Control your blood pressure with a a simple healthy diet
April 6, 2023

Blood pressure is one of the major problems in today’s world.
No matter your age, you can take steps each day to keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. 
Blood pressure usually has no symptoms, if it is untreated then it may cause heart stroke or heart disease. 

Have you ever observed the change after eating some foods that are not meant to be considered?
Food plays a major role in every individual’s life, it is very important to look after what you are eating if you are suffering from high blood pressure.
Let us look at some of the foods that have to be avoided with high blood pressure.

Why does unhealthy food affect blood pressure?

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, both of which are leading causes of death in the US. 
Foods high in salt, sugar, and saturated or trans fats can increase blood pressure and damage your heart health. By limiting these foods and replacing them with healthy options, you can keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.
The more salt you eat, the higher your blood pressure. Aim to eat less than 6g of salt a day, which is about a teaspoonful. So it is important to eat healthy in order to control high blood pressure.

Foods to avoid with high blood pressure

If you look at the above, we have discussed how unhealthy food affects high blood pressure. 
Now let us look at the foods that are to be avoided with high blood pressure.

Salty foods

Foods with high salt content can elevate your blood pressure. 
Some of the salty foods are listed as follows.

  • Cold cuts and cured meats.
  • Canned soup.
  • Tacos and burritos.

Sugary foods

There are several other factors that also increase BP, one of which is added sugars. The current high intake of added sugars increases obesity which in turn, raises BP. Recent studies also suggest that added sugars, particularly those in soft drinks, may have a direct effect on BP.

Red meat

Studies found that 97,745 cases of high blood pressure have a positive association between red meat consumption and increased risk for high blood pressure.

Thus, eating red meat is not recommended for a person with high blood pressure.
Some of the red meats are listed below.

  • Beef
  • Pork
  • Goat

Saturated fats

Specifically, high levels of saturated fat and cholesterol may contribute to increases in blood pressure through the development of plaques on vessel walls, which results in the reduction of both their diameter and elasticity.
Some of them are listed below.

  • Butter and ghee.
  • Cheese
  • Baked products such as pastries, cakes, and biscuits.

Condiments

A person with high blood pressure does not need to avoid all condiments. However, it is important to check the label, as some products can contain high amounts of sugar or sodium.
Some of them are listed below.

  • Ketchup.
  • Chili sauce.
  • Soy sauce.

Summary

Highly processed foods, saturated fats, salt, fried food, and excessive alcohol intake should be avoided.
Exceeding your recommended daily calorie intake is also bad for your blood pressure.

Thus, avoiding some foods is a must in order to control your high blood pressure.