| Nowhere in medicine is there more confusion than | | | | If humans are like rats, those with high blood |
| the issue of salt as a cause of high blood | | | | pressure will live longer when they exercise, even |
| pressure. At the 2006 meeting of the American | | | | if their blood pressures do not return to normal. |
| Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, Dr. | | | | Rats can be bred to develop a genetic trait in |
| Abdul-Rahman of Newark, Delaware reported that | | | | which they develop high blood pressure, but when |
| people who lowered blood insulin levels had a | | | | they exercise, they live much longer than the rats |
| significant reduction in high blood pressure even | | | | that do not exercise (Medicine & Science in |
| though they also markedly increased their salt | | | | Sports & Exercise, May 2006). |
| intake (Endocrinology Practice, Volume 12, 2006). | | | | Having high blood pressure can kill you. It |
| These obese patients increased their daily salt | | | | increases your chances of suffering a heart |
| intake from less than two grams a day to more | | | | attack, stroke, or kidney disease. Exercise usually |
| than 20 grams a day. They avoided starchy and | | | | lowers high blood pressure because high blood |
| sugary foods and lost around 12 pounds in six | | | | pressure usually is determined by blood volume. |
| weeks. They did not count calories. Their average | | | | Anything that reduces blood volume also reduces |
| blood sugars dropped from 106 to 98, average | | | | high blood pressure. That's why diuretics are the |
| fasting insulin from 21 to 14 mu/ml and average | | | | most effective drugs to lower high blood |
| systolic blood pressure from 96 to 88. Some of | | | | pressure. Exercising for a few minutes usually |
| the patients were able to stop their blood | | | | does not lower high blood pressure, but exercising |
| pressure drugs. This study and others show that | | | | for several hours dehydrates you and usually |
| high blood insulin levels are an important cause of | | | | does lower high blood pressure. This study shows |
| high blood pressure, and that these people can | | | | that even if exercise does not lower high blood |
| lower insulin levels by avoiding refined | | | | pressure in rats, it still helps them to live longer, |
| carbohydrates and losing weight. | | | | and the same may apply to you. |