Diet is an important factor in our lives. A proper diet can lead us to a long and healthy life while an improper diet can cause severe health conditions and diseases. One of the most neglected health conditions which can cause severe damage is blood pressure. A person suffering from high blood pressure must restrict some foods from his or her diet. Here we are going to discuss the foods to avoid with high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a serious condition which most of us don’t think much about. As a result, with time things deteriorate and develops different other diseases.
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Hypertension and Its Effects
To know how hypertension affects a human body, first, you need to know what hypertension is. When the pressure of the blood against the artery walls increases, it results in high blood pressure. This phenomenon is also known as hypertension. Now that we know what hypertension is, let’s learn how severe can be the effects of hypertension can be. Firstly, untreated high blood pressure can lead to the damaging of blood vessels. This, in turn, can further aggravate to heart diseases as well. Secondly, it can cause severe damage to the kidneys. Thirdly, stroke is a common outcome of untreated high blood pressure.
Hypertension is termed as the silent killer because most people affected by it do not experience any symptoms of it. Besides, you cannot notice any effect on your body until it has aggravated to more harmful disease. To evade this condition you must opt for a high blood pressure diet menu. This, in turn, will help you keep the blood pressure under control. In a report placed by CDCP (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), around 75 million people are affected by hypertension in the US. Some of the common risk factors for this are:
- Untreated blood pressure condition
- Age
- Family medical history
- Gender
- Imbalanced diet
- Race
Although these risk factors can be controlled with the help of proper diet, exercise, avoiding sodium intake, enhancing magnesium, fiber and potassium intake, etc.
Top 5 foods to avoid with high blood pressure
When you need to plan a proper diet, you must know what to consume and what not to. Here we will briefly describe the foods to avoid with high blood pressure and cholesterol.
1. Packaged Food and Chicken Skin
The first thing which every hypertension patient should avoid consuming is chicken skin and packaged food. This will help them reduce the intake of trans-fat as well as saturated fat. The food items which contain the highest amount of saturated fat are:
- Red meat
- Chicken Skin
- Butter
- Full-fat dairy
Trans fat is the element which you can find in small amounts in dairy products and fatty meat. The highest contribution of trans fat comes from packaged foods. Besides, packaged foods also contain low-fiber carbohydrates and sugar. The process through which trans fat is produced is called hydrogenation. In hydrogenation, the liquid oil mixes with air to form solid oil. To enhance the stability and shelf-life of packaged foods, hydrogenated oil is used. This, in turn, when introduced to the human body, causes severe damage to the heart health of a person.
These types of food increase the levels of LDL or bad cholesterol in the body. High levels of LDL gives a ride to the levels of blood pressure in the body and can eventually lead to coronary heart diseases as well. It is recommended to restrict the consumption of foods with high levels of LDL. Further, to avoid trans fat, you can replace it with plant fat, which are:
- Avocado
- Seeds
- Olive Oil
- Nuts
2. Alcohol
A limited amount of alcohol might help you with reducing stress and lower the blood pressure. On the contrary, if you start consuming too much alcohol then it is a huge problem for your health. This is because alcohol is one of the foods to avoid with high blood pressure. Besides, excess consumption of alcohol may result in cancer, heart diseases, kidney problems, etc.
In recent research, it was established that consuming more than 3 drinks in a single sitting can result in a spike in the blood pressure levels of a normal person. Moreover, if you are a patient of hypertension and an alcoholic then the medications prescribed for high blood pressure will be completely ineffective for you. This, in turn, will worsen your condition and result in severe health problems. Apart from this, alcohol is a great source of calories. Excessive consumption of alcohol can also lead to weight gain and liver problems too. People who are alcoholic and obese have higher chances to suffer from hypertension.
3. Canned soups
Canned soup is often considered as a go-to meal when you are in a hurry. Most people in the US rely on canned food products as an easy source of meals. The canned soup is easy to prepare and requires little time which makes it a perfect meal for all the busy people. If you are a person who heavily relies on canned food products then you must opt for high blood pressure treatment at home. This, in turn, will help you balance the blood pressure levels.
Generally, canned soups contain a high amount of sodium which causes severe spikes in the blood pressure levels when consumed. A ½ cup of canned soup normally contains 900 mg of sodium. If you tend to consume a full cup of canned soup, it might deliver around 2000 mg of sodium in your body. As a result, the sodium levels in your body will rise drastically causing the blood pressure levels to rise as well.
4. Sugar
We all know that consuming excess sugar can cause severe damage to our health. Unfortunately, most of us fail to maintain the consumption amount. This, in turn, affects our health and causes a lot of physical damage. Excess consumption of sugar can lead to weight gain, blood sugar and obesity. Another severe effect of excessive sugar intake is high blood pressure which is very harmful to your health. Food items like sugar-sweetened soft drinks, health drinks, smoothies and milkshakes are the reason for obesity and high blood pressure.
In the corporate world, people tend to drink lots of coffee which are also prepared with sugar. As a result of this, working people suffer more from hypertension problem than others. The AHA or the American Heart Association recommends that men should limit their sugar intake to 9 teaspoon or 36 grams while women should limit it to 6 teaspoon or 24 grams. Besides, you can consult a doctor regarding what to drink for high blood pressure. This, in turn, will help you reduce the blood pressure levels.
5. Frozen Pizza
Pizza is a delicious preparation and all of us love to eat pizzas unless it is a pineapple pizza. On the contrary, if you take a look at the nutrient content of a pizza, you will notice that it is highly unhealthy for you. It is an enormous source of sodium intake which can trigger the blood pressure levels in your body. Generally, a normal pizza contains cured meat, cheese, crust, tomato sauce, etc. All these ingredients cater to a huge amount of sodium in the body.
If you are eating a frozen pizza then there is nothing more harmful to you than this. Frozen pizzas are one of the foods to avoid with high blood pressure. Yes, you must avoid eating frozen pizzas if you are a patient of high blood pressure. This is due to the salt present in pizza which helps it maintain the flavors for a long time. A slice of frozen meat-cheese pizza contains a minimum of 700 mg of sodium. In some cases, the sodium levels might exceed 900 mg as well. A pizza with a thicker crust and lots of toppings is a huge source of sodium.
Easy ways for High Blood Pressure Treatment at Home
Check out some of the easy ways to maintain blood pressure at home and treat it too:
1. Watch Your Waistline
The first thing which you must take care of is your waistline. An increase in your waistline is the sign of obesity and that isn’t good for you at all. Weight gain is very common for people suffering from hypertension and it is the most common cause of hypertension. This is why you must be aware of the foods to avoid with high blood pressure. Apart from blood pressure, weight gain can also lead to breathing problems, heart diseases, liver and kidney problems too. As a whole, your body starts breaking down internally once you put on the extra weight.
To know how to lower blood pressure instantly, you must start controlling the food intake. This, in turn, will help you reduce some weight too. Depending on your diet and weight reduction the blood pressure levels are bound to fall. As a result, you will experience a healthier lifestyle. The blood pressure level drops by 1mm of mercury or mm Hg when a person loses 1kg of weight. The increase and decrease in the waistline is an indication of the rise and fall in the levels of blood pressure in your body. For instance, if your waistline is filled with some extra pounds of weight then it is likely that you may suffer from hypertension.
A general study conducted in the US, suggests that men might risk their health if they have a waistline greater than 40 inches while for women it is 35 inches. Although the numbers can vary, it is recommended to consult the doctor.
2. Physical Workout
Exercising is an important factor for our body. It doesn’t only boost the blood circulation but also keeps the muscles active. Exercising regularly will not only help you maintain fitness but also help you control the blood pressure too. A minimum of 30 minutes of walking every morning is enough for you to lower the blood pressure level by 6 to 8 mm Hg. In case if you are a patient of high blood pressure then you must monitor the foods to avoid with high blood pressure. Besides, you need to be consistent with your exercising routine
Physical activities are a great source of fitness and a healthy lifestyle. You can perform any type of physical activity to keep your body active and healthy. If you wish to learn how to lower blood pressure instantly then you must start exercising on a daily basis to strike a balance on the blood pressure levels. Exercising includes jogging, dancing, aerobic exercises, cycling, high-intensity interval training, swimming, walking, etc.
3. High Blood Pressure Diet Menu
When you are suffering from high blood pressure problems then you must reconsider your daily diet menu. This, in turn, will help you control the blood pressure level without any medication. The diet menu must contain foods which do not trigger the blood pressure levels. Mostly foods which are low in sodium must be considered in the diet menu. To opt for a high blood pressure diet menu, the first thing you need to do is eliminate the foods which increase the blood pressure levels.
Focus on consuming a diet which contains whole grains, low-fat dairy products, vegetables, fruits, etc. This, in turn, will help you reduce the blood pressure level by 12 mm Hg. As a result, there will be fewer chances of suffering from hypertension. This type of diet is called the DASH diet or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. Initially, it will cause a lot of trouble to monitor your diet. There can be situations where you might feel it’s not worthy but with the time you will experience the changes. The basic step towards following this diet is the foods to avoid with high blood pressure.
4. Release Stress
One of the most common causes of hypertension is stress. It is evident that stress triggers blood pressure levels in the human body. No matter how healthy or fit you are, if you are stressed then you have chances to suffer from hypertension. Eliminating stress from your everyday life is one of the best medications for fighting hypertension. Next in line come the foods to avoid with high blood pressure.
Various researches conducted in the US shows that chronic stress and the above-mentioned factors have equal contribution to the numbers of patients affected by hypertension. Besides, to fight back stress, lots of people take up smoking and alcohol consumption as a solution. As a result, these ill-habits fuels the blood pressure levels to rise higher.
