Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “I am a 57 year old male with mild hypertension and slightly elevated cholesterol. Are there any natural options I can use to lower both of these?” — Steve K., Houston, TX

A. Dear Steve, I am glad to say I do have some recommendations. However, I would encourage you to talk with your doctor and see what they think about the following protocol.

A combination of olive leaf and hibiscus extracts can be a wonderful alternative for safely lowering blood pressure. Both have been shown in clinical trials to lower blood pressure levels. In fact, in a study comparing hibiscus to the prescription blood pressure drug lisinopril, those using hibiscus had better blood pressure reduction than those taking the synthetic drug, and with absolutely no side effects at all. When choosing a product, look for one that contains olive leaf and hibiscus extracts standardized to their key compounds. In the case of olive leaf, it should be standardized to a minimum of 18% oleuropein, while hibiscus should be standardized to a minimum of 30% polyphenols. I recommend taking 750 mg of this blend twice daily.

Adding Indian Gooseberry (also called Amla) to your daily regimen will help you achieve optimal cholesterol levels. A fresh fruit from India, Indian Gooseberry has been an important part of Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. However, it was modern research that unlocked the reasons for its success in treating heart disease. Amla is an antioxidant – it can stop the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, the first step in heart disease. It is also able to increase levels of the good, protective cholesterol, HDL. I recommend taking 1,000 mg daily.

Be patient – you need to follow this regimen for a minimum of three months before evaluating the benefits.

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally