High Blood Pressure Foods To Avoid

High Blood Pressure Diet Plan 

Adopting a high blood pressure diet plan would make approximately 75 million Americans more healthy. That's how many have high blood pressure, or hypertension. Their diet is not the only reason their blood pressure is too high, but diet is undoubtedly one of the main reasons hypertension is practically an epidemic in the U.S.

If you ask most people what a high blood pressure diet is and they'll probably say "More fruits and vegetables and less fat." Yep, absolutely right. But if you ask those same people to be more specific, they probably won't be able to do it.

The goal of this article is to spell out specifics: a high blood pressure diet plan that specifies high blood pressure foods to avoid, and high blood pressure foods to eat.

High blood pressure foods to avoid When you hear the word "diet," you usually think about foods you'll have to avoid to reach your goals. Happily, you don't always have to completely cut out everything you like. You can simply consume less of certain foods without avoiding them completely. The key is to substitute foods that lower blood pressure in their place.

Salt intake is a good place to start. Salt also goes by the name of "sodium." Now, you need some salt in your diet. But many people, especially in the United States, consume way more salt than they should - and it's not just the salt that falls from the salt shaker either. There's a lot of salt in processed foods and fast food.

When you talk about high blood pressure foods to avoid, processed foods are near the top. The salt intake you get from these foods is the main reason.

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture says adults should lim it themselves to 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day. Individuals in certain groups should not go above 1,500 milligrams a day. These groups include African-Americans, people who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and people who are middle-aged and older.

Start experimenting with recipes to see where you can use spices or herbs to replace the salt without reducing flavor. Sometimes you'll have to "retrain your brain" to accomplish this, but the payback is lower blood pressure - and possibly a longer life.

Foods that are high in cholesterol should also be avoided. Cholesterol causes a build up of fat on the inside of the blood vessels. The heart has to work harder to force blood through narrowed veins and arteries to supply oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. This process means higher blood pressure - and a shorter road to heart disease and other unhealthy consitions. For additional information, click on foods that lower blood pressure.

The relationship between high blood pressure and obesity Eating healthy blood pressure foods is not just important because of the minerals, vitamins and fiber that help you maintain a good chemical balance in your body. They're important because they help with weight control too.

There is a strong relationship between high blood blood pressure and obesity. Obesity is also a factor in other serious health conditions like diabetes. If you can lower your calorie intake from fatty meats and processed foods, you greatly increase your chances of lowering your blood pressure. One of the best ways to do it is to formulate a healthy blood pressure diet that puts more fresh fruits and vegetables on your plate at every meal.

High blood pressure foods to eat Learn about foods that contain minerals, vitamins and substances that promote healthy blood pressure readings. Fruits and vegetables that contain a lot of potassium, magnesium, and fiber lead the way in the category of high blood pressure foods to eat. For example:

apples
apricots
bananas
beet greens
broccoli
carrots
collards
green beans
dates
grapefruit
grapefruit juice
grapes
green peas
kale
lima beans
mangoes
melons
oranges
peaches
pineapples
raisins
spinach
squash
strawberries
sweet potatoes
tangerines
tomatoes
tuna
fat free yogurt

Potatoes are high in potassium, but they also contain a lot of carbohydrates, which is generally bad for your blood pressure. So it's probably best to be moderate in potato consumption if you have blood pressure issues.

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