Of all the 32 percent of adults in the US that have high blood pressure, 40% end up dying. The fact is, despite being one of the deadliest diseases globally, the risk associated with the disease are often assumed. High blood pressure unlike other diseases is invisible and has few symptoms.
One unfortunate fact is, if not dealt with in time, it may lead to stroke, heart complication or kidney disease. The good news is, it is controllable.
According to several studies, high blood pressure is highly encouraged by certain foods, especially those that contain high sodium and salt.
Here are seven foods every high blood pressure patient should avoid
1. Pizza
According to a genetic scientist, Dr. Brian Ference, large amounts of sodium ingested in the US comes from processed, restaurant or home processed foods. The most common culprit here is Pizza that is often made with dough, cheese, meat and tomato sauce. According to The Nutrition Twins, these combinations add up to 2400 milligrams of sodium.
2. Dairy products
Dairy products provide us with calcium, but that doesn’t eliminate the fact that they are also natural sources of sodium. A cup of milk that you drink every day contains up to 100 milligrams of sodium. Other dairy products such as cheese and more also contain a lot of sodium. According to health experts, it is advisable to stick to dairy products that have 140mg or less.
3. Sandwiches
Up to 49% of US residents take at least one sandwich every day that also accounts for a larger percentage of sodium consumption in the region. Dr. Lawrence who is also the director of the John’s Hopkins University’s Welch Centre for Prevention, Epidemiology & Clinical Research says that both high blood pressure patient and any other person should limit the intake of these foods to reduce the risks.
4. Sauerkraut
Many people who are trying to lose weight often end up eating a lot Sauerkraut. While it is a way to include vegetables in your diet and reduce calorie intake, consuming lots of Sauerkraut adds a lot of sodium to your body. Sauerkraut contains up to 460mg of sodium per each serving, which, according to nutrition experts is high for any high blood pressure patients.
5. Alcohol
Nothing makes an hour enjoyable than alcohol. It is refreshing and stress-relieving in most cases. The bad news is, it is also one of the drinks that will level-up your blood pressure. The worst part is, continuous consumption may also damage your blood vessel’s walls. If you are a high blood pressure patient, it is highly advisable that you take a break for some time or if you can, refrain from it completely.
6. Donuts
Donut is without a doubt one of the most filling snacks you can easily access from your local shops. It is evident that donuts, especially the ring-shaped ones are worse than any other snack for any blood pressure patient or anyone trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. One donut contains up to 40 percent of carbs and 300 calories that is too much for any person. So, avoid it at all cost.
7. Energy drinks
Mayo Clinic found out that consuming large amounts of the typical energy drinks on the market increases the risks of blood pressure. As we all know, energy drinks are loaded with large amounts of sugar and caffeine that largely impacts the level of blood pressure. However, this doesn’t imply that all energy drinks are bad. There are those drinks that may also help lower blood pressure such as ginseng and the rest. Therefore, before you start taking any drink, it is important to know the ingredients inside including the levels of sodium, sugar, fat and more.
The bottom line
More often we link bad eating habits to sugary and fatty foods forgetting that even the foods considered healthy by nutrition experts may harm us in one way or another. Heart disease, hypertension and many other diseases that are related to high blood pressure aren’t rare. One mistake we make is concentrating on the resulting disease forgetting the underlying complication that may lead to it. Whether you are a heart disease patient or not, it is advisable that you start paying attention to what goes into your body. Avoiding the seven foods mentioned in this article will without a doubt help you control blood pressure.
Sarah G. Ramirez is writer at CyanFitness. There in CyanFitness, I share with you, my expertise on keeping fit and staying healthy. My tips, advice, and programs are not meant to replace medical advice but assist and guide you to live a long and healthy lifestyle