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Ed.- Still Struggling with High Blood Pressure? Your Doctor Might Be Missing the Real Cause.

You go to your doctor with high blood pressure, and they tell you the same old advice: lose weight, exercise, eat better, and watch your salt intake. You work hard, lose a few pounds, exercise regularly, and eat healthier — but your blood pressure stays high. Then comes the recommendation to cut back on salt and maybe start a low-dose blood pressure medication. You follow the plan, but over time, it feels like nothing’s working.

So, you rely more on medication, become an expert at avoiding salt, and resign yourself to a life of pills. But here’s the kicker: your doctor never mentions insulin resistance — the TRUE root cause of your high blood pressure.

For some, this lack of action is nothing short of an injustice. And the truth is, you don’t have to settle for a lifetime of medications. In this article, I’m diving deep into this growing issue and showing you how to take control of your health — once and for all.

Hi, I’m Robert Ferguson, creator of the Diet Free Life methodology and Chief Nutrition Officer at iCoura Health, Inc. Over the years, I’ve helped thousands of people reverse insulin resistance, lose weight, and improve their overall health. One of the most pressing issues I see is high blood pressure, and unfortunately, many people are stuck in a cycle of taking medications without addressing the root cause.

We’ve been told for years that salt is the primary reason for high blood pressure, but the real issue for most people is insulin resistance. If you are taking blood pressure medications or you simply want to take a “Food as Medicine” approach to getting your blood pressure under control, it is time to understand what is really going on. 

The Problem with Staying on Blood Pressure Medications

 Let’s talk about the hard truth: while blood pressure medications can save lives in the short term, they are not a long-term solution. Many people feel grateful for these medications, believing they’d be dead without them. However, staying on blood pressure medications indefinitely comes with significant risks, including: 

• Kidney damage. Over time, many blood pressure medications strain the kidneys, leading to chronic kidney disease and, in severe cases, dialysis.
• Declining quality of life. Long-term use of medications can lead to side effects like fatigue, dizziness, and even worsening overall health.
• Treating symptoms, not the cause. Medications only manage the symptoms of high blood pressure; they do nothing to address the root problem — which, for many, is insulin resistance.

The good news is that high blood pressure doesn’t have to be a life sentence. By reversing insulin resistance, you can address the root cause and potentially reduce or even eliminate the need for medications. 

Why Insulin Resistance Raises Blood Pressure 

Insulin resistance occurs when your body’s cells no longer respond properly to insulin, the hormone primarily responsible for regulating blood sugar. Unfortunately, when insulin levels in your blood remain chronically high (a condition known as hyperinsulinemia), it can lead to elevated blood pressure:

1. Your kidneys retain salt and water.
   High insulin levels tell your kidneys to hold onto salt. Salt pulls in water, increasing the volume of blood in your vessels. This higher volume raises your blood pressure.
2. Increased aldosterone production. Insulin resistance also stimulates the production of aldosterone, a hormone that helps your body regulate salt and water balance. Elevated aldosterone levels cause your kidneys to retain even more salt and water, increasing blood volume and pressure.
3. Your blood vessels tighten.
   Insulin activates your sympathetic nervous system, causing your blood vessels to constrict. Smaller vessels mean higher pressure inside them.
4. Your blood vessel walls thicken.
   Insulin resistance causes the walls of your blood vessels to grow thicker, narrowing the space for blood to flow. Since insulin is an anabolic hormone — meaning it promotes growth — this thickening leads to further narrowing, which raises blood pressure even more.
5. Your blood vessels can’t relax.
   Normally, your body produces nitric oxide, a chemical that relaxes and widens blood vessels. Insulin resistance blocks this process, keeping your vessels tight and your blood pressure elevated.

Why Focusing Solely on Salt Isn’t Enough

Too many doctors still recommend reducing salt as the main way to manage high blood pressure. While the argument for salt reduction may help in some cases, it doesn’t address the bigger problem. Insulin resistance is the underlying issue for many people, and until it’s reversed, high blood pressure — and reliance on medications — will continue.

My Proven Approach to Lowering Blood Pressure Naturally

I’ve spent my career helping people not just manage symptoms but solve the real problem behind high blood pressure. Through my Diet Free Life methodology, I’ve helped thousands of people reverse insulin resistance, reduce their blood pressure, and improve their quality of life.

Here’s how I guide people to address the root cause:

• Focus on real, close-to-nature whole foods. Nutrition habits that include a variety of plant-based foods rich in dietary fiber, quality protein sources, and unprocessed foods can help in balancing insulin levels and supporting overall health.
• Incorporate movement. Regular physical activity improves how your cells respond to insulin.
• Balance omega-3s and polyphenols. These nutrients help reduce inflammation, support blood vessels, and promote better metabolic health. The supplement I endorse is BalanceOil+ (it provides a combination of quality omega-3s and polyphenols), which I have had many clients acknowledge as being a key benefit to their daily routines.
• Manage stress and improve sleep. Both are crucial for reversing insulin resistance and supporting overall health.

By addressing insulin resistance, my clients often see dramatic improvements in their blood pressure. Many reduce or eliminate their need for medications — and they do it while feeling more energized and healthier than ever.

The Cost of Doing Nothing

If you rely on medications without addressing the root cause of high blood pressure, you risk long-term complications like kidney damage, chronic disease, and a declining quality of life. But it doesn’t have to be this way. By addressing insulin resistance, you can take control of your health and reduce your dependence on medications.

Take the First Step

If you’re ready to lower your blood pressure, improve your health, and break free from reliance on medications, I invite you to schedule a free consultation with me or one of our certified Nutritionist, Health, and Weight Loss Coaches. Let’s work together to create a personalized plan to reverse insulin resistance and take control of your blood pressure for good.

Click here to schedule your free consultation today!

References

1. Hall, J. E. (2003). The kidney, hypertension, and obesity. Hypertension, 41(3 Pt 2), 625–633.
2. Shankar, A., et al. (2006). Association between circulating insulin-like growth factor 1 levels and hypertension among US adults. Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 8(2), 92-96.
3. Taubes, G. (2018). The Case Against Sugar. Random House Trade Paperbacks.
4. Ludwig, D. S., et al. (2021). The carbohydrate-insulin model: a physiological perspective on the obesity pandemic. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 114(6), 1873–1885.
5. Ferrannini, E., & Natali, A. (1991). Essential hypertension: An insulin-resistant state. Journal of Hypertension, 9(10), 943-949.
6. Vasan, R. S., et al. (1999). Aldosterone and the pathogenesis of hypertension. Endocrine Reviews, 20(6), 755–774.

Don’t settle for managing symptoms when you can solve the problem. High blood pressure doesn’t have to control your life — let’s work together to reverse insulin resistance, improve your quality of life, and reduce or eliminate the need for medications. Schedule your free consultation today!

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🗓️ Schedule a FREE consultation with Robert Ferguson about becoming a client: SCHEDULE FREE CONSULTATION

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Robert Ferguson is a California- and Florida-based single father of two daughters, nutritionist, researcher, best-selling author, speaker, podcast and television host, health advisor, NAACP Image Award Nominee, creator of the Diet Free Life methodology, Chief Nutrition Officer for iCoura Health, and he serves on the Presidential Task Force on Obesity for the National Medical Association. You can e-mail Robert at robert@dietfreelife.com.