There are many ways to lower your blood pressure and using olive oil is one of them. Using extra virgin olive oil is the best because it was processes with the minimal amount of heat. This preserves the most benefits and nutrition in the oil. The taste will be a little different at first, but this is something you get use to.

Olive oil is readily available in stores and the cost per tables spoon is about 5 cents, you can't beat the price and benefits.

What Makes Olive Oil so Good for Lowering Blood Pressure?

Researchers suspect that substances in extra-virgin olive oil known as antioxidant polyphenols are responsible for the reduction of blood pressure in these patients.

Patients with high blood pressure who substitute extra-virgin olive oil in their diets for other types of fat can reduce the amount of medication they need by half, according to a new study.

Studies have shown that 40 grams (4 tablespoons) a day of extra-virgin olive oil reduces the need for medication by about 50%. A significant decrease in the amount of drugs you'll have to take and pay for. Imagine the load you'll take of your body from having to process those unnatural drugs.

Olive oil is one of the primary foods in the Mediterranean diet that helps to lower blood pressure. It's no secret that this oil is used widely in Europe and arterial diseases are much lower than other places in the world.

In general a county like the U.S., that consumes saturated fats, will have increased arterial damage due to plaque build up. Combine this with stress and bad habits and you get the health issues we have today.

To a degree, olive oil reverses this problem. Polyphenols, an antioxidant, breaks down this plaque which then lowers your blood pressure. The key is the hardening of the arteries. Over time are arteries naturally get brittle, being aware of this means you can do more things to help your health. The same habits one had over the years now accelerates the damage it can do to your blood flow system.

Another benefit of olive oil is it's ability to lower LDL or blood cholesterol. This is due to the oleic acid in it. It lowers the LDL while allowing the HDL to continue it's work.

If you want to lower your blood pressure using olive oil you'll want to choose the right one. Also, storage is important so that the oil doesn't spoil and lose it's health benefits.

Since olive oil can become rancid from exposure to light and heat, there are some important purchasing criteria you should follow to ensure buying a better quality product. Olive oils in dark tinted bottles are the best. The reason being sunlight can cause oxidation, the dark tinted bottles protect the olive oil during shipping. In addition, make sure the oil is displayed in a cool area, away from any direct or indirect contact with heat.

With a variety of different grades, you'll want to choose the extra-virgin grade. Lets review some, just so you'll know the differences.

• Extra-virgin is the unrefined oil derived from the first pressing of the olives and has the most delicate flavor.
• Virgin is also derived from the first pressing of the olives but has a higher acidity level than extra virgin olive oil (as well as less phytonutrients and a less delicate taste)

  Chemically, the difference between extra virgin olive oil and virgin olive oil involves the amount of free oleic acid, which is a marker for overall acidity. According to the standards adopted by the International Olive Oil Council, "virgin" can contain up to 2% free oleic acid, while "extra virgin" can contain up to 0.8% of free oleic acid.

• Pure oil is a bit of a misnomer. Don't be fooled if you see the term "pure" on the label; it means the oil is a blend of refined and virgin olive oils.

The other term you want to look for on the label is olive oil that is "cold pressed." This term means that minimal heating was used when mechanically processing the olives to make oil.

There you have it, one of natures best remedies for high blood pressure. Low cost, effective and a taste well, 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

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