Eat to Beat High Blood Pressure

Dietary control of high blood pressure is now considered one of the mainstays of effective treatment, and this book looks at how making dietary changes can help to reduce blood pressure, thus decreasing the risk of developing associated complications such as heart disease and stroke. The book is written by Dr Sarah Brewer, a qualified doctor and health writer, and Michelle Berriedale-Johnson, a well-known special diets cookery writer. Part One provides the reader with clear and helpful facts about blood pressure. As many as one in five adults have high blood pressure (known medically as hypertension), and this section will enlighten the many sufferers who don't fully understand the nature of the problem. Blood pressure tends to rise with age, so hypertension is more common in middle life and beyond, but the condition is reversible. The book looks at the main causes of high blood pressure. It explains in user-friendly terms how doctors treat the condition and the aims of prescribed medication. There are even tips about how best to take medication. Part Two looks at blood pressure and the diet, discussing in great detail the positive and negative effects of certain foods on our blood pressure. Olive oil is known to be beneficial and the book includes a recipe for making your own Mediterranean herb oil. Fish occupies a prominent position, as it is known that fish features regularly in the diets of the world's healthiest people. Other beneficial ingredients include garlic, fresh fruit, green and black tea and (pleasingly) red wine. The book contains an unusual and appetising selection of recipes, complete with their individual benefits. A further section is devoted to food supplements, weight loss, stress control, giving up smoking and the importance of building an exercise regime. This is a clear and comprehensive guide to controlling and preventing high blood pressure, which manages to be both informative and user-friendly. (Kirkus UK)