High blood pressure? Try beet juice

February 28, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

graedons |People’s Herbal Pharmacy

Q. Is there anything in the way of vitamins or herbs that a person can take instead of a prescription drug for high blood pressure? I’ve heard about garlic, but I don’t like it much. Is there anything else?

A. The newest candidate for natural blood pressure control is beet juice. A study in the journal Hypertension (online Feb. 4, 2008) showed that two cups (500 ml) of beet juice lowered blood pressure by approximately 10 points. That is better than many prescription drugs. The effect lasts up to 24 hours.

Beets are high in dietary nitrate and increase the amount of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide (NO) helps blood vessels relax, lowering blood pressure. NO has anti-inflammatory activity and discourages blood-clot formation.

A diet rich in vegetables and even dark chocolate also can lower blood pressure. Pomegranate and grape juice, magnesium supplements and breathing exercises can be beneficial. We evaluate a wide range of blood pressure medicines and alternative approaches in our book “Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy.” It is available from libraries and bookstores or online at www.peoplespharmacy.com.

Q. I have found that Activia yogurt is excellent for stopping flatus. One small carton a day stopped most of the problem. Two other friends tried it, and they were pleased with the results, too.

A. Activia yogurt from Dannon contains live beneficial bacteria called Bifidus regularis. When such probiotic bacteria are included in yogurt, they help digest the milk sugar lactose. People who can’t break lactose down in the gut often suffer flatulence, so that may be the explanation for your unexpected benefit.

Q. I have severe periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). I have used Sinemet and Mirapex separately during the past eight years, but stopped each due to side effects.

I am currently unmedicated and miserable. The leg movements at night destroy my sleep, but I am waiting for the doctor to decide what to do next.

Someone mentioned Ivory soap, so I tried it in a wrap around my ankles and under my feet in double socks. I have also placed four bars across my lower bed under the bottom sheet. No matter where I move my feet, a bar of soap is near. If a movement wakes me, I move my foot to touch the soap, and fall right back to sleep.

This isn’t a cure, but it certainly has made the limb movements more tolerable and less sleep-robbing. I would love to understand why it helps, but just having a degree of relief is good enough for me.

A. The medications you have taken, along with a new one called Requip, are sometimes prescribed for your condition or for a milder form called restless leg syndrome (RLS). As you discovered, the side effects can be quite hard to tolerate.

In that context, soap begins to sound pretty good. There are no studies, and no one knows why it might help. But soap is inexpensive and unlikely to cause side effects. So many readers have told us that they have gotten relief from RLS or leg cramps with soap under the bottom sheet, we think it is worth a try. Even PLMD might be less troublesome. And soap won’t put you to sleep behind the wheel!

X In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of The Vindicator or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.