I'm still enjoying long hikes and bike rides out here in the desert southwest, as well as some tasty, nutritious food. We're still in Winterhaven, California, which is very near the Arizona border, and about a 30-minute drive to Mexico. I do have an issue to talk about, and welcome any input you may have. My blood pressure, which I've had under control for quite some time, has occasionally crept up a bit recently. Luckily I still have some of the medicine I used to take for my blood pressure. When I see my blood pressure is up, I've been able to bring it back down with one of my old pills. I think the problem may be that I'm getting too much sodium on those days when I'm in my "happy zone" and taking a break from logging everything I eat. If my blood pressure continues to be an issue, I'll talk to a doctor about it. I really don't want to go to a doctor's office during the pandemic though, so for now I'm monitoring it and will avoid sodium. Hopefully, that'll bring it back under control. Photo Descriptions: 1) This is one of my favorites of the meals we have regularly. It's roasted chicken breast (with the skin removed) over brown rice and topped with a little gravy, along with lentils and green beans. 2) Another of my favorites are these Buffalo wings. I fix them on the grill and then simmer them in sauce until the meat falls of the bone. I serve them with light ranch dressing. Unfortunately, these delicious wings may be one of the culprits messing with my blood pressure, because they are high in sodium. I hope I don't have to give them up completely. 3) Here are some of the hills I've been exploring on my many hikes out here. I've hiked as much as ten miles in a day, although my average is probably around six miles a day. 4) This is a view of the Little Picacho Wash, which runs past our campsite, with the Castle Dome Mountains in the background. Rain is rare in the desert, but it's rain through the ages that carved out this wash and many others that course through the desert. This wash carries rainwater to the nearby reservoir. Can you see the crack running through the bottom of the wash? You'll see this crack is really a small canyon in the next pictures. 5 & 6) I hiked through the bottom of the Little Picacho Wash. This is what that crack looks like when you're standing in it. Last year, after a hard rain, I saw this empty space turn into a raging river. 7) One of my favorite things about staying in the desert is seeing the amazing sunsets. That's our campsite as the sun was setting. 8) This is the view from our campsite of a particularly fiery sunset.
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Hi there and thanks for the pictures, are amazing, for bp besides to watch the sodium, caffeine is really bad too, my mom have bp since I remember. But now is in control, with some med, but minimum. Take care and keep posting pic. 😊
22 янв 21 написано членом: di-jos
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this set of spectacular, even for you.
22 янв 21 написано членом: Siegels
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I had my pressure go up once before, so I switched everything to decaf. It immediately went back to normal. I haven't had caffeine in a while, unless you count the little bit that's in the double dark chocolate Milano cookies I have in moderation. After the advice here, I'm gonna put some potassium-rich foods on my menu. I'll also get a potassium supplement and watch my sodium intake. I have a machine and I'll monitor my blood pressure. It's only been slightly high, so I don't think I'm in a danger zone, so I'm not gonna rush to the doctor just yet. This area is pretty Covid-infested, so I don't wanna anywhere I don't absolutely have to. I'm feeling great, and if anything gets worse I may try telemedicine, but I'm pretty sure they're gonna want me to go to a lab to get bloodwork done before they can tell me anything. I'll keep y'all posted. Thank you, everybody, for the advice and for caring! ❤
22 янв 21 написано членом: lonniehuffman
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Wow. Beautiful. Do you know what nopales are? They are the flat paddles of the cactus plant that you are probably familiar with. And have you seen Aqua de jamaica ice tea. That is ice tea from the Hibiscus plant. Both of these are used by both Mexicans and Indigenous American Indians to treat both diabetes and hypertension. Next time you are in a town see if you can buy the dried hibiscus leaves and the cactus paddles that have been cleaned and prepped and ready to eat. I add the cactus to eggs, and soups and salads, etc. lots of good nutrition. I love the hibiscus tea and drink it for breakfast and dinner. I don’t have either one of those ailments I just love the tea and the nopales. Any Mexican store will carry both. Yes, blood pressure control is the dual responsibility of sodium, potassium and water. Try to increase your DIETARY potassium intake. Check your ankles for swelling and weight gain that you can’t account for by the foods you have eaten in the last 48 hours. Lastly, check your BP in both arms to make sure they are the same. Almost forgot, increase your intake of foods that have a natural diuretic effect— asparagus being a big one.
22 янв 21 написано членом: Kenna Morton
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I am sure you are aware but I think it's worth voicing there are things beyond nutrition that can influence BP, even in the context of good physical fitness. Anxiety is one of them for sure, and there are many reasons to be anxious these days, so do continue to check in with yourself about your mental health. ;) Do go see a doc when you feel comfortable doing so tho, just so other potentially more secretive things can be definitively ruled out. =)
Always love your pics!
22 янв 21 написано членом: she_loves
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That sunset is amazing!!! Like none I've ever seen! Your food also looks fantastic and I love the pics of the canyon. I like the analogy that slowly over time the water whittles away at the rock which is like our weight loss journey. It may seem we lose slowly but over time we whittle away at our fat! Not spoken very eloquently but sure is a great representation.
22 янв 21 написано членом: bearnoggin
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Be careful with potassium “supplements”. I would not do that without knowing what your actual potassium level is. The RDI for potassium is about 4700 mg— tough to get that much in and actually very few people do. An easy source is LOW SODIUM V8 juice . it has about a 1000 mg of potassium Ina small can. But it has to be low sodium. Check the label. You have’t said how high it is.. But consider an urgent care or tele visit where the doc can review your medical history with you and help you to determine if this is a fluid/sodium issue or an issue of what is called essential hypertension which is a whole other issue. Regardless, the first line of treatment is typically diuretic pills and or an anti hypertensive pill.. you said you have some pills that you have used before. Review in your mind what the issue was at that time.
22 янв 21 написано членом: Kenna Morton
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You may find it interesting that a hike through that wash is a real workout. The bottom of that little canyon is filled with deep, loose gravel that makes every step 💯 x harder. There are also huge boulders to step over and around, and fallen trees, or fallen piles of rock that at one time had been part of the wall. Sometimes the canyon is wide, and sometimes it narrows to just a few feet, or branches off into different channels. It's so fun to explore! 👣😊
22 янв 21 написано членом: lonniehuffman
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Thanks again, everybody, for all the advice! I have so much to add to my grocery list! Okay, Kenna. Thank you. You scared me off the supplements. I had 99 mg tablets on the list, but I'll swap them for the V8 juice. I think I'll really like that too. Honestly, y'all are really appreciated.
23 янв 21 написано членом: lonniehuffman
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I love it !!! Spectacular!!!!
23 янв 21 написано членом: Maine coon
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Celery juice is great for hypertension. Juice 2 to 4oz of celery juice and drink 2-3 times per week.
Limit or avoid caffeine
Practice deep breathing, yoga, tai chi, or eft tapping at least twice a week.
Magnesium supplement is great for anxiety if that is the culprit.
23 янв 21 написано членом: OperationFlorida
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👋lonz, great pictumentary as always...looks like all's well😊 Much aloha🤙
23 янв 21 написано членом: acomandr
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Hi, absolutely try avoid food product that are high in sodium. If you don’t mind me asking you, do you smoke?! If so, perhaps try managing that too. Food that are high in sodium, smoking or even stress are one of the biggest contributors of high blood pressure. As I’ve notice, you are in a very nice place right now, so I imagine stress won’t be at your list right now. I love that beautiful scenery are all those pics California?! Where exactly in California?
23 янв 21 написано членом: isaalexana
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Love your pics, I love the desert. Definitely see a doctor, get blood work check your cholesterol. covid yeah it's a concern but wear a mask or two, and maybe gloves too. Also rather than just walking try some vigorous exercise if your able and can safely get your heart rate up you will improve your circulation throughout your body, which will lower your blood pressure since your heart will have less work to do. Review medications such as nsaids, painkillers, and cannabis will raise blood pressure also. Congrats for reaching your BMI.
23 янв 21 написано членом: Tuktusong
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With me I find that eating processed foods like lunch meat make me sluggish. Turns out lunch meat is enriched with high sodium as well as pork products (ham).
23 янв 21 написано членом: SCS Andrea
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Try YouTube (or calm is good too).... You are in such a beautiful place so my friend this will be the perfect time for you to learn meditation.... meditation has been scientifically proven to help people lower stress levels and blood pressure (but if you are overdoing it on the processed sauces he may not be able to avoid higher blood pressure my friend). nothing bigger fancy start with two minutes to five minutes a day and you guided meditation until you learn how to do it on your own.... for me it felt so silly at first but now it makes me feel so good!!!
23 янв 21 написано членом: Crystals_In_2_It
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nice pics I hope I get to travel like that when I retire those wings look good
23 янв 21 написано членом: mountainman2
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Crystals— I have tried meditation a few times and I just keep drifting off into my mental grocery list and trying to figure out where socks go when I lose them in the laundry..
23 янв 21 написано членом: Kenna Morton
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Thanks Lonnie love the pics!!!
My doctor is a friend of mine and she believes in the low dose blood pressure medication for everyone after a certain age no matter how fit you are. She was the head of the hospital and a great internist and was presented with a gold headed cane, so she knows what she’s talking about. Plus, once you’re on it you should continue.
On the other end, my boss bikes hard in the mountains all the time. He was very scared once when he could feel his heart and felt something was wrong. Going in for all sorts of tests there was nothing wrong with him. So just be careful, I know this was absolutely no help, just jabbering.🙃
23 янв 21 написано членом: Shrewdness
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Shrewdness— I will have to research her idea of i,perically treating everyone over a certain age. I question the wisdom of that and have NEVER seen that practiced.
23 янв 21 написано членом: Kenna Morton
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