Natural Blood Pressure Solutions for Heart and Gut Health

With nearly 50% of U.S. adults having high blood pressure, natural blood pressure solutions are more important than ever. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often called a “silent killer” because it usually has no symptoms but can quietly lead to serious health problems. And, only about one in four of those with hypertension have it under control.

Recently, I came across research that added another dimension to the story: certain blood pressure medications, especially Olmesartan, have been linked to gut damage that closely mimics celiac disease. People on these medications may experience symptoms like:

• • Chronic diarrhea
  • Weight loss
  • Nutrient deficiencies
  • Gut inflammation

Additionally, a 2024 study found that celiac patients taking angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) for high blood pressure actually experienced worse outcomes. They had a higher risk of iron deficiency, anemia, diarrhea, and abdominal pain than those who didn’t take these drugs.

If you’re on an ARB—such as Olmesartan, eprosartan, losartan, telmisartan, irbesartan, valsartan, or candesartan—and are dealing with unexplained gut issues, it may be worth a deeper look, especially if you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

How This Became Personal

My parents: high school sweethearts to lifelong partners.

This connection between blood pressure, medication, and gut health reminded me of my own family’s journey. After my dad died during the COVID “pandemic,” we brought my mom to live with us for a couple of months. Her assisted living facility had become a prison. She was isolated in her room with meals left at her door, grieving the death of her husband of over 68 years alone.

While she was with us, we fed her a whole-food Paleo diet, and she loved the meals. However, after just a couple of weeks, we noticed something surprising: she became a little light-headed, weak, and tired. When I checked her blood pressure, it was low. I monitored her over the next day and called her doctor, explaining our dietary changes. He suggested we cut her blood pressure medication in half.

That adjustment helped at first, but two weeks later, her symptoms returned. After consulting with her doctor again, we stopped the medication completely. To our surprise, after years of needing amlodipine for high blood pressure, she no longer needed it—just from changing her diet.

The Gut’s Role in Healthy Blood Pressure

That experience showed me just how connected our diet, medications, and overall health really are. While many people think of blood pressure as just a heart or blood vessel issue, research now shows your gut also plays an important part.

When the balance of bacteria in your gut is off—something called dysbiosis—it can lead to inflammation and poor metabolic health. This, in turn, can raise your blood pressure. Additionally, if your gut lining becomes “leaky,” undigested food particles, bacteria, and toxins can enter your bloodstream. This triggers an immune reaction, keeping your body in a state of chronic inflammation, raising the risk for both high blood pressure and heart disease.

Certain medications can make the gut lining leakier as well. This can make it even harder to control your blood pressure, showing why taking care of your gut is important for your heart and blood vessels too.

But before looking at natural blood pressure solutions, it’s helpful to understand what hypertension is—why it happens, how it’s measured, and why it matters.

What is Hypertension?

Hypertension happens when the force of blood pushing against your artery walls is too high, too often.

Normally, your heart pumps blood through flexible, open blood vessels that allow it to flow easily to the rest of your body. But when the arteries become narrowed, stiff, or clogged, the heart has to push harder to move the blood forward. That extra effort increases the pressure inside your blood vessels.

Over time, this constant high pressure can damage your arteries and strain your heart. It also puts you at higher risk for serious problems—including cardiovascular disease (the #1 cause of death), kidney failure, stroke, and vision loss—even if you feel fine.

Imagine trying to pump water through a narrow, bent garden hose. The narrower and stiffer the hose, the more pressure you need to get the water through. Eventually, the hose weakens from that pressure—and the same can happen in your blood vessels if your blood pressure stays too high for too long.

Why Is the Pressure Too High?

Some common reasons blood pressure may be elevated include:

• • Narrow or stiff arteries (often caused by plaque buildup from fatty foods, smoking, or aging)
  • Too much blood volume (from consuming too much salt or fluid retention)
  • Increased resistance in the arteries (due to hormonal imbalance or chronic stress)
  • Genetics and family history
  • Kidney problems
  • Hormone disorders
  • Lack of physical activity (which can weaken the cardiovascular system over time)
  • Poor diet
  • Smoking and excessive alcohol use
  • Certain medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), some antidepressants, birth control pills, and steroids

As you can see, most of these underlying causes involve diet, lifestyle, or deeper health imbalances. That’s why blood pressure medications may help lower the numbers, but they don’t actually address the root causes.

How is Hypertension Diagnosed?

A blood pressure reading has two primary numbers:

• • Systolic: Pressure as your heart pumps (top number)
  • Diastolic: Pressure when your heart rests between beats (bottom number)

Normal blood pressure is currently defined as below 120/80 mm Hg. Hypertension is diagnosed when either number is consistently elevated above this threshold.

According to updated guidelines, what used to be called “prehypertension”—blood pressure between 130–139 systolic or 80–89 diastolic—is now classified as Stage 1 hypertension. This shift means more people meet the criteria for high blood pressure, and more are being prescribed medication. However, lifestyle changes should be the first line of treatment.

Natural Approaches to Support Vascular and Gut Health

Now that you understand how high blood pressure develops and why lifestyle matters, let’s look at practical, research-backed natural blood pressure solutions that support both vascular and gut health.

Foundational Lifestyle Strategies

These basic lifestyle habits form the backbone of healthy blood pressure, a resilient gut, and better overall health:

• • Move regularly: Aim for daily activity—walking, swimming, cycling, dancing, or any suitable activity that gets your heart beating a little faster.
  • Manage stress: Practice prayer, deep breathing, or gentle movement like tai chi to calm both body and mind.
  • Prioritize sleep: Consistent, restorative sleep helps regulate blood pressure and inflammation.
  • Limit alcohol: Stick to no more than 1 drink per day for women, 2 for men; or abstain for better blood pressure.
  • Avoid tobacco and excessive caffeine: Both can increase blood pressure and cause gut irritation.
  • Maintain a healthy weight: Weight loss—even modest—can lower blood pressure and ease strain on your digestive system.

The Power of an Anti-Inflammatory Rainbow Diet™ (AIRD™)

One of the most effective ways to support your blood vessels and gut is through the Anti-Inflammatory Rainbow Diet™, as outlined in God’s Prescription. This approach isn’t just about nutrition—it’s about vibrant, life-giving foods that work together to reduce inflammation, promote healing, and fuel your body with what it truly needs.

What Makes AIRD™ So Powerful?

You deserve expert, individualized guidance for your health—not just another prescription. Let’s get you moving from information overload to lasting transformation.

Let’s create a plan that truly fits you.

Book a free 15-minute discovery call to see if we’re a good fit. Your next step can be simple—just CLICK HERE to schedule.