potato power wrote:Thanks for the latest posts here from JeffN. I appreciate your time and the attention you took to compose those posts.
Below is the link to the article I was mentioning about Dr. McDougall. I do not disagree with your comments on blood pressure-although I have not been able to read them as of yet--I am sure they are they are factual and correct. I just wanted to show you where I was coming from regarding my comments.
https://www.drmcdougall.com/education/i ... -pressure/
I know Dr McDougalls position and have worked closely with him for the past 16 years.
My links, especially the second one, clarifies the issues and the main issue which is the difference in treating high BP with medications or with the principles of the program, which include lifestyle changes and a low sodium, low fat diet. It is the rare person who won't achieve optimal BP levels through the application of the lifestyle and diet principles we recommend. Doing the right thing is rarely contraindicated.
Let me quote the article you linked...
1) Doctors usually say that once you are on medications for blood pressure you will be on them for life. This is true only if you fail to understand three important things: 1) the actual benefits and risks of these medications; 2) the fact that a healthy diet will lower blood pressure to normal in most cases and medications can be stopped; and 3) exercise and associated weight loss are also powerful tools for reducing blood pressure and improving general health. Therefore, I strongly recommend a healthy diet (low-fat, plant-based and low-sodium), moderate exercise (like walking), and stopping coffee and tea (see my article on coffee here, from my July 2004, McDougall Newsletter)..
(NOTE: there maybe a few other lifestyle/diet issues depending on the individual.)
In addition, the same diet and lifestyle will also reduces your risk for a hemorrhagic stroke, which is about 15% of strokes. It is less common but more serious as it has much lower survival rates. Some studies have shown it maybe more common in veg/vegans
https://www.drmcdougall.com/forums/view ... 22&t=47598https://www.drmcdougall.com/forums/view ... 22&t=53253 Lowering sodium may be the hardest part but also may be the most important to both of these issues.
In Health
Jeff