65 million people in the U.S. have high blood pressure. That’s one out of every three adults. And with no symptoms, many are unaware they even have it – which is why it is often called “the silent killer.” Most doctors treat hypertension with drugs – drugs that are expensive and carry significant risks. But new research shows there is a promising natural alternative – lycopene.
Numerous studies have shown that lycopene – a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes – can protect against prostate cancer, breast cancer, and heart disease. And a recent trial published in the American Heart Journal suggests that it can lower blood pressure too.
Researchers studied the effects of a lycopene supplement called Lyc-O-Mato on 31 participants whose blood pressure was mildly elevated. (Unlike isolated lycopene, Lyc-O-Mato extracts and concentrates the entire complex of phytonutrients that are found in tomatoes.) The results indicated an average 10-point reduction in systolic blood pressure and a 9-point drop in diastolic pressure. The researchers considered this reduction to be significant.
You can find this inexpensive supplement in your local health food store or online.