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Avoid These 4 Foods If You Have High BP!

A healthy diet goes a long way in managing our health and preventing many diseases. Here is a list of 4 foods to strictly avoid when following a high blood pressure diet.

1. Salt:

If you want to cut back on only one food to control high blood pressure then it should be salt. Simple enough!

Well! It’s not that easy. Salt sneaks up on our dinner plates without us being aware of it.

Controlling salt intake is paramount for people following high blood pressure diet. The fix is simple. Go for fresh homemade food whenever possible and avoid processed food as much as possible. This includes food served at   express food counters such as french-fries, pizzas and foot long sandwiches.

2. Sugar:

After salt comes the sugar. Yes, it is one of the major causes of obesity and puts unnecessary pressure on the heart. Our daily cup of chai will taste as good with less sugar in it. It’s simply a matter of habit. Cutting back on sugar also means saying no to carbonated drinks, packaged drinks, chocolates, cakes, mithais, etc. A simple and effective way to manage your High blood pressure/ Hypertension is to limit oneself to a small portion once or twice a week.

Also Read: Is Brie Cheese Healthy? A Comprehensive Nutritional Analysis

3. Fats:

Fried and processed foods are always blamed for being high in unhealthy fats, and they definitely are. However, even the so-called healthy foods such as whole milk or full fat milk we use for our tea, coffee are equally bad. Switch to low fat or skimmed milk to cut back on fat content and, say goodbye to fried and processed foods.

I would like to stress how important it is to pay attention to the salt level of baked products because they might overdo your daily sodium consumption. Bread and rolls, in particular, are considered significant sources of sodium. While a single slice of bread may contain around 100 to 200 mg of sodium, consuming a large amount of bread might contribute to high blood sodium levels. To manage your sodium intake, it is advisable to limit your consumption of all baked goods.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

4. Alcohol:

Avoid the consumption of alcohol while following a strict high blood pressure diet. In unavoidable social situations, hold on to your glass and just do not sip it. Make that one glass last for the entire meal and your head will thank you the next day.

If you have high blood pressure, I may advise you to limit your intake of caffeine-rich beverages like coffee, tea, cola, and energy drinks. Consuming more than 4 cups of coffee per day may increase blood pressure levels. Therefore, to manage your blood pressure effectively, it is recommended to reduce or avoid these caffeinated drinks.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)

Also Read: A Comprehensive Guide: Is Sourdough Bread Healthy or Just a Trend?

Foods to Lower Blood Pressure

We’ve covered foods to avoid with high blood pressure. But there are also a few general tips on foods to add when you have high BP such as increasing your fibre intake, consuming low glycemic foods and adding less salt to homemade dishes. Here are a few foods you should consider increasing or adding to your diet to help lower your pressure:

One more tip I would like to share with you is to be mindful of the words ‘hydrogenated’ or ‘partially hydrogenated’ on food labels. These ingredients might indicate the presence of unhealthy saturated fats and trans-fats. By avoiding foods that contain these ingredients, you are making safer choices for your blood pressure.

Dr. Smita barode, B.A.M.S, M.S.

For more tips on managing your High Blood Pressure, read more here!

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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