate 259mg
GABA 80mg
Vitamin C 100mg
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Non-medicinal ingredients: Capsule; hypromellose, water.
AOR guarantees that no ingredients not listed on the label have been added to the product. Contains no wheat, gluten, corn, nuts, dairy, soy, eggs, fish, or shellfish.
Suggested Use
Take two capsules per day with food, or as directed by a qualified health care professional.
Main Applications
- Hypertension
- Cardiovascular health
Source
Multi-Sourced
Pregnancy / Nursing
Do not take.
Cautions
Do not use with erectile dysfunction type products.
