Changing lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise can slash blood pressure in only 14 days, says a new study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition. In fact, the lifestyle changes lowered blood pressure as effectively as medication.

"This study doesn't surprise me at all," says Dr. David Brownstein, author of the newsletter Dr. David Brownstein's Natural Way to Health.

"I've been using lifestyle changes to lower blood pressure in my practice for 25 years, and it works with more than 95 percent of people," he tells Newsmax Health. "In other cases, there are underlying factors, but in most people, changing lifestyle factors can vastly improve or eliminate high blood pressure."

On average, participants in the new study saw their blood pressure drop 19 points after taking part in the Weimer Institute Newstart Lifestyle program for just 14 days. Other studies have shown that a blood pressure reduction of this significance can cut the risk of heart disease or stroke in half.

"By adapting selected lifestyle health principles, half of the people in our study achieved normal blood pressure within two weeks while avoiding the side effects and costs associated with blood pressure medications," said research team leader M. Alfredo Mejia, associate professor at Andrews University.

"The Newstart Lifestyle program works quickly, is inexpensive and uses a palatable diet that allows for moderate amounts of salt and healthy fats from nuts, olives, avocado and certain vegetable oils," Mejia continued.

People participating in the Newstart Lifestyle program follow a vegan diet, walk outside daily, drink substantial quantities of water, get adequate daily sleep, and participate in optional spiritual activities.

The program's vegan diet consists of foods such as legumes, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, olives, avocados, soymilk, almond milk and whole-grain breads.

For the study, the researchers evaluated data from 117 people with high blood pressure who had participated in the Newstart Lifestyle program at the Weimer Institute for 14 days.

After two weeks, half of the participants achieved a systolic blood pressure below the recommended 120 mmHg. The program lowered blood pressure effectively in different types of individuals, including otherwise healthy men and women and people with diabetes or who were obese, and those with high cholesterol levels.

The reduction in blood pressure was equivalent to using three half-dose standard medications for blood pressure. In addition, 93 percent of the participants were able to either reduce the dose (24 percent) or eliminate their blood pressure medications (69 percent).

"Changing your lifestyle is the first thing someone should do when they realize their blood pressure is rising," says Brownstein. "It's something you can do on your own, and something every doctor should recommend before starting anyone on drugs.

"We're brought a lot of blood pressure problems on ourselves by getting away from more natural lifestyles, like eating properly and exercising" he says. "But nothing is any more important to your health than to develop healthy lifestyle habits."