High Blood Pressure

1 | David O'Hara

May 12th, 2009 at 12:07 pm

I don’t blame you for getting confused because it really is confusing! The much celebrated Mediterranean diet is not really what many people think it is. I’ve lived in Southern Spain off and on for nearly 40 years. I’ve also travelled extensively throughout the Med region.

The fact is that these people eat very large amounts of fried food. Almost everything they eat is fried. They also use huge amounts of salt.

And they consume huge amounts of white bread… with every meal in fact.

It’s also a myth that they eat lots of fruit and vegetables. Traditionally, many of these regions have very little local fruit and veg. Now you can get everything imported in the stores but it’s very expensive. The average shopping cart has little of it.

On the positive side, they do consume lots of olive oil, fresh fish and red wine (although many people prefer beer now). Overall they eat a much more natural diet. They don’t have many fruits and veg but what they have is hearty, fresh and local. They also eat a lot of nuts and dried fruits. Supermarkets here still have very little processed food.

They also, at least traditionally, have a lot less stress, more sunshine and strong communities. All this adds up to healthy hearts, even with the fried food and salt.

Sadly, this is changing. Mediterranean diets are changing, life is getting more stressful and the people are getting a lot more high blood pressure and heart disease. So there’s no Shan-gri-lah.

As for olive oil, I always think it’s better to consume things in a natural way. That means use it in cooking and other foods. Cooking can damage a lot of its properties so use it fresh in salads and things like that.

But I think it’s folly to try and mimic other people’s lifestyle. Better to eat and drink what’s local and keeping a balance.

2 | motselisi kaeane

December 3rd, 2009 at 2:00 pm

can you give me the list of fruits and proteins that can assist in lowering blood pressure.

3 | Paul Powel

March 14th, 2010 at 1:33 pm

Dear David O’Hara,

i have to disagree with you on most of what you are saying about the Mediterranean / middle eastern diet. I have lived there and i still visit that part of the world every 2-3 years.

now..do they eat lots of bread? yes, the do eat lots of both white and whole wheat bread.

do they eat lots of rice and pasta products? yes they do.

do they consume lots of animal protein ( in some cases with lots of fat )? yes, the do.

do they consume lots of olive oil, nuts and beans? yes, they do.

however, they do eat lots of vegetables even with breakfast sometimes. In fact, I have never ever had any meal anywhere in the med-east/ Mediterranean region that did not include both a salad and some cooked vegetables. they also eat lots of fruits and it is the only snack they eat sometimes.

i find it really weird that someone who lived in that part of the world is saying that they don’t eat that much fruits and vegetables !!!

it is not true that they don’t grow that many fruits and vegetables !!! they even have fruits and vegetables that we never heard of. remember that most of the non tropical fruits and vegetables in the new world are in fact of Mediterranean / middle eastern origin including most of the fruits and vegetables grown in both California and Florida.

4 | MATIN

April 2nd, 2010 at 10:08 am

Due to overmedication of diamicron, I developed chronic hypoglycemia, After stopping diamicron, I improved but adrenaline is secretint unwanted hormones. Blood pressure, specially diastolic is low sometimes. Diastolic is lower in comprison to systolic. I like to keep in balance between the two. Is magnesium supplement going lower the pressure more?
Does magnesium supplement of 50mg will be harmful for adrenal function?

MATIN