"hypertension," is a serious medical condition. It happens when the force of the blood pumping through your arteries is too strong.
When your heart beats, it pushes blood through your arteries to the rest of your body. When the blood pushes harder against the walls of your arteries, your blood pressure goes up. Your blood pressure may be different at different times of the day. It is usually higher when you first wake up, after you exercise , or when you are under stress.
Controlling hypertension with a blood pressure reading of or less than 140/90 mm Hg has been identified as key to lowering the risk for cardiovascular disease. Taking your medication if you already have hypertension and avoiding the following foods should help keep your blood pressure in check.
1. Sodas
More than salt, added sugars are thought to play a major role in developing hypertension and cardiovascular disease. According to a recent study published in the journal Open Heart, people who have a daily intake of more than 75g of high fructose corn syrup have a 30% higher risk of developing high blood pressure. HFCS is the most common sweetener used in process foods, particularly in fruit-flavored drinks and sodas. The researchers also added that sugar, in general, “may contribute to overall cardiovascular risk through a variety of mechanisms.
A heart healthy choice is seltzer water mixed with a squeeze of lemon or a dash of fruit juice. With this you’ll get the same fizz minus the unwanted added sugars.
2. Processed meat
A lot of the blood pressure-boosting sodium in our diet comes from prepackaged foods like deli and processed meats. Bacon, sausage, ham, baloney, hotdog and other processed meat products are cured, seasoned, and preserved with salt. A 2-ounce serving of ham can have as much as 730mg of sodium. Add bread, a slice of cheese, mustard, mayonnaise and pickles and you’ve nearly met your limit. And that’s just for breakfast.
Opt for sodium-free meat choices like turkey or chicken breasts and lean meat. Enhance their flavor by adding herbs and spices or cooking them in salt-free herb-infused butter.
3. Frozen pizza
All types of pizza, in general, can be bad for anyone watching their sodium intake. The combination of bread, cheese, tomato sauce and pepperoni and other cured meats can quickly ramp up your sodium intake. On top of this already hefty sum, manufacturers add more salt and other food additives in frozen pizzas to maintain the flavor once it’s cooked. One-fourth of a frozen pizza can contain as much as 500mg. The thicker the crust and the more toppings you have, the higher its sodium value will climb.
If you must have pizza, go for the thin crust, choose the one with less cheese and choose vegetable over meat toppings.
4. Chinese food
The sauces used in Chinese dishes like soy sauce, bean paste and teriyaki sauce are loaded with sodium. For instance, soy sauce contains as much as 824mg per tablespoon while bean paste can have as much as 220mg per teaspoon. Because of this, something as innocent as pork fried rice can have as much as 2130 mg of sodium or beef and broccoli with as much as 3260mg.
You can halve the sodium by ordering your sauce on the side and then using it sparingly.
Frozen breads and canned biscuits
Trans fats are heart unhealthy fats because they raise your bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and lower your good cholesterol (HDL) levels. High LDL levels have been associated with increased risk for hypertension and heart disease. While many restaurants and food manufacturers have gone trans-fat free, one category that’s hard to avoid trans-fat are frozen biscuits and bread rolls.
Serve your meal with a dinner roll or with multigrain bread. Be sure to check for its sodium content though. Bread is one of the leading sources of sodium in our diets.
5. Pickles
Pickling is a food preservation technique that typically involves soaking food in a salt brine to encourage fermentation and thus, delaying decay and making them edible longer. However, pickling can make even the most harmless vegetables like cucumber turn into a sodium sponge. A whole dill pickle spear can contain as much as 306mg of sodium, while an ounce of green olives can contain as much as 441mg.
Look for low-sodium alternatives of your favorite pickled food. If not, you can try rinsing the vegetables first before adding them in a dish to wash away some of the sodium it has absorbed.
6. Tomato products
Processed tomato products like canned tomato sauce, tomato juice and ketchup contain more sodium than you think. Manufacturers add salt and other food additives to preserve its shelf life and make it more palatable. A cup of canned tomato sauce can have as much as 1284mg of sodium, while a cup of tomato juice will have as much as 653mg.
Look for the low-sodium alternatives when purchasing for these products. Otherwise, you can try making your own pasta sauce by using fresh tomatoes and adding fresh herbs and spices.
7. Alcohol
Alcohol can be a double edged sword for people with hypertension. Moderate drinking may actually lower your blood pressure, but drinking too much can raise blood pressure to alarming levels. According to the Mayo Clinic, having more than 3 drinks in one sitting causes temporary spikes in blood pressure levels, while repeated drinking can cause long-term problems with hypertension.
In addition, alcohol contains calories which can lead to unwanted weight gain. People who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop hypertension. Alcohol can also interfere with the effectivity of some hypertensive drugs.
Avoid drinking alcohol if you have hypertension. If you must drink, keep it in moderation. Moderate drinking is 2 drinks a day for men younger than 65, 1 drink a day for men older than 65 and 1 drink a day for women of any age.
8. Coffee
If you have hypertension, now might be the time to kick your coffee habit. The Mayo Clinic warns that coffee can cause a dramatic albeit temporary increase in blood pressure, even in those who don’t have hypertension. In fact, regular drinkers of coffee and other caffeinated beverages are found to have a higher average blood pressure than those who don’t drink.
If you’re concerned about your blood pressure, ask your doctor if you should cut back or stop drinking coffee and caffeinated drinks. Or you can try to limit your coffee consumption to just two 12-ounce cups per day.