I usually don't use my personal experience to convey nutrition anecdotes, but I think I just might have to.
When I used to give blood regularly, the nurses would ALWAYS ask if I was an athlete because my blood pressure was so low (not dangerously low, however). One time a nurse even told me the man before me had incredibly low blood pressure because he was a mountain climber. Then she told me my blood pressure was even lower, and asked if I climbed mountains too.
I would always answer by telling them that I was somewhat of an athlete, but not that serious, and my low blood pressure was due primarily to my diet, as I was a vegan. They never really seemed to believe me.
When I was pregnant and my midwives constantly took my blood pressure, they would also comment that I had "the arteries of an athlete". I didn't bother telling them it was my diet. It was interesting though, that even at nine months pregnant, my blood pressure was not quite 120 over 80.
But I'm no super-athlete. It's my diet. I'll prove it.
In a study published in Public Health Nutrition (Oct. 2002), researchers looked at the blood pressures of people from four groups: meat-eaters, fish-eaters, vegetarians and vegans. They found mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly different between the four diet groups, with meat eaters having the highest values and vegans the lowest values. Vegans had blood pressures 1/2 to 1/3 lower than meat-eaters.
A lower blood pressure means increased circulation, more oxygen delivered to cells - including heart, brain and immune cells. Lower blood pressure means not only will you live longer, but feel better, be less sick and have tons more energy (oxygen will do that, you know). Oh yes, and you will age more slowly.
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I have a new doctor and he asked me to share something about myself that wasn't in my chart. I told him that I'm vegetarian, but eat mainly vegan. He looked at me increduosly because I am overweight due to years of daily prednisone and elavil and loads of pain meds for lupus and fibromyalgia.
When my lab results came in I went back to his office (he told me to schedule an appointment). He said, "I can't believe how wonderful all [blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, etc] your numbers are." He began to tell me that my diet was very important. I'm now able to do yoga so hopefully the weight will drop to a healthy number.
My sisters husband had high cholesterol, changed his diet to a mostly macro diet, went back the the next year. It was down to about 155. He mentioned his diet change and the nurse responded, "some people have to take medication anyway."
Shouldn't this be a no brainer?
I think it's our job to educate medical folks on nutrition - whoever will listen that is!
I am not yet a vegan, but my blood pressure is actually lower than yours. I wonder how much diet contributes vs genetics. In my case it is door #2.
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