15 Foods to avoid with High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure of your blood on the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps it around your body. It is a vital part of how your heart and circulation works. Your blood pressure naturally goes up and down all the time, adjusting to your heart’s needs depending on the activities you are performing. High blood pressure occurs when your blood pressure is persistently higher than normal. A blood pressure reading under 120⁄80 mmHg and up to 139⁄89 mmHg are considered to be in the normal to high normal range. High Blood pressure, over a long period of time, is one of the main risk factors for heart disease. As you get older, the chances of having persistently high blood pressure increases.
It is very important to get your blood pressure checked regularly, and, if persistently high, it needs to be controlled. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to a heart attack or stroke. It may also affect your kidneys. The medical name for high blood pressure, over a long period of time, is hypertension.
It is important to be aware of foods that are more likely to affect your blood pressure, in a negative way. Many social activities involve eating and drinking with friends and family, and, so, it is essential to understand which foods to avoid and which foods should be approached in moderation.
Diet can play a major role in the development of high blood pressure. Diets high in fat and calories can result in obesity, a common risk factor for the development of high blood pressure. Similarly, diet can also play a very important role in the treatment and control of blood pressure. In many cases, as patients lose weight, they may be able to reduce medications, prescribed for hypertension, on the advice of their physician.
Hypertension is a treatable risk factor for heart disease. By working closely with your holistic nutritionist to modify your diet, you can prevent the consequences that high blood pressure can have on your health. Check out these top foods, that may cause an increase in blood pressure, so that you can avoid them.
15 Foods That Put Your Blood Pressure Through the Roof
Canned Beans
- Canned beans can be loaded with sodium for preservation purposes. If purchasing canned beans, rinsing the beans in a colander under running water can help wash away most of the salt.
Alcohol
- Surprisingly, the consumption of alcohol has actually shown to reduce heart disease risk. This means consuming alcohol in moderation and in recommended amounts.
- For those with no issues, this is limited to two servings per day for men and one serving for women. Cutting down on alcohol consumption can reduce your blood pressure.
- Too much alcohol can result in initial dehydration and long-term weight gain, both consequently increasing blood pressure.
Bacon
- Just three slices of bacon contain roughly 4.5 grams of fat and 270 milligrams of sodium. This can quickly increase blood sugar levels.
Premade Soups
- Despite the promotion of nutritious veggies, soups can be loaded with salt and sodium. Canned and restaurant soups can include MSG, or similar ingredients, high in sodium.
- Unlike canned beans, soups cannot be rinsed to reduce the salt content.
- When choosing soups, try to find “low in sodium” or “reduced salt” products or take advantage of the nutrition facts label.
Cheese
- Consider the following facts about cheese and its heart-harming saltiness.
- Roquefort cheese, as delicious as it may be, contains 507 milligrams (21 percent of your recommended daily intake) of sodium per 28- gram serving.
- The next time you are deciding which cheese is best, try low fat cheese, or feta, or goat cheese. In moderation, of course.
Canned or Bottled Tomato Products
- Tomato sauces, pastes, and ketchup are often loaded with salt, as well as sugar.
- Create your own dishes with fresh or rinsed, canned tomatoes for ingredient and salt control.
North American Style Chinese Food
- What makes the food taste so good? Sodium (MSG) — North American style Chinese food is laden with sodium (MSG).
- A common entrée such as beef and broccoli can contain almost 3,000 milligrams of sodium. If you add soy sauce, add an additional 1,000 milligrams.
- This type of salt load can substantially raise blood pressure and cause you to retain excess fluid.
- Consider ordering your toppings on the side and your meats and vegetables steamed instead of fried and covered with salty, sugary sauces.
Packaged and Processed Meats
- Prepackaged meats, including breakfast sausages and hot dogs, tend to be loaded with sodium.
- Despite the misbelief that deli meats, such as turkey, may serve as lean protein source, added salt is common.
- Avoid the hidden sodium by purchasing directly from the butcher rather than from the grocer’s refrigerated section.
Coffee
- Caffeine-containing beverages such as a coffee can cause a significant spike in blood pressure. This is bad for your heart and can also cause a loss of libido.
- Caffeine may cause the adrenal glands to release excess cortisol and adrenaline, that typically cause a further rise in blood pressure.
Frozen Meals
- Meals found in the freezer section, like pizzas, chicken strips and individually frozen entrees, are not only loaded with unwanted ingredients but filled with sodium.
- Even the so-called “healthy” meals tend to contain a high amount of sodium.
Cured Hams
- A 28-gram serving, merely one ounce, of boneless cured ham has 172 milligrams of sodium and 15 grams of fat.
- This means that a moderately portioned four-ounce slice of ham has about 688 grams of sodium.
- Thus, we suggest limiting your intake, saving tasty ham recipes for holidays, like Easter.
Candy
- Candy essentially offers nothing more than calories and sugar, while spiking sugar levels.
- Skip the sugary suckers and candy bars.
- Opt for naturally-sweetened fruits, rich in fiber and potassium, shown to prevent high blood pressure.
Soft Drinks
- Soft drinks, just like candies, supply nothing more than sugar and calories.
- One can, (12 fluid ounces), of soda generally contains more than 9 teaspoons of sugar or 39 total grams.
- That is the entire daily recommended amount for men and two-thirds for women!
Pastries
- Doughnuts, cakes, and cookies are loaded with sugar along with fat.
- This combination, in excessive amounts of sugar and fat, may contribute to weight gain and insulin resistance.
- Reduce the consumption of these products by keeping the portion and serving sizes in check.
Sauces
- Sauces and condiments can be a double whammy when it comes to their composition of both salt and sugar.
- Ketchup is a notorious condiment for supplying high amounts of both.
- Use fresh herbs as seasonings.
- If you love the dips or sauces, ask for them on the side and use small amounts.
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