Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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In 2011, when I ate vegan and worked out at the gym 5 days a week, my blood pressure was averaging 140/90 with spikes as high as 150/100. Keep in mind I was only 187 pounds, 6' tall, and 32 years old. The doctor wanted to put me on blood pressure meds but I refused. In December, I started trying the paleo diet and noticed my blood pressure dropped to 125/78 in a couple weeks. So in January, I bought an Omrom BP monitor to record my daily blood pressure readings while eating 100% paleo. As you can see in the graph I posted from Facebook, I now average around 110/68. I still work out 5 days a week and now I'm actually gaining muscle after losing an initial 20lbs off my gut from Jan - April.

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edited Jun 12 at 0:39

asked Jun 12 at 0:21

D.K.
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you may want to tweak this in to a question D.K. before it gets closed.... – daz Jun 12 at 0:29

Nice job. Not a real question, though, so it may get closed. – Dragonfly Jun 12 at 0:47

It's ok if they close it. As long as others can find the post and take comfort that there is hope for lowering blood pressure by eating paleo. – D.K. Jun 12 at 0:49

Mike T · Answer 1 · 2012-06-12 00:43:08Z UTC

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Judging from the graph above, apparently yes? :) Nice work!

answered Jun 12 at 0:43

Mike T
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	Thanks. I posted it so other people can find hope in lowering their blood pressure naturally. Mine was stuck really high for a couple years while I was eating high-carb vegan. I tried so many different supplements but nothing seemed to work except changing my diet. – D.K. Jun 12 at 0:48
	I think there are many similar stories: paleohacks.com/questions/119140/… – Mike T Jun 12 at 1:08

missionman · Answer 2 · 2012-06-12 15:44:54Z UTC

I still struggle with blood pressure even after 2 years on paleo. It has recently started to come down a little as I started supplementing with potassium and exercising more. I have just started the CT protocol and I'm waiting to see if that will have any benefit. It's an n=1 type of experimentation that will ultimately help me i think and paleo eating does not automatically lower blood pressure.

Eugenia · Answer 3 · 2012-06-12 00:50:07Z UTC

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Paleo is not only about what you remove from the diet (e.g. grains), but also what you ADD to it. Do you cook with coconut oil? Do you eat fermented foods, bone broth, offal, sea vegetables? Enough fish/shellfish? Do you make your own goat kefir even? Do you get enough sun, or supplement with D3? You are not giving us enough info of what you exactly eat.

answered Jun 12 at 0:50

Eugenia
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Yes I consume coconut oil in capsule form (4g a day) and I take a special soy-free whey protein made with coconut milk for post-workout recovery (I lift heavy weights 1+ hours, 5 days a week). The only fermented foods I eat are grass-fed made cheeses. I don't consume seaweed too often but I eat tons of salmon and sardines for omega 3s. I also eat shellfish occasionally. I also sun tan 1-2 times a week and take 1000-2000IU of vitamin D on top of that. – D.K. Jun 12 at 0:57

...and I cook with a tiny bit of extra virgin olive oil to coat the pan, if I use any oil at all. – D.K. Jun 12 at 0:59

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I don't understand why you take coconut oil in capsule. You buy coconut oil and you cook with it, that's how you get the full benefits from it. Olive oil is best for salads, raw. As for whey, it has none of the benefits of home-made goat kefir. As for the seaweed, it's not for its O3, but for its iodine and other minerals not found on soil veggies. Definitely add live sauerkraut to your diet, and even more definitely: offal and bone broths. Your current diet leaves a lot to be desired IMHO. – Eugenia Jun 12 at 1:17

The OP isn't asking for dietary advice on how to lower his BP. He's already done it, as evidenced by the graph he posted. He's asking if it's possible that it's solely the result of going Paleo. – Amy B. Jun 12 at 14:18

Amy B. · Answer 4 · 2012-06-12 14:17:23Z UTC

I think it's very possible to lower blood pressure through diet alone.

I don't know all the details of the mechanism, but Robb Wolf has explained a couple of times on his podcast that high insulin levels stimulate higher aldosterone levels. Aldosterone is an adrenal hormone whose role is to cause the kidneys to retain sodium in the bloodstream. Since "water follows sodium," if you're retaining sodium, you'll retain water, which will cause your blood pressure to rise.

ERGO...

If your insulin levels are lower, your aldosterone levels will be lower, so your blood pressure will be lower. (And if you've been eating Paleo, your insulin levels are likely lower, even if there's still a fair amount of carbs in the mix.)

(I think this is also why some people actually do a little better mood and/or energy wise when they increase their salt intake, especially if they're feeling a little sluggish or fatigued. Whole, unprocessed Paleo foods tend to be low in sodium, so when the body "needs" a little more, or "needs" a bit of a higher blood pressure [which it can, under certain circumstances], if insulin and therefore aldosterone levels are low and you're not eating enough salt/sodium, your body wants/needs sodium, but has nowhere to get it from.) In fact, upping salt/sodium intake tends to beneficial for people with adrenal issues.

KL · Answer 5 · 2012-06-12 12:41:40Z UTC

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My result has been similar, although my pulse has always been very low, but I was basically hypertensive before Paleo. Glad to see this Paleo stuff really does work!

answered Jun 12 at 12:41

KL
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Can you drop stubborn blood pressure by eating 100% paleo?

5 Answers