Customer Reviews

The High Blood Pressure Solution: A Scientifically Proven Program for Preventing Strokes and Heart Disease

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This whole book can be summarized as: "Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables; Stay away from processed foods; exercise and lose weight" But isn't this what your mom and grandmother has been telling you? Isn't this what folk wisdom from many cultures have been saying?

The book backs up the above admonishment with lots of scientific background. The book references many articles in medical journals. I am not qualified to judge the quality of all this information. But alot of the data in the book seems consistent and makes sense. I do have one question about all the information. The book highlights two key factors contributing to high blood pressure, low potassium/sodium ratio in body fluids,
and insulin resistance. The books says there is some a relationship between the two because the potassium/sodium pump has an effect on glucose transport through cell membranes. Does a high K-factor diet lower insulin resistance? The book alludes to this but doesn't come right out and say it.

No matter what, even if you have doubts about the science....the advice in this book seem like very healthy advice. Basically dieticians have been giving the same advice for decades. So you can't lose by following it.

I am borderline high blood pressure (130-140/80-90). Since following this advice for about two months, my blood pressure has dropped to about (110-125/70-80). But by far for me,
exercise has the largest effect. After a good 6 mile run, blood pressure will stay at 110/70 for hours! and below 120/80 for the rest of the day.

If you start eating a high K-factor diet and exercising, be patient. It takes a few weeks for the effects to kick in.

Richard Moore's book, "The High Blood Pressure Solution," is by no means perfect. The text is repetitive at times, for example. And the dietary program he recommends is sound, but sketchy; you'll probably find yourself hunting for additional materials -- low salt cook books, for example -- to round it out.

Despite that, I give this book 5 stars because it may just be one of the most important books of its kind ever written, a book that could conceivably save millions of lives if recognized and adopted worldwide. And there's every good reason why it should be: the science behind it is absolutely solid. Moore is not only a medical doctor, but ALSO a biophysicist, and this book well reflects that dual background.

A little of my own history may be instructive here. I first developed Stage I / II hypertension in the late 1990s, and did little about it. In April of 2002, I was sent to the ER with hypokalemia (low potassium). From that time until now (July, 2007), I obtained effectively NO help from any of the six doctors I consulted. My current provider is terrific in most ways, but even her help on this has been marginal. My complaint with all these people: though they proudly display their medical degrees, NONE had the slightest clue why I had developed high blood pressure. Not one could explain the hypokalemia, or how it related to my hypertension. Only one ever so much as mentioned diet, saying "You've cut back on salt, right? Good." None had any better idea on treatment but to ply me with expensive drugs that inflicted unending and often brutal side effects. Only my current -- and very caring -- provider took the time to discuss exercise and the critical role it can play.

I finally concluded that the word "essential" in the term "essential hypertension" really means, "We don't have a stinkin' clue."

And as Dr. Moore has now shown me, they were all wrong. A few medical researchers figured out long ago what causes most hypertension; an even larger number of researchers have known, for DECADES, the best course of treatment. Hint: it isn't drugs, and it doesn't require a super-human change in diet or lifestyle for most people. It does make demands, but as I've found they are not nearly so onerous as one might imagine.

Moore, who as a biophysicist spent his career investigating cellular level functions, explains in simple terms the role of sodium and potassium -- the two critical electrolytes -- in the life of every cell in your body. This is really just high school level science. Most people can grasp it, but it is technical. If that's not your thing, Dr. Moore provides chapter summaries and an invitation to skip the hard science parts. I ate it up, however, because for the first time I could see what has been going wrong with my body.

And knowledge is power. In just one week, adopting only a rough outline of his recommendations, I pulled my average BP down into a very safe zone ... something I'd not seen once in the previous 7 years despite all those medications. Those gains have continued, and I anticipate that in coming months I will bring it down further. The key to this is what Moore calls the K-Factor: the ratio of sodium to potassium that you consume. Americans frequently take in less potassium than sodium. Moore builds a case for aiming to reach a K-Factor of 4 (four times as much potassium as sodium each day). He also touches on other critical health issues, such as Type II diabetes ... conditions that may also benefit by adopting a high K-Factor diet.

Note that the author does not claim to have discovered any much of this. The work he and his colleagues did helped elucidate fine points in the knowledge of cell biology (he worked on the pH levels inside cells, for example). But what he HAS done is masterfully synthesize diverse findings drawn from the thousands upon thousands of scientific journal articles published over the decades. He weaves this into a coherent narrative, something no one else that I know of ever accomplished prior to Moore's work.

Before I read this book, I simply had no idea why I was suffering from hypertension. The vast majority of books, articles, and patient information pamphlets I'd read had simply said, "No one knows what causes most hypertension." Some books advance what I believe are half-baked arguments. Many are decent books, advocating fundamentally sound high-potassium, low-sodium diets, but usually based only on empirical observations ... a useful start, but not nearly as good as true science, which requires operative theories tested and ultimately winnowed down to one best theory that explains all observable data. THAT is what Moore's book is really about.

This is not just an academic distinction: by really understanding the mechanism, you can recognize that high blood pressure is merely one of a number of nasty symptoms of hypertension, and maybe not the most dangerous one. You can then set meaningful goals. So, for example, you won't end up just robotically eating a diet dictated to you; you can instead adopt one that aims to meet specific goals while giving you more options and flexibility ... keys to any kind of "lifestyle change" that you might actually hope to adopt for an entire lifetime.

Finally, I notice that several other reviewers had some unkind things to say about this book. Having plowed through MOST of the recent books on this topic that you'll find here at Amazon, I can tell you that Moore's book truly stands alone in the quality and exhaustiveness of his citations, and the fundamental logic he brings to the topic. One reviewer seemed almost enraged because his book is not the book she wanted to buy (rather like someone rating Harry Potter with one star only because it isn't about flying saucers). But her criticisms are largely unfair and inaccurate, in most cases suggesting she'd done no more than skim the actual book. Another reviewer claims Moore is flogging vegetarianism. But he most decidedly does NOT do that; he specifically notes that he lumps together vegans, vegetarians, and even folks who eat fish and lean meats sparingly. He makes it clear that ANY diet that gets you to a K-Factor of about 4 will mostly do the job, vegetarian or not.

Another reviewer praised this book, and marveled that it hadn't sold millions of copies. I concur. "The High Blood Pressure Solution" is a terrific and profoundly important book that can help you avoid hypertension, or defeat it if you already suffer from the malady.

I was 36 when I was diagnosed with hypertension and for the past 3.5 years I have struggled to keep my blood pressure under control. I've taken several different medications, many in combination but nothing really seemed to drop my readings below 140/95. A couple of months ago my doctor suggested Lotrel so once again I made a trip to the pharmacy and started taking the new drug---no change. Frustrated, I started a search for alternative medicines/etc. and in my research I came across this book and the K-factor diet. I followed the advice to the letter and within 1 week my readings started to plummet. 3 weeks in, my readings are anywhere from 111/69 to 127/74 and mostly on the lower end. I'll be honest, I did not read the book cover to cover, some of the really detailed sections were a little bit much for me. But I read enough to understand the concepts and apply them to my lifestyle. I now have an appointment with my doctor to start reducing my Lotrel and see if I can get off it altogether. He believes in medications so it will be interesting to see his reaction to there changes. If you are hypertensive, do yourself a favor, buy, beg-for, borrow or steal a copy of this book and follow the advice. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose!

Why I have put this book on my Ten most important list. It is not often that one finds a book that clearly explains, with documentation, an important health problem and the solutions that the average citizen and the professional can both use ( several doctor friends have modified their practices because of this book).

Thankfully, a friend introduced me to Dr. Moore's book several years ago. Many of us today are very fearful of becoming just another statistic even after having spent a small fortune on medications that may or may not help prevent the consequences of
hypertension. By following his clear, yet detailed explanations and solutions I have been able to maintain a 125 over 75 reading for over two years. His detailed 8 pages of food charts on how to select the best foods for maintaining the proper salt balance is the core of a program I was able to adapt to very easily
over the first year. As a retired professional addicted to his computer it turned out that the exercise aspect proved to be the greatest challenge. The fun part is in getting creative with blending the wide choice of foods from the detailed charts and even mixing the table salt mix from off the shelf products.

Some would say this is a weight reduction book. It is not. It is a book that dispels myths about hypertension. Namely, that blood pressure is not the main problem but an indication of an underlying cellular imbalance between potassium and sodium, and that hypertension is not inevitable. What I have discovered is that by maintaining balanced systems I have greatly improved my overall health and that weight control becomes a side benefit. Never thought I would be shopping for a bicycle at 61.

My only questions now are why this book is not selling in the millions per year and where can I get Dr Moore's K Factor salt mix off the shelf?

The author is a research physican who has years of experience in this field of medicine. He gives the reader both the simple "how to" version for those not interested in the details and wanting to get on with it and a much more technical view without getting marred down with all the bio-chemical data. His advice is both logical and do-able. It is working for me as the high K diet he promotes has lowered my bp by 20 points in both diostolic and systolic readings. A "must have" for those trying to replace bp medicine by eating naturally.

I had been in Stage 3 Hypertension for at least 6 months and was given a Beta Blocker to lower my Blood Pressure. When I read this book, I stopped taking the Beta Blocker and followed the nutritional quidelines in this book, plus starting taking a Potassium tablet in the morning and the evening. I immediately started feeling better and was able to sleep at night, which was in itself a great relief. This treatment does not cost anything and really works quickly and well. I strongly endorse it! I think it is the right way to treat this disease.

I have been on blood pressure medication for over 15 years. I was first diagnosed with high BP when I was 24. I tried most of the BP medications and hated all of them. I had significant fatigue and lethargy with all of them. I read this book and took the recommendations with respect to a high potassium diet (high K factor). To make a long story short, I have been able to reduce the medication by 2/3. Realize that switching to this diet is not easy. But for me it was, as anything I felt would be better than continuing to take the toxic BP medication. I anticipate that I will be able to completely get off of them soon.

This book is amazing. It addresses more than just hypertension. It looks at the way blood pressure links up with diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, and even the selective information (and disinformation) we receive from the corporate and medical establishment about this condition. As someone who works with stroke patients every single day, I can tell you the tragedy is real. Not allowing this simple, common sense message to be more widely disseminated is flat out unethical. This book does disseminate it. It is a light shining in the wilderness!
And parenthetically, it has helped me lower my blood pressure too!

For the science portion of this book, I would give it a solid 4 stars. The author spends a good amount of time showing how several minerals work with your body's cells to keep your body functioning well. He has various studies to back his claims, and has a reasonable basis for his elemental potassium to sodium ratio. A few flaws in his studies...he mentions primitive people diets in terms of hunter/gatherer, but uses farming communities as proof. He also chooses to ignore that the majority of hunter/gather societies relied far more on proteins and fats than carbohydrates (mentions Eskimos as proof, but fails to acknowledge that they didn't get any carbs in their diet; also seems unaware of Pemmican which was a staple diet of the healthy, long-lived Plains Indians - 50/50 fat/meat). Fortunately, it doesn't deter from the end solution.

However, the action plan would only garner 2 stars. While he is anti-establishment in terms of treating blood pressure, he falls right in line with the establishment in terms of dietary recommendations (either vegetarian or near vegetarian and an extreme phobia of fats) despite the fact that many other scientists have proven that fat is perfectly fine for you (check out Dr. Ellis's Ultimate Diet Secrets for a good summary of the various studies that prove low-carb diets are perfectly healthy)...even going so far to recommend an extreme reduction in fat so you won't gain weight (extremely funny to me since I've lost 20 pounds in the last 2 months on a low carb / high fat diet). The most important thing that could be included in his book are tables showing the potassium levels in foods, but it is rather sparse. Further, he cooks his book a bit by purposefully highlighting vegetables and fruits, despite the fact that all unprocessed meats meet his criteria to lower blood pressure. For some people, I think it would have also been appropriate to at least examine supplements.

Overall, there is enough information in this book to solve your blood pressure problems (I've reduced my blood pressure by 20 mmHg systolic and diastolic - and still on a low-carb diet). Too bad he chooses to push his vegetarian agenda instead of providing solid alternatives.

This book covers it all. If you want to know what causes high blood pressure, it explains it. If you want to know the supporting research, it is there. And if you just want a logical approach to improving your health, this is it. Practical approaches to life style changes that will show immediate results. Take charge of your health, diet, and lifestyle. This book tells you how and why. Easy reading with a great introduction to guide you easily through the chapters. Everyone should read this.