Foods to Avoid To Manage Hypertension

High blood pressure is an unhealthy condition that can develop silently and cause significant damage to your health. This is why it is also known as a silent killer. Our heart pumps blood into the blood vessels i.e. arteries, which promote circulation of the blood in our entire body. The force of the blood pushing against the walls of arteries is called blood pressure. When this pressure of blood in your arteries increases above the normal range, you happen to suffer from hypertension or high blood pressure. Hypertension is one of the leading causes of millions of fatalities resulting due to stroke and heart diseases worldwide. So, regulating your high blood pressure becomes inevitable to enjoy good health.

Fortunately, following a diet plan for high blood pressure  can help you regulate your blood pressure naturally. We are in habit of relishing our favourite foods without even knowing that these foods can soar our blood pressure and be extremely harmful to our health in a long run. A blood pressure diet plan ensures that you don’t devour unfavourable foods that can cause a rise in your blood pressure. Check out the list of foods to avoid for high BP treatment.

7 Foods to Avoid To Manage Hypertension:

1. Salty Foods:

Salt contains sodium, a mineral that plays an active role in increasing your blood pressure. What happens is, when you consume a lot of salt, salt pulls more water. You retain an excess of water to wash the salt from your body. This added water causes an increase in the volume of blood that exerts stress on your blood vessels and heart, thereby elevating your blood pressure.

Most of us savour foods containing sodium without even realizing it. So, foods containing plenty of salt top the list of things to avoid in high BP. Fast foods, frozen meals, and processed foods are abundant in sodium. Pizza, bread, sandwiches, tacos, burritos, cold cut meats, and canned soup are foods high in sodium. So, it’s wise to avoid eating them to keep your blood pressure in check.

2. Sugary Foods and Drinks

Foods containing an excess of sugar makes one prone to gain undesirable weight and even contribute to an elevation in blood pressure. Sugary foods might raise the blood pressure greater than salty foods would do. High fructose corn syrup is the major culprit of the development of hypertension. Processed desserts, peanut butter, prepacked meals, granola bars, and crackers are some of the foods to avoid for high BP patients. Check the label whenever you buy foods, and ensure that the foods you buy do not contain high fructose corn syrup.

The same science stands for sugar-sweetened drinks, which play a vital role in elevating blood pressure. Besides high fructose corn syrup, several sugary drinks comprise caffeine, which is responsible for hypertension. So, avoid sodas and fruit juices to keep your blood pressure in control.

3. Red Meat

Our body’s function of metabolizing red meat may lead to the release of compounds that can cause an undesirable rise in your blood pressure. Avoiding the intake of red meat can help regulate your blood pressure. If you can’t avoid it, limit its intake as much as possible. Prefer having leaner cuts in place of red meat.

4. Alcohol

Alcohol is harmful to our health in many ways, and hypertension is one of the adverse effects of excessive consumption of alcohol. Alcohol contains bountiful empty calories, which can make you obese. Also, drinking a lot of alcohol puts you at risk of developing heart-related ailments. So, stay away from alcohol when following a diet plan for high blood pressure.

5. Saturated Fats

Limiting the consumption of saturated fats is helps lower your blood pressure and prevent the risk of the development of hypertension. Here’s a list of foods high in saturated fats that make them top the list of things to avoid in high BP.

• Desserts:Pastries, chocolate, pies, puddings, toffee, cakes, and biscuits.
• Oils:Palm oils, cream, and coconut oil
• Full-fat dairy products:Yoghurt, cheese, cream, and milk
• Processed meat:Kebabs, sausages, and burgers
• Cooking fats:Ghee, butter, margarine, etc.

6. Condiments

Condiments are the mix or preparations that enhance the flavour or impart the desired flavour when added to the food. Although all condiments do not increase your risk of developing hypertension, certain condiments rich in sodium or sugar can contribute to high blood pressure. So, check the label before you buy one. Chilli sauce, ketchup, soy sauce, and salad dressings are some condiments that you should avoid when following high blood pressure diet plan. Replace these with condiments that contain a low quantity of sugar and salt.

7. Caffeine

The intake of caffeine can raise your blood pressure temporarily. Limiting or avoiding caffeine can help prevent the risk of hypertension. So, limit your coffee intake or replace it with decaffeinated coffee.

5 Foods to Eat When Suffering from Hypertension

While you need to avoid all these seven foods to prevent an elevation in your blood pressure, you need to include the right nutritious foods in your diet plan for high blood pressure. Here’s a quick rundown of foods to eat in high BP.

1. Fruits and Vegetables:These include citrus fruits, berries, leafy greens, and avocadoes.
2. Whole Grains
3. Protein Abundant Foods:Add nuts, lentils, and quinoa to your blood pressure diet.
4. Lean Meats:Fish and grilled chicken

Substitute Foods with Healthy Options: Opt for replacing unhealthy foods with healthy options. For instance, replace a sugary refreshment with some nutritious fruit. Substitute unfavourable condiments with jalapeno and cracked pepper.

In addition to adding foods to eat in high BP to your diet plan for high blood pressure and eliminating certain foods, you also need to exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, quit smoking, and reduce your stress. The cumulative effect helps you enjoy healthy blood pressure levels. The guidance of expert dieticians, such as health experts at Health Total, can help you greatly. So, waste no time, reach out to us at Health Total, and put a step forward to enjoy a healthy weight and normal blood pressure with our customized diet plan for high blood pressure.