Hypertension

(Tim) #1

Hi there. I started eating LCHF to try reduce weight and BP. I started in Jan2017 and so far have lost 55lb, but my BP has not changed much. I have even done extended fasts (5-6 days) and the lowest BP I have seen is 145/90. Has anyone else found it hard to lower BP with Keto?

(bulkbiker) #2

It takes time… when I started I had high BP now its regular but it took 18 months to get there and I have lost about 100 pounds… give it some more time.

(James storie) #3

I on the other hand have always had what the medical establishment would consider border line to high BP. Around 140-150/80. I was hoping mine would decrease. I’ve been keto for almost 3 years and it hasn’t happened yet. But then again, I’m beginning to think this is just my normal. If I didn’t have to have a DOT physical for my job, I wouldn’t worry about it. Like I said, I’ve always been this way no matter what my weight or health or age. The only time I’ve been able to decrease it temporarily is by overdosing on magnesium citrate (over 800 mg). This doesn’t translate to a friendly bathroom experience!

(Tracy) #4

I haven’t gotten the results I was expecting either after 4 months of keto, but I’ve also been taking a medication that can raise BP as a side effect. I thought that keto would kick its ass; apparently keto cannot miraculously cure everything for everyone. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: Going off meds now to see if I can get back down to a reasonable BP. #KCKO

(James storie) #5

Who’s to say that the optimal range is normal for everyone?

#6

Interesting interview of Dr Wright talking about high blood pressure. He mentions that a low vitamin D, insulin resistance and low magnesium can increase blood pressure. He suggests a topical magnesium rubbed on the skin may help.

(Todd Allen) #7

Mine dropped from often reading around 150/105 while on BP medication and eating super low salt to 110/70 without medication and eating a lot of salt after 1 year. But I’ve made many changes beyond going keto such as reducing stress, fixing my sleep, taking nightly very hot baths and regular intense exercise. I also fixed deficiencies with Omega 3s, magnesium and vitamins B12, B3, D3 and K2 and made changes to improve the healthfulness of my diet beyond restricting carbs and going keto.

(Jeffry Lauder) #8

How did you figure out which deficiencies you had, @brownfat?

(Crow T. Robot) #9

Are you restricting sodium? Turns out very few people are actually sodium sensitive and benefit by restricting. Many more people actually need more than the standard recommendations. Maybe try adding sodium (to 5-6 grams/day) and see what happens.

(Todd Allen) #10

Blood testing found B12 and D3. Then I started tracking my diet with cronometer and found the others.

(Tim) #11

Actually I have increased salt intake. I have followed the suggestion that you need additional salt when keto or fasting. Now I normally ‘snack’ on a few Himalayan salt crystals every couple of hours.

(Tim) #12

Thanks for the info. I will try these suggestions and see if it will help.

#13

Glad I found this thread. I’ve been having this problem. About 4 weeks or so eating keto and no help on the BP. It’s frustrating because now I’m sleeping better, more alert and feel fantastic… and I get to eat bacon… but still having elevated BP.

:confounded:

#14

I cut back on caffeine (may go back to my regular coffee as this didn’t seem to matter), getting more sleep, exercise regularly, supplement magnesium (bisglycinate), last few days have been using magnesium oil in the morning and before bed… nope.
Guess, I’ll just have to give it time as I can’t go back to eating tons of bread and wondering why I feel crappy.

(Tim) #15

Keep at it. I have made some progress since this post and now my BP is 135/85 range. I think the supplants of vitamin D3 and increasing salt has really helped.

#16

Thanks Tim. It’s pretty frustrating as you well know.

(Patrick) #17

yes it is frustrating. BFB same issue, exercise, feeling great everything is good except my blood pressure. I take a magnesium, calcium, potassium supplement everyday. crossfit 3-5 times a week and still my bp is high. hear rate has increased slightly too

(Suzi Smotrycz-Guilford) #18

thank you for some of the tips! I am still on my bp meds and beginning to think I may not be able to eliminate them-have a big family history. I have lost about 60 lbs and only notice a little drop in my diastolic pressure. All in all that’s not a bad thing since it’s dropped from low to mid 90’s down to 80’s.

(CharleyD) #19

Even after losing almost 70 lbs at my last visit, my BP at my GP was still around 130/90…

A couple months prior, going in for a epidural steroid injection at L5 and in acute pain, the BP was 110/60 and barely higher after coming out of it.

Sometimes you just got that white coat syndrome… in my case, it’s worse with docs and nurses you know…

#20

It’s made worse by the ignorance of medical staff who insist on hitting you with 20 questions while taking your blood pressure. BP has been shown to increase under those circumstances but sure enough a nurse will slap a cuff on and start peppering with questions as soon as you sit down. Even if you remain silent it is still nerve wracking, not to mention you’re almost never given time to settle down before the reading is taken.

Yes, I know they are extremely busy but you shouldn’t take measurements like that while a putting a person under stress.