A healthy heart is at the center of a healthy life. It drives the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your whole body, and then powers the removal of your cellular waste.
Beating over 100,000 times per day, your heart pumps about 2000 gallons of blood every day. By the time you reach 70 years old, it will have beaten around 2.5 billion times.
That’s one amazing organ. In fact, your heart does more work than any other muscle in your body.
One of the easiest and most informative ways to measure your cardiovascular health – which includes your heart, your arteries and your veins – is by taking your blood pressure. Blood pressure can give you and your doctor important information about the load your cardiovascular system is carrying.
If you’re under 40, it’s a good idea to get yours checked every two to five years. If you’re over 40, you should get it checked every year.
Fortunately, no matter where your blood pressure stands right now, there are things you can do to support the optimal health of your cardiovascular system.
First, let’s take a look at what those blood pressure readings mean. Then we’ll discuss what you can do to help maintain your heart health so you can enjoy optimal vitality and wellness.
Why Blood Pressure Matters
A healthy blood pressure is one of the key measures of a healthy heart, so your blood pressure is vitally important.
What exactly is blood pressure?
Blood pressure measures the force against the walls of your arteries in response to the pumping of your heart.
Two things influence your blood pressure reading – the amount of blood being pumped and the flexibility of your arteries. Your blood pressure can rise when either or both of those factors fluctuate, such as in the following situations:
- Your arteries contain a large amount of blood.
- Your arteries lose some of their flexibility.
If your arteries become less flexible and can’t easily expand to handle blood flow, your blood pressure rises.
When your blood pressure rises, your heart has to work harder to keep blood flowing. Certain situations can cause this increased demand for a short time – like high-intensity training – but that’s not an issue if you’re healthy.
The problem arises when increased pressure is continuous. Forcing your heart to pump hard without a break can place it under a great deal of stress.
And here’s a fact you may not know about blood pressure… When your blood pressure is higher within the normal range, your arteries can become stiffer, which makes your heart work harder – and your blood pressure goes even higher within the normal range.
How to Understand What Your Blood Pressure Numbers Mean
Two numbers are used to measure blood pressure. The systolic, or top number, measures the force when your heart contracts. The bottom number, or the diastolic, measures the force when your heart rests.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a “normal” reading is 120/80.
Different health care professionals may use different guidelines to diagnose high blood pressure. Some consider your blood pressure high if:
- Systolic is 130 to 139 mmHg.
- Diastolic is 80 mmHg or higher.
Others consider blood pressure in the above range, or between 120-129/80-89, to place you “at risk” and only view it as “high” when:
- Systolic is 140 mmHg or higher.
- Diastolic is 90 mmHg or higher.
If you are under 60 and have no other risk factors, your diastolic pressure may be your most important indicator of risk. If you’re over 60, your systolic pressure is your most important indicator.
Be aware that, depending on your overall health, your doctor may want to treat you with
medication even if your pressure is as low as 130/80.
In addition to testing your blood pressure levels, it’s a good idea to check your fasting insulin level. As you’ll soon see, insulin resistance is very closely linked to blood pressure. A healthy fasting insulin level is between 2 and 3 microU per mL.
What You Can Do to Help Maintain Your Healthy Blood Pressure
In a public statement on the management of high blood pressure, the U.S. Joint National Committee (JNC) said:
“The potential benefits of a healthy diet, weight control, and regular exercise cannot be overemphasized. These lifestyle treatments have the potential to improve blood pressure control and even reduce medication needs.”
If you have questions about your blood pressure, there’s much you can do to help maintain normal healthy levels. This is also true for rising blood sugar or insulin levels or an expanding waistline, which have an important impact on your cardiovascular health.
Try these six tips to help you take control of your heart health:
- Get active and walk more steps.
Exercise is one of your most powerful strategies for managing your blood pressure and your insulin level.
Try tracking your steps with a fitness tracker or your smart phone and shoot for 7,000-10,000 steps a day. And if you work at a desk all day, make sure you stand up, or better yet, switch to a stand-up desk.
If you’re able to, exercise outdoors with bare feet. Studies show that walking barefoot outside – called earthing or grounding – improves both your blood viscosity and flow, which help regulate blood pressure.
- Breathe deeply, and slowly and let go of stress.
There’s a strong link between stress and blood pressure. If you have unaddressed negative emotions like fear, anger, and sadness, you’re less able to cope with normal, everyday stressors.
The way you breathe can affect your blood pressure. Slow, deep breathing and practices such as yoga, tai chi, and qigong help decrease stress hormones, and in turn, lower an enzyme that raises blood pressure.
If you like to keep it simple, try inhaling slowly and exhaling deeply for five minutes twice a day.
Additionally, the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) are outstanding ways to transform your suppressed negative emotions and help relieve the stress in your life.
- Get the processed foods out of your cart – and out of your home.
Many processed foods contain high levels of sugar and fructose, processed salt, unhealthy trans fats, and damaged omega-6 vegetable oils – all things that can negatively impact your blood pressure and health.
In fact, one of the primary causes of blood pressure issues is insulin resistance, which occurs in response to a high-carbohydrate and processed food diet. The same is true of leptin resistance.
As your tissues become more resistant and your insulin and leptin levels rise, so does your blood pressure. In a group of study subjects who were insulin resistant, nearly two-thirds also had blood pressure above optimal levels.
A good rule to remember – shop the outer isles of your grocery store. This is where you’ll find the fresher, unprocessed foods like produce, meat, and eggs. Even better, visit your local farmer’s market. Look for grass-fed and pasture-finished meats.
- Eat more fermented foods, and consider a probiotic supplement.
Many doctors still cling to the idea that limiting sodium is the “cure-all” for blood pressure issues.
While it’s wise to cut out processed salt (the kind found in processed foods and most salt shakers), there’s another approach that might help your blood pressure equally as much… balance your gut flora.
In a recent study, participants experienced positive results when they added probiotics to their diets. A minimum of 100 billion CFUs per day for eight weeks was required to see blood pressure benefits.
- Optimize your vitamin D levels.
Researchers have discovered that both trans fats and a lack of vitamin D can contribute to stiff arteries. And too little vitamin D is related to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome as well.
Sunlight exposure – the best way to get vitamin D – increases the level of nitric oxide in your skin, which helps dilate your blood vessels. It’s a good idea to get your vitamin D levels tested regularly.
- Eat more Potassium
Potassium is an essential mineral, but it’s also an electrolyte that plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy blood pressure.
Many people believe salt to be one culprit behind high blood pressure. Studies now reveal it is an imbalance between the intake of sodium and potassium that may be causing the problem.
Eating food rich in potassium such as avocado, cremini mushrooms and green vegetables like broccoli, spinach and Brussels sprouts can help to correct this imbalance.
- Eat a diet rich in vegetables and fruits.
Many Americans don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables – the CDC reported that the average adult eats less than three servings a day. But the latest research suggests that your blood pressure and heart health benefit greatly from a diet rich in vegetables and fruits.
Certain fruits and vegetables contain a type of phytonutrient called polyphenols. These natural plant compounds have been shown to support healthy normal blood pressure and cardiovascular health.*
Do your heart and blood pressure a favor and eat plenty of fresh, organic produce each day.
Organic Grapes: Bursting With Polyphenols That Support Heart Health*
One fruit in particular has been valued for its nutritional qualities for thousands of years… the famously juicy and delicious grape.
Archeologists estimate that humans have been growing domesticated grapes for around 8000 years, possibly starting in Egypt and Syria. It wasn’t long before they learned to turn them into wine and raisins, and to use the leaves for delicious dishes.
Grapes are packed with nutrients like vitamin K, vitamin C, copper, potassium and a wealth of antioxidants that help fight free radicals damage in your cells.
But many people can have trouble with eating grapes because they are high in fructose, which can worsen insulin and leptin resistance.
Fortunately, there are also a lot of nutrients – without the fructose – in the grape seed. Grape seeds are a rich source of polyphenols.
Over the years, researchers have learned how to isolate the polyphenols in grape seeds to produce grape seed extract, which is full of potential benefits for your heart.
What’s All the Buzz About Grape Seed Extract?
Grape Seed Extract (or GSE, for short) has been the focus of much human research over the last couple of decades. Researchers have discovered that grape seed extract increases levels of antioxidants in your blood.*
As you may know, antioxidants are substances that neutralize free radicals – those potentially harmful compounds in your body that can damage your DNA and destroy cells.
But scientists have found that GSE can do much more. Through research, grape seed extract is racking up a long list of potential benefits, including helping to support your:
- Cardiovascular health, including healthy blood pressure already in the normal range.*
- Healthy cholesterol levels already in the normal range.*
- Healthy blood sugar levels already in the normal range.*
- Mental sharpness as you age.*
- Healthy, normal leg circulation.*
- Normal cellular growth and development.*
- Bone formation and strength*
- Normal inflammatory response*
On top of all that, it has also been found to promote healthy night vision, healthy teeth and youthful looking skin. GSE is proving itself to be a powerful tool for supporting health throughout your body.
The Problem With Many Grape Seed Extracts
When you’re looking for GSE, it’s important to know that not all grape seed extracts are equally effective. There are several factors that make GSE more or less effective in supporting health…
- Bioavailability – Just like some other naturally occurring phytonutrients, the polyphenols in regular grape seed extract can be a challenge for your body to absorb and utilize.
- Polyphenol content - Some formulas aren’t standardized to contain a specified amount of polyphenol, or active ingredient.
- Processing methods– Harsh processing methods can destroy fragile active compounds and leave behind chemical residues.
Bottom line, many grape seed extracts are untested for their effectiveness. If they aren’t tested, how do you know they provide any benefits?
We developed Organic Blood Pressure Support to bring you a grape seed extract with superior bioavailability and polyphenol content, gently processed to preserve all those benefits.
Certified Organic Grape Seed Extract – With Researched-Backed Benefits*
Organic Blood Pressure Support is unlike any other grape seed extract available today. Here’s why:
Manufactured for us by a company with over 100 years’ experience in producing botanical extracts, Blood Pressure Support contains Enovita® Organic – a distinctive grape seed extract with scientifically researched benefits*.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on Enovita® made two exciting discoveries about this unique grape seed extract:
- It helps support healthy blood pressure levels already within the normal range.*
- It helps support healthy mood by promoting reduced levels of perceived stress in those who take it.* This is significant for supporting healthy blood pressure because stress impacts blood pressure levels.
In connection with this trial, researchers also measured the impact Enovita® has on the endothelial cells that line the walls of your heart and blood vessels.
Your endothelium is a thin membrane that plays an important role in your cardiovascular health by generating nitric oxide, which helps keep your blood vessels healthy.
The researchers found that Enovita® helps support endothelial function by maintaining healthy nitric oxide levels that are within the normal range, which helps support healthy vasodilation and blood flow.*
Second Trial Confirms Research – Our Exclusive Grape Seed Extract Supports Healthy Blood Pressure*
In a second study, researchers examined the effect of Enovita® GSE on systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels on a group of 119 subjects.
All subjects were in general good health with blood pressure levels between the higher end of healthy and the lower end of concerning, from 120/80 to 140/99. Each subject was assigned to one of three groups.
The first group received 300 mg. of Enovita® per day, the second group received 150 mg. of Enovita® per day, and the third group served as the control, with no GSE supplementation. All three groups followed a moderate management plan consisting of:
- Reduced salt intake
- Reduced alcohol intake
- Reduction of caffeinated drinks
- Regular exercise
- Improved sleep time
- Relaxation
- Reduction of smoke exposure
At the end of the study, subjects who received Enovita® GSE showed greater improvement in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared with those in the control group.
Improvement was dose-dependent, with subjects who took 300 mg. showing greater improvement than those who took 150 mg.
This study confirms the suitability of GSE for supporting healthy blood pressure levels when combined with sensible lifestyle choices. It’s also a major reason we chose to use 300 mg. of Enovita® Organic GSE in Organic Blood Pressure Support.
How Nitric Oxide Plays a Significant Role in Your Cardiovascular Health
In 1998, a team of researchers made a remarkable discovery… and earned a Nobel Prize for their achievement.
They described how the endothelial cells lining the walls of your blood vessels play a crucial role in regulating blood flow and blood pressure.* These cells produce a gas called nitric oxide (NO) that helps:
- Your blood vessels stay relaxed and open for blood flow.*
- Promote healthy blood vessel flexibility and dilation.*
- Support healthy blood pressure levels.*
As a normal part of aging, your body’s ability to produce nitric oxide declines. And that means many people can benefit from extra support to maintain optimal blood flow.*
With high concentrations of polyphenols and oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPCs), the unique grape seed extract found in Organic Blood Pressure Support helps to naturally support blood vessel dilation.*
These polyphenols act as antioxidants to help support endothelial function by maintaining nitric oxide levels that are within the normal range.*
Exciting research findings suggest that, in addition to its effects on blood pressure and endothelial function, grape seed extract may also help protect low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles from oxidative stress – that’s great news for anyone concerned about their cardiovascular health.*
Specialized Process Maximizes Proanthocyanidins – For Increased Potential Heart Health Benefits*
Multiple factors come together here to make Blood Pressure Support unlike any other grape seed extract.
From the grape varieties chosen, to the timing of the harvest, to the water-based extraction technique, the expertise that goes into making the grape seed extract in Blood Pressure Support is unequalled.
Truly a science-driven organization, Indena can proudly declare these benefits of their Enovita® Organic grape seed extract:
- Scientifically researched – Our formula is backed by human trials showing it helps support healthy blood pressure levels already within a normal range.*
- Greater activity – Enovita® provides at least 95% proanthocyanidins – the biologically active constituents.
- Sustainable and environmentally - friendly industry – It’s a perfect combo: The juice from the grapes is used to make wine, and the unfermented grape seeds are used for their unique grape seed extract.
- No solvents are used in extraction – Many extracts use harsh synthetic solvents to help generate a larger yield when extracting compounds from plants. The process used to extract our GSE is gentle and uses only water, ensuring the beneficial compounds stay intact and avoiding the possibility of any residual solvent being left in the final product.
- Free of Magnesium Stearate – This is a non-nutritive processing aid used in manufacturing to help the powder flow freely through the encapsulating machine, and the majority of GSE products on the market contain it. Why would you want a product with a processing aid that itself could theoretically affect your blood pressure?
- Maintains total control over entire manufacturing process – From raw material procurement to final extraction, our manufacturer maintains a watchful eye to ensure quality and consistency of the end product.
With Superior Bioavailability and Polyphenol Content, No Other Grape Seed Extract Can Compare
Carefully designed to maximize the natural benefits of grape seed extract, there’s simply no other GSE on the market that can match the performance of Enovita® Organic.
Other companies often “borrow” studies to make their product appear better. But Organic Blood Pressure Support brings you cardiovascular support based on specific science, with the research behind it to give you confidence.
Thanks to our gentle processing system that uses only water, the beneficial compounds in our GSE stay intact, while avoiding the possibility of residual solvent being left in the final product.
Not only does this environmentally friendly processing method ensure a product with superior purity and safety, but it also offers superior bioavailability.
Support optimal health for your heart and cardiovascular system with a rich supply of bioavailable antioxidants and polyphenols. Order Organic Blood Pressure Support today.