Turmeric: The Natural Way To Lower Blood Pressure
Your blood pressure is the amount of force that your flowing blood puts on all of the walls in your blood vessels. When your blood pressure increases, it causes your chance of heart failure, heart disease, kidney failure and stroke to increase. Roughly one out of every three adults in the US have some form of high blood pressure. Physicians will often prescribe medications to help you keep your blood pressure under control. They will also tell you to eat a healthier diet and begin a regular exercise program. Beyond all of this, there are a number of different supplements and herbs that can help you keep your blood pressure at a stable level.
Turmeric: What Exactly Is It?
Turmeric is a bright yellow powder that is often used as a flavoring and coloring agent for Indian cuisine. The herb is obtained by drying, grinding and boiling the stems and roots of
the curcumin plant, which is found in South Asia. The curcumin powder contains Vitamins
E and C. You can easily find these supplements in the form of capsules, tablets, tinctures and fluid extracts. They have been used by people for quite some time to help treat a number of different conditions, such as indigestion, infections, cancers, arthritis, carpal tunnel and much more. Your doctor can discuss what type of dose you should take based on your current health, age and the condition you are looking to treat.
Since every situation and every person is different, the amount of turmeric you might have to take versus someone else is going to vary. You need to determine what is going to work the best for you and your condition before rushing into anything. While you might need one dose to treat carpal tunnel, it might be another dose completely to combat the effects of high blood pressure. When you know the proper dosage to take, you can work on overcoming the effects of your current condition and moving on to becoming a happier and healthier you.
Turmeric and Blood Pressure: How Do They Relate?
Individuals suffering from kidney disease can often benefit from short-term use of an oral supplement of turmeric to help decrease their blood pressure. There are a number of 
animal studies that state that curcumin can help to inhibit protein action and prevent damage to the heart cells from high blood pressure. Turmeric can also help to prevent plaque from forming in your arteries and reduce your cholesterol levels. This can help you maintain your current blood pressure. Turmeric extract has also proven beneficial in dilating and relaxing the blood vessels in animals, which means it could do the same for people struggling with heart problems.
Exploring the Side Effects of Turmeric
Turmeric is generally considered extremely safe to use. However, taking too much of the herb could end up causing problems with your stomach. Individuals taking too high of a dose have also ended up with ulcers because of the herb. This is why you need to speak with your doctor to know what an acceptable level is and not just try to medicate yourself with the herb.
Curcumin has been shown to lower your blood sugar levels as well when you are taking diabetes medication. It has also interfered with antacids and anti-coagulants. Make sure you discuss whether turmeric is going to be safe to use when combined with the medications that you are taking right now. You don't want to end up with an adverse side effect that could have been avoided if you simply knew what the risks were in the first place.
Precautions Associated with Turmeric
Turmeric is readily available at the majority of natural food stores. However, you should consult with your doctor before you begin taking it to make sure it is going to be safe for your condition. Some of the benefits of turmeric have only been tested and confirmed in animal models, so more research has to be completed before using it to replace all of your current medications. You also have to remember that the FDA doesn't regulate turmeric production. You should speak with a pharmacist to determine what products are the best ones out there for you.