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Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure.  There is no one identifiable cause. It is usually a combination of factors, such as:

• Being overweight increases blood pressure.  The greater your body mass, the more pressure there is on your artery walls.
• Excessive sodium in the diet can result in fluid retention and high blood pressure, especially in people sensitive to sodium.
• Low potassium can result in elevated sodium in cells, because the two balance one another.
• The fast pace of life and the mental and physical pressure increase the adrenaline in the blood stream and this causes the pressure of the blood to rise.
• Insulin resistance can increase blood pressure by causing the kidneys to retain sodium
• Regular alcohol intake can increase blood pressure.
• Stress can cause hypertension by activating the sympathetic nervous system, causing the arteries to maintain a more rigid tone.
• Caffeine acts as a cardiovascular stimulant and raises blood pressure
•  Food allergy was reported to contribute to high blood pressure in a study of people who had migraine headaches. In that report, people who also had high blood pressure experienced a significant drop in blood pressure when put on a hypoallergenic diet.
•  Exposure to lead and other heavy metals has also been linked to high blood pressure.
• Chemicals in cigarettes and tobacco can damage artery walls.
• Some prescription drugs, including steroids, birth control pills, decongestants, and diet pills can raise blood pressure.

DIETARY CHANGES THAT MAY BE HELPFUL:

Avoid processed foods. These are the biggest sources of sodium in today's diet.  Excessive sodium in the diet can result in fluid retention, expand blood volume and ultimately increase blood pressure.

Salt intake has also been definitively linked to hypertension.  Eliminating salt from the diet lowers blood pressure in most people.  An overview of the best studies found that the more salt is restricted, the greater the blood pressure-lowering effect. 

One of the best ways to lower blood pressure is to eat more celery, which contains an oil that can lower blood pressure.

Eat plenty of fish. Include at least three servings a week; emphasizing cold-water fish like wild Alaskan salmon and sardines, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.  Take Super Omega 3 or fish-oil supplements if you cannot get enough omega-3-rich foods.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS THAT MAY BE HELPFUL:

Calcium supplementation appears to have a modest but statistically significant reduction in systolic blood pressure

Magnesium supplements showed a significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure

Potassium supplementation reduced systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure.

Coenzyme Q10 - There is some evidence that the supplement CoQ10 may help to reduce high blood pressure.

 Super Omega-3 is a source of two fatty acids, EPA and DHA. Preliminary studies suggest that both DHA (docohexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) lowers high blood pressure.  Linoleic acid  is an important fatty acid found in flaxseed oil and other vegetable oils exhibits profound blood pressure lowering qualities. This may be due to their ability to elevate E series prostaglandins which are almost always low in patients with high blood pressure.

Folic acid - Folate is a B vitamin necessary for formation of red blood cells. It may help to lower high blood pressure by reducing elevated homocysteine levels.

A deficiency of the amino acid taurine is thought by some researchers to play an important role in elevating blood pressure by removing body fluid.  Another amino acid, arginine,  is needed by the body to make nitric oxide, a substance that allows blood vessels to dilate, which relaxes artery walls for more free blood flow

Proteolytic Enzymes (also referred to as "proteases")  When it comes to cleansing the circulatory system nothing can compare to the rapid action of proteolytic enzymes. When taken on an empty stomach, proteolytic enzymes will pass through the stomach or intestine lining and enter the circulatory system.

Vitamin C  levels show an inverse relationship with blood pressure. The higher the vitamin C levels the lower the blood pressure.

Lecithin  - The emulsification of fat is vital to lowering blood pressure.

HERBS THAT MAY BE HELPFUL: 

Garlic - In randomized controlled trials of garlic supplements showed significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and in diastolic blood pressure.

Hawthorn  -  Researchers found that patients taking hawthorn had a significant reduction in mean diastolic blood pressure.

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