Lowered Blood Pressure without Medication

Several months ago my husband was told during his physical that his blood pressure was high. This wasn’t total news to him as he had been monitoring it on his own for awhile. “Give me a month and I’ll focus on getting in down”. I’m sure the doctor was being as encouraging as possible when he told Rodney, “People don’t change. They eat what they want to eat”.

A month later after diligently exercising regularly, cutting back on salt and sugar, no change. Not good. This was particularly discouraging because my husband had also lost about 10 pounds over the last few months. Now the doc brings out the “big guns” and tells him he’s gotta get on meds. Being the spouse of The Everyday Organic revealed itself as my husband said “NO WAY!”

Fortunately during this time, he had heard how his Dad got his cholesterol levels in check without medication. My Father-in-Law had run into an old friend who he hadn’t seen in a while and was completely impressed with this guys overall health improvements. He asked him, “What did you do?” Among the basic changes, his friend also mentioned G.A.P pills. This wasn’t the first time my Father-in-Law had heard of these. He knows a woman who’s like 89 or somethin’ and still full of vigor and life. She takes G.A.P pills. Hmmm, there must be something to these. After three weeks of taking them, my Father-in-Law’s cholesterol was well within the normal range.

My husband was sold but…what’s in a G.A.P pill? Garlic, Aloe, and Parsley which are all known for their cleansing abilities. The other ingredients are your basic stabilizing agents. Bottle in hand, he followed the instructions given to him by The Aloe Man diligently: take 5 pills 3x day for the first 2 wks then back down to 2pills 3x day with meals (dosage may vary per person so please ask for yourself).

After a month, there was a slight lowering of his blood pressure. Still frustrated, he called and asked for more input. I assured Rodney, “It says ‘money back guarantee’. I’m sure you’re not the first person this has happened to”. He called and it was suggested to not drink more than 40 ounces of water a day because that can dilute the garlic, aloe, and parsley in your system.

He backed off the H2O and WALLAH!!!

In April his blood pressure hit it’s highest at 157/94, YIKES, then went down slightly to 148/85-better but still high. While taking the G.A.P pills his blood pressure lowered to mid 130’s over high 80’s then 129/83, 130/73, and even 125/83!!! Now, these G.A.P pills aren’t magic and certainly not a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise but there is no doubt they’ve taken Rodney’s efforts over the edge and kept him off blood pressure medication.

*If you’re already on blood pressure medicine, please use common sense and consult your physician before making any changes and as always: The information on this website is solely intended for sharing knowledge and information from the research and experiences of those at The Everyday Organic. We encourage you to make your own decisions regarding nutrition with guidance from your qualified health care professional and/or nutritionist.

UPDATE 8.3.09 In response to some of your comments and questions, I realized you may want to know a few "stats" on my husband:
43 years of age
African-American
non-smoker
Occasional glass of red wine
exercises regularly (3-4xweek)
average weight for his height
Family history of high blood pressure
Daily commuting time: 2 hrs (which can seriously effect one's BP, especially in the ATL)

By the way, this morning his BP was 127/76!

Food Inc, Fast Food Nation, Super Size Me movie trailers

Regardless of your political affiliation,age,race, social or economic status, or education; you need to get your head out of the sand (or wherever else it may be) and at least watch the trailer to one of the movies below and may I suggest not while your eating...

Food, Inc.
Fast Food Nation
Super Size Me

“PUT THAT BURGER DOWN!” is all my sister said after she saw the movie Food, Inc. My husband and I just saw it this weekend. Though we only eat, I mean ate, conventional meat on occasion at someone else’s house, we were still quite speechless. For you Everyday Organic readers, you will be encouraged to know that the suggestions they give, you have already heard. For example, reading labels and knowing what actually is in your food is something we talk about all the time. However, it certainly drives home the point even more and calls a serious label reader to take it even higher. Comments welcomed.

Tribute to Michael Jackson

The following is my tribute to Michael Jackson. I mean no disrespect by the words I write. I want to simply share with you my love for his music and appreciation for the influence he made while with us.


The spirit of Michael Jackson will live forever and it’s not just "Black or White", it’s green too. His Number Ones cd is everywhere and it rocked my world to see it’s in eco-friendly packaging. What a "Thriller"! The case is made of recycled chip board and can be recycled again making it easier to "Heal the World". Some of you are screamin, “Leave Me Alone” and others are asking where to start? Simple, with "The Man in the Mirror". But remember, "You are not Alone". So sing "Earth Song" til’ "The Break of Dawn" and if you still can’t get with being green, just "Beat It"!

If this has left you feeling "Off The Wall", email me, "I’ll Be There".

The U.S. Army Recycles, do you?

Finding it difficult to recycle? Here’s a Facebook comment from my friend, J.P. serving overseas for the U.S. Army:

"Hi Jennifer! We, The Army, do have a recycling plan going on especially being in the desert but don't have much of an entertainment event though!
We have been here about a week and are getting ready to move on. Thanks for the items of interest! JP-United States Army

Let’s face it, some of us still think it’s difficult to recycle right here in the States, even though the recycling bin was probably delivered right to the doorstep. If you don’t have a bin, you still have the freedom to drive to the recycling center whenever you want.

When you feel you’re too busy and just have to toss that empty bottle in the trash, remember our American troops. While they’re spending every ounce of mental and physical energy protecting others and trying to stay alive themselves, they’re also recycling in the desert of Iraq. Come on, no more excuses.

As we light up the grills for our 4th of July celebrations, be thankful for the land we so freely enjoy. Then give a special salute to J.P. and The United States Army as you recycle all those bottles and cans.

Stevia, Honey, Agave Nectar and more

Prompted by a question emailed from a reader, here’s a few words on sweeteners:

*Stevia-from the Stevia plant, this sweetener is an extract and much sweeter than sugar. Because it’s a powder, it easily dissolves making it the perfect sweetener for you tea drinkers. Personally, I have to admit there is an after taste that reminds me of artificial sweetener and therefore, it’s not my favorite. I’ve recently learned that the purer the Stevia extract, the less the after taste so I may just have to give it another shot. However, this zero calorie natural sweetener is rising in fame. While it’s a bit on the pricey side, a little goes along way. Try it, you just may like it.

*Evaporated Cane Juice-Unlike its conventional counterpart, white sugar, EVCJ is unbleached and golden in color. The juice is extracted from the sugar cane and once the moisture has been evaporated, we’re left with sweet golden crystals. Using evaporated cane juice for baking is a…piece of cake, as you use the same amount listed in the recipe for white sugar. Though its availability is becoming main stream, it will cost you more than white sugar but significantly less than my next two choices.
NOTE: Evaporated Cane Juice is still sugar and should be consumed in moderation.

*Honey-As I kid I never liked the taste of honey but that’s all changed now. Not to mention there are a variety of flavors. The honey takes on the flavor of the flowers that the bees got the nectar from. Pretty cool, isn’t it? From experimenting, I found Wild Flower Honey very strong in flavor, Orange Blossom has a hint of orange and reminds me of something delicious for breakfast~biscuits and honey perhaps. Clover Honey is my overall favorite. Its mild flavor makes it perfect for baking but still has enough “yum” to add to my toast or plain yogurt.

When baking with honey, start by using ½ the amount called for in sugar. For example, if the recipe calls for 1C sugar, use 1/2C honey instead. Substitute up to 1C sugar with honey. If using any more than that, you may have to lessen your liquid a bit.

While raw honey is not recommended for children under two, there are benefits for us bigger kids. It has a lower glycemic index than sugar and is sweeter than sugar so you don’t have to use as much. All be it a small amount, honey also contains vitamins.

The honey bee shortage has led to a recent spike in pricing. Keep in mind the benefits of honey and I think you’ll agree, it’s still worth it.

*Agave Nectar (“ah-GAH-vay”)-From the succulent Agave plant this nectar is made from the sap in the pina. It’s then filtered and heated at a low temperature (below 118°F). This sweet liquid boasts an even lower glycemic index than honey and is gaining popularity among those with blood sugar issues (consult a health care professional for medical advice). This is my new personal favorite. I’ll admit, it ain’t cheap but being that it’s a natural sweetener which claims anti-inflammatory and immune boosting qualities, I can’t resist. It flavors my no cook chocolate pudding fabulously and even takes the bite out of Jen's 4,3,2,1 green juice when the apples aren’t sweet enough to do the trick. Agave nectar pours faster than honey so be careful, it doesn’t take much. I use Agave nectar in smoothies and other raw recipes. For baking, I stick with honey and/or evaporated cane juice because it makes the most sense for us economically.

A few sweet words from me to you.

Free Groceries at Harris Teeter

My sister was paying for her groceries at Harris Teeter when the cashier said "YOU WON!". "I did?", my sister replied wondering what that meant exactly. She was speechless when told all she had to do was take the coupon and her receipt up to customer service for a full refund. Still in shock, my sister wanted to blurt out, "but I forgot some things!". All $33.24 was given back to her and if you live near a Harris Teeter, you have until June 30th for a chance to win. Good luck.

Organic Food Coupons

After watching the movie trailer for Food, Inc. you're probably ready to dig your own garden. Good for you! Until those seeds turn into something you can actually chew, you may find you still have to hit the store for a few provisions. In which case, some organic food coupons may come in handy. Check out these links:
Mambo Sprouts
Coleman Natural
Stonyfield
Organic Valley
Horizon
Seventh Generation
Cascadian Farms
Kashi
Remember every dollar we spend on items grown sustainably, consciously, and organically is a vote saying "WE WANT BETTER". Make your money heard-we don't have much these days so spend it wisely.