Current statistics state that as many as 65 million Americans have high blood pressure (hypertension). The current main stay for treating hypertension is the use of medications. The most common types of medications used include diuretics, ACE inhibitors, and beta blockers. Though these medications can be helpful in the reduction of blood pressure, their long term use can cause a disruption of the vitamin and mineral balance in the body. Research is now showing that a disruption of certain vitamins and minerals can lead to elevations in blood pressure or an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. Below is a list of vitamins and minerals which have been shown to be depleted by blood pressure lowering medications and their potential effects of deficiency:

Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium: Recent research reveals that low levels of calcium, magnesium, and potassium can lead to elevations in blood pressure. In addition, magnesium deficiency is a contributing factor to elevations in cholesterol.

Zinc:

Zinc deficiencies have been shown to lower an individual