Discussion Board

so, what, in your opinion would be the #1 'Mcdougall thing' to do to lower high blood pressure? The reason I ask is because a close friend of mine has very high blood pressure, she's only 30 yrs. old. She loves her meat and dairy, her beer and her smokes....yeah, I know, go figure. She thinks most of the stuff I eat is totally crazy, looks at half of it and usually says one thing..."gross". So, yesterday, she got a real eye-opener with this high blood pressure, and I mean its high...stage 2 high. I'd love to help her but I don't know how to go about doing it. She's the type of person that will probably rather pop a pill than to eat right. I was thinking that if she just started out in baby steps, she'd be more open to start changing her lifestyle. Which leads me back to my first question...what would you recommend first? I know the obvious ones...drinking, smoking...those may take some time though. I'm thinking more along the lines of dietary advice at this point. I think that now she'll be more open to finding out more about a vegan lifestyle....I think.

Sodium and cheese were the first things I thought of too. Yes, she eats a lot of cheese and she eats out a lot. She's single with no children so she's always on the run doing something. We have a free salad bar here at work (she works with me) and I wouldn't call it a very healthy salad bar. Yesterday, she ate a bowl of pepperoni with melted cheese...I looked at her and said 'GROSS'. ha ha ha!! We're always jabbing each other. Anyway, yes, I think those are some of the first steps she needs to take. I knew my Mcdougall buddies would be full of answers though!

Adopt the McDougall Plan (Regular) completely, consistently, and without exception.


Does she want help? If not, then I would suggest that there is nothing you can do. Influence means giving people information they want -- for the purpose of reaching goals they have set for themselves.


If that is actually the case, then I suspect you can't do anything. I have been in that situation, with friends who have terrible habits. When they tell me about their worsening symptoms, all I can say is to state the facts as I know them: "Yes, I am sure your blood pressure is high. I can see three causes: drinking, smoking, and a high fat diet. There is a solution. You might look at the McDougall Program, for example."

If she rejects your comments out of hand, then I would stop making any further attempt. If she is eager for a solution (other than pills and surgery), then you can answer her questions, one by one. My experience is that sugar-coating the truth never works. I bluntly state that only a wholesale change in lifestyle offers hope.

I wish I could offer a bright picture, but I don't think there is one.

I think it is great that you want to help your friend. However, I would advise you to not be disappointed if she doesn't change. I have to guess that anyone who is 30, smokes, drinks and eats a lot of meat and dairy knows full well that she should be taking better care of herself. Maybe her high BP will be a wakeup call for her and she will be receptive. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

Maybe I am just getting cynical after so many years of watching people I love slowly wrecking their health, and in some cases dying, because they don't care to make changes. I know so many people like her who, as you said about her, are "the type of person that will probably rather pop a pill than to eat right." They blame health problems that could be fixed with diet and lifestyle changes they don't want to make on "aging" or "bad genes."

Good luck to you.

All of you make very valid points, thanks so much for the input. There may be hope for her. We walked over to the mall today for lunch, she had a grilled chicken sandwich on WHOLE WHEAT and with NO cheese. She also had water instead of coke. Maybe she'll slowly make the changes she needs to make. We're having a food day at work tomorrow (yikes, I hate them) but I'm making my McDougall brownies and if she likes them, I'm going to give her the recipe. I'm treading lightly, but that is so true, you can't help anyone if they don't want to be helped. I hope she wants the change.

LJ - There is a rather nice paperback called the Mayo Clinic on High Blood Pressure that might make a good start. It's mainstream and doesn't recommend McDougalling, but it does explain high blood pressure very well and is very good about linking bp to diet, smoking, exercise, and weight. It talks a lot about sodium and the DASH diet. Obviously, I don't think they go far enough, but it is a mainstream medicine stepping stone toward McDougall that she might accept. It's a too heavy on medications, but I still think it's worthwhile for teaching the lesson that what you eat DOES matter a lot.

Someone who absorbed this book should well disposed to moving on to a McDougall book.

http://www.amazon.com/Mayo-Clinic-High- ... 1893005267

Anne, thanks so much! I'm going to suggest it to her, sounds like just what the 'doctor' ordered!!

Lin, you are so right. I've already started collecting articles and I'm going to make a little binder for her. I agree that giving someone something to read is more effective. I'm terrible at explaining things anyway. Bottom line is this...everyone has to choose for themselves. (but it can't hurt to try and educate )