In today’s society, most Americans are used to treating any illness or disease with some lab-created pill in hopes of healing or prevention. A few years ago and after several visits to my doctor, I learned that my blood pressure was high and he was recommending that I start taking daily medication to help stabilize it. After going home with a prescription, I decided to do some research on side effects. It seems easy enough to just take a pill, however after reading the long list of common reactions, I was scared to take it. Plus, thinking about having to take it for life left me wondering what my other options were.
Being curious about natural remedies, I began to do a little research. I wondered if there were options that did not include chemicals, or the “band aid” approach: I wanted to lower my blood pressure, but I wanted to change the root of the problem, not just mask a symptom. I knew my diet wasn’t where it should be. In holistic wellness, we look at the body as a whole organism and consider the ways to treat it in its entirety, not just individual parts. I knew holistic nutrition was a huge piece and by focusing on the foods I put into my body, I hoped I would see some positive changes, including my blood pressure. If we supply our bodies with the necessary things to support our intricate body systems, we can and will heal most illnesses. It made more sense to me to simply eat well, in order to lower my blood pressure, rather than changing nothing and popping a pill. More than two years later, I still have normal blood pressure and I wanted to share how I healed myself with wiser food choices.
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