Wheat Grass & Lisinopril

If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe lisinopril. This prescription drug is more effective when you follow a healthy diet, and wheat grass may be a beneficial food or dietary supplement to add to your regular routine. Always get your doctor’s approval before changing your diet or taking dietary supplements, and continue to monitor your blood pressure.

Blood Pressure and Health

High blood pressure, or hypertension, increases your risk for stroke, heart disease and kidney disease, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You may be able to lower your blood pressure by following a healthy lifestyle, such as refraining from smoking, exercising regularly with your doctor’s approval and eating a healthy diet, according to MayoClinic.com. Wheat grass is nutrient-dense, with antioxidants, vitamins A, C and E, dietary fiber and iron according to MayoClinic.com. You may need prescription medications, such as lisinopril, if lifestyle changes do not lower your blood pressure enough to achieve normal readings.

Linisopril and ACE Inhibitors

Lisinopril is a generic name for a type of angiotensin-converting enzyme, or ACE, inhibitor prescribed for individuals with high blood pressure or heart failure, according to Medline Plus. The medication reduces the production of a blood vessel-constricting hormone called angiotensin. Lisinopril works best if you take it at the same time each day and follow a low-sodium diet if your doctor recommends it. Wheat grass is naturally low in sodium. Lisinopril can cause effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and swelling of your face, hands, throat or ankles.

Wheat Grass Information

Wheat grass, or triticum aestivum, is immature wheat, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. You can grow wheat seeds in water for 7 to 10 days, pick the leaves, then use them for juice. Wheat grass is high in a plant-based nutrient called chlorophyll, which proponents claim may increase oxygenation in your body, according to NYU Langone Medical Center. You may take wheat grass for ulcerative colitis, cancer and lowering blood pressure, but scientific research has not proven these specific benefits or any benefit of chlorophyll for humans.

Concerns

Wheat grass may be safe for most individuals, but effects are not certain in young children and people with liver or kidney disease, according to NYU Langone Medical Center. Since you eat the leaves without cooking them first, wheat grass may contain harmful bacteria and be especially harmful for children or pregnant and nursing women who get sick. According to MedlinePlus, lisinopril may not be safe for those with heart or kidney disease, and it may interact with other medications.