If you have hypertension (high blood pressure), controlling the condition should be a top priority. Also, lowering your blood pressure is a great way to reduce your chances of suffering a stroke or heart attack.
A healthy blood pressure reading should fall somewhere between 120/80 mmHg and 139/89 mmHg, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). A blood pressure reading that is over 139/89 mmHg is too high. This reading can significantly increase your chances of suffering a severe heart attack or stroke. Blood pressure naturally increases and decreases based on activity levels and heart needs. However, a consistently high blood pressure reading is a cause for concern.
Fortunately, prescription medicines like ACE inhibitors and Angiotensin II receptor blockers can help lower high blood pressure and also reduce your risk of developing heart disease, not to mention suffering a heart attack or stroke.
Those medications are effective. However, making smarter food choices can also make a difference in controlling your blood pressure. In this article, we will detail 15 foods to avoid if you have high blood pressure. And we will highlight some foods that may help improve the health condition.
WHAT IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
In essence, blood pressure is the pressure that is placed on the artery walls as the heart pumps blood throughout the body. Healthy blood pressure helps the body function properly, while blood pressure that is too high can have the opposite effect. It is also worth noting that the foods we consume are critical in how blood pressure impacts the body. For example, a high-fat, high-calorie diet can lead to obesity. Those extra pounds can lead to high blood pressure. A healthy, well-balanced diet, on the other hand, can help lower high blood pressure.
TOP 15 FOODS TO AVOID IF YOU HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Now that we have a basic understanding of hypertension let’s take a look at some of the foods that can potentially worsen the health condition:
1. DELI MEATS
For example, processed deli meats like turkey, ham, salami, and bologna are often cured, seasoned, and preserved using salt. Those processes can quickly increase blood pressure. To further illustrate this point, the average 2-ounce serving of lunch meat generally contains as much as 500 mg of sodium. And this is before adding pickles, cheese, and other condiments, which can push sodium levels even higher.
2. BREAD
Like processed meats, bread is also high in sodium; therefore, it should only be consumed in moderation if you have hypertension. Studies show that a single slice of bread can contain as much as 200 milligrams of sodium before piling on your favorite deli meats and condiments.
3. PICKLES
Unlike cucumbers, pickles undergo a preservation process requiring them to sit in a salt bath, absorbing a significant amount of sodium. According to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), one whole dill pickle spear contains roughly 390 mg of sodium, making them one of the top foods that should be avoided for those with hypertension.
4. PIZZA
If you’re a pizza fan and have been diagnosed with hypertension, this is one food you will want to avoid. Most pizzas, frozen or fresh, are loaded with cheese, cured meats, and tomato sauce; all of these ingredients contain a large amount of sodium. In fact, many of the most popular pizza brands contain over 700 mg of sodium, according to the USDA.
5. RED MEAT
Despite being a great source of protein, red meat contains saturated fat and sodium, both of which can contribute to hypertension. It is also worth noting that the saturated fat in red meat can lead to clogged arteries, triggering heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.
6. BACON
Despite being an American breakfast staple for so many people, bacon is sadly another food that should be avoided if you have hypertension. Bacon is chock-full of fat, sodium, and calories. According to the USDA, 3 slices of this delicious breakfast meat contains upwards of 576 mg of sodium, 311 calories, and 3 grams of saturated fat.
7. SATURATED AND TRANS FATS
If you have hypertension, it would be a good idea to eschew all foods that contain saturated and trans fats from your diet as they can both raise blood pressure. Some foods containing saturated fats include full-dairy products, red meat, and chicken skin. As far as trans fats are concerned, they are primarily found in packaged and prepared foods like deli meats and frozen dinners. Studies show that consuming too many saturated or trans fats can raise not only blood pressure but also your cholesterol. These fats can also increase your risk of coronary heart disease. Ideally, you should consider replacing animal, saturated, and trans fats with healthier plant-based fats, which can be found in seeds, nuts, olive oil, and avocados.
8. ALCOHOL
While not a food per se, alcohol should be avoided if you have hypertension. In fact, several studies show that consuming too much alcohol can even diminish the effectiveness of medications to treat high blood pressure. Also, alcohol contains many calories that can contribute to weight gain. That increase in weight can lead to hypertension. Moderate alcohol consumption, on the other hand, can help lower high blood pressure. Better yet, it may also provide some additional health benefits as well.
9. CAFFEINE
Like alcohol, caffeinated beverages like coffee and sodas can also lead to hypertension. Therefore, they should either be eliminated from one’s diet or consumed in moderation. Because caffeine is a central nervous stimulant, it causes blood vessels to constrict, which, in turn, increases blood pressure.
10. SUGAR
Similar to alcohol, consuming excessive amounts of sugar can lead to not only weight gain but also hypertension. Whether you have hypertension or not, limiting your overall sugar intake is still a good idea. According to the American Heart Association, men should consume no more than 36 grams of sugar per day while women, on the other hand, should limit their sugar consumption to 24 grams per day.
11. CANNED SOUPS
Despite being delicious and convenient, canned soups should be avoided if you have hypertension due to their high sodium content. The same can be said canned and packaged broths and stocks as well. Many of the ready-made soups, broths, and stocks on supermarket shelves contain as much as 900 mg of sodium, which is based only on a ½ cup serving size. A full serving of canned or packaged soup, broth, or stock can contain as much as 2,000 mg of sodium.
12. CANNED OR BOTTLED TOMATO PRODUCTS
Canned or bottled tomato products like ketchup and tomato sauce, for example, can pack almost as much sodium as canned soups. That said, if you have hypertension, removing these foods from your diet would be a good idea. To further put this into context, a ½ cup of canned marinara sauce contains as much as 400 mg of sodium. Regarding bottled tomato products, one cup of bottled tomato juice contains over 600 mg of sodium.
13. SALT
Considering that most foods already contain a fair bit of sodium, avoiding table salt whenever possible would be a good idea. In fact, adults should make it a point to consume no more than 1,500 mg of salt per day, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
14. PASTRIES
We will admit–they’re hard to resist. However, those with hypertension should limit the number of pastries they consume as they often contain an exorbitant amount of sugar. The sugar in these foods adds to one’s waistline and contributes to hypertension.
15. PEANUT BUTTER SPREAD
If you have hypertension, peanut butter is another food you consider avoiding as it contains a considerable amount of saturated fats. These are the fats which can clog arteries and also lead to hypertension.
All in all, foods that are high in fat and sodium should be avoided if you have hypertension. The best way to manage hypertension and ultimately get it under control is by consuming a healthy diet. Some of the most commonly recommended foods for those with hypertension include
- Fiber-rich foods
- Magnesium-rich foods
- Potassium-rich foods
- Whole grains
Additionally, you can always substitute some of your favorite sodium-rich foods with low-sodium options if they are available. Fortunately, most food manufacturers recognize that hypertension is a problem for many Americans. Therefore, they now offer low-sodium alternatives for many of their top brands.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON FOODS THAT CAN LOWER HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
High blood pressure is a dangerous condition to live with. It can even be deadly, often leading to stroke or heart attacks without warning. But you can help get back to better healthy by choosing heart-healthy foods. Check with your physician, and make these dietary changes under medical guidance.
