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High blood pressure isn’t something to mess around with.
It can be hard to keep under control — especially since some foods will raise your blood pressure without you even realizing it.
If you’re diagnosed with high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s instructions (including taking any medications prescribed) and try to cut down on foods that contain high amounts of salt.
Sodium (salt) is one of the worst things imaginable for high blood pressure — because it raises it even higher. Even with medication, if you suffer from hypertension, you should definitely consider avoiding these high blood pressure foods and others like them.
High Blood Pressure Diet Tips
Whether you already suffer from hypertension or not, it’s a good idea to avoid these foods as much as possible. The less of them you have in your daily diet plan, the better off you’ll be.
The DASH Diet plan is a good place to start. You can significantly reduce your risk of high blood pressure.
If you’re wondering if you have high blood pressure, you should monitor your blood pressure to find out if your number falls within a normal range.
Here are the top 5 high blood pressure foods to avoid:
#1 – Processed Meats
Processed meats are already an unhealthy food choice because they all contain extremely high amounts of salt — which is used for preservation.
A single serving contains almost all of your recommended daily sodium allowance in just one serving.
#2 – Frozen Pizzas
Frozen pizza is a deliciously tempting snack, but it’s one that should probably be avoided if your blood pressure is high.
The sauce and the cheese already have too much salt, and the addition of processed meats brings your total sodium intake to somewhere around 2,400 mg — well over the recommended daily amount of only 1,500 mg of salt.
#3 – Chinese Foods
Although quite delicious, Chinese take-out food isn’t good if you have high blood pressure.
It’s not the food alone that’s the problem, but it’s the sauces. Soy sauce or teriyaki sauce contain about 1,000 mg of sodium per tablespoon. If you must eat Chinese, order the sauce on the side and don’t eat too much of it.
#4 – Soft Drinks
Sugar may be a surprising food to avoid, but research shows that sugar contributes to higher blood pressure levels.
One way to cut back on your sugar intake is to avoid sugar-laden beverages such as sweet tea and soft drinks — which are also high in sodium.
#5 – Coffee
Your morning cup of wake-me-up may get you ready for your day — but not for your healthy future.
It contains caffeine, which also raises blood pressure. So while you’re avoiding coffee, be sure to avoid other caffeinated beverages as well.
Here’s a great summary of what to eat and what to avoid when you’re following a high blood pressure diet.
High blood pressure may not often be discussed, but it’s most definitely something to be wary of. Your best course of action is to regularly have your blood pressure monitored by a doctor — and stay away from sodium-rich foods.
Other High Blood Pressure Diet Tips
- Dash Diet: How Healthy Eating Can Lower Your Blood Pressure
- Foods That Help You Lower Your Blood Pressure
- 10 Ways To Control High Blood Pressure Without Medication
- Good To Know About The DASH Diet & High Blood Pressure
- A Helpful Guide To Lowering Your Blood Pressure
- 25 Saltiest Foods To Avoid If You Have High Blood Pressure
Professionally, I pursued my Masters Degree in Family Therapy at Texas Tech — where I obtained invaluable expertise and experience helping people with a wide variety of physical and emotional health issues. Personally, I think it's useful when people realize that they're not the only one going through a difficult time. So any time that I think my personal health experiences would be helpful to someone else going through the same thing, I will share my story here. With health issues that I've personally experienced (like Endometriosis, Lyme Disease, Hysterectomy, Skin Cancer, Ganglion Cysts, Autism, and other topics that very few people enjoy talking about) and health products that I've found beneficial (like sleep aids, essential oils, and medications)… I do my best to provide my own raw and honest firsthand experiences that I think others would appreciate hearing about and (hopefully) find helpful. I'm grateful that I have a number of friends who have also been willing to share their very personal stories here — regarding their own physical and emotional health. When I'm not writing about health topics, you will find me sharing Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites).
