Stop Blaming Salt: Fixing High Blood Pressure by Treating the Root Cause
Mark Hyman
Nov 24, 2025
Episode description
Most people think high blood pressure is just about “bad pipes,” but it’s really a whole–body problem driven by inflammation, insulin resistance, and years of eating sugary, processed foods. Hidden problems like sleep apnea, belly fat, toxins, and not getting enough key nutrients slowly damage your blood vessels and raise the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and memory loss. Instead of simply pushing the numbers down with medication, the Functional Medicine approach looks for the real “why” behind high blood pressure in each person—food choices, sleep, stress, genetics, environment, and more. By rebuilding health with real food and targeted nutrients, better sleep, movement, and stress relief, many of these root causes can be reversed or improved. The message is clear: high blood pressure isn’t destiny, and with the right changes, the body often has a powerful ability to heal.
In this episode, I speak about, along with Dr. George Papanicolaou and Dr. Cindy Geyer, how high blood pressure is largely driven by inflammation and lifestyle factors, but with some foundational changes it can be reversed.
Dr. George Papanicolaou is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and is Board Certified in Family Medicine from Abington Memorial Hospital. Over time as the healthcare system made it harder for patients to receive personal care, Dr. Papanicolaou decided a change was needed. He began training in Functional Medicine through the Institute of Functional Medicine. In 2015, he established Cornerstone Personal Health—a practice dedicated entirely to Functional Medicine. In August 2017, Dr. Papanicolaou joined The UltraWellness Center.
Dr. Cindy Geyer received her bachelor of science and her doctor of medicine degrees, with honors, from the Ohio State University. She completed residency in internal medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. and is triple board certified in internal medicine, integrative medicine and lifestyle medicine.
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Full-length episodes can be found here:
What Causes High Blood Pressure And How To Fix It
Treating The Underlying Causes Of High Blood Pressure
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Identify upper airway resistance syndrome to address high blood pressure in women
Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome, where the airway is collapsible but breathing doesn't fully stop, is an often-missed pattern in women that is associated with high blood pressure.
Utilize glucose tolerance test for accurate insulin resistance diagnosis
To properly diagnose insulin resistance, a key driver of hypertension, a glucose tolerance test that measures both sugar and insulin is superior to just checking fasting levels.
Address inflammation to manage high blood pressure
High blood pressure is not just a mechanical plumbing issue but a problem of inflammation and oxidative stress with many root causes.
Prioritize intravenous magnesium for hypertension treatment
Intravenous magnesium is the primary treatment for preeclampsia (pregnancy-induced high blood pressure), questioning why it isn't a first-line treatment for regular hypertension.
Recognize belly fat as an active immune organ driving inflammation
Belly fat isn't just passive storage but a dynamic hormonal and immune organ that actively drives body-wide inflammation, contributing to high blood pressure.
Create potassium-rich ultra broth to lower blood pressure
You can create a potassium-rich "ultra broth" to help lower blood pressure by boiling root vegetables, greens, and mushrooms, then straining and drinking the liquid.
Correct salt imbalance by increasing potassium intake
The problem with salt is often its imbalance with potassium, as our modern diet has 10 times more sodium than potassium, the reverse of our ancestors' diet.
Manage menopause symptoms to reduce heart disease risk
Women who experience more hot flashes and night sweats during menopause may also have higher vascular reactivity and an increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
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