15 Foods You Should Never Eat If You Have High Blood Pressure
A considerable amount of people today are suffering from a condition known as high blood pressure or hypertension. It is the condition where the speed of the blood inside the blood vessels increases to an alarming level. This weakens the walls of the vessels and also causes the heart to pump at a faster pace. This fast pumping of the heart results in the over-exertion of the heart, and that can cause many heart diseases. However, this condition can be lessened by eating a specific food. It can also be aggravated and made worse by the use of certain foodstuff. Here is a list of 15 food items that a person with high blood pressure should keep at arm’s length.
1. Salt
Salt is the prime criminal when it comes to high blood pressure. When the sodium content in our diet is increased, it disturbs the delicate ionic balance of the human body. This results in the kidneys being unable to filter the blood properly as the blood has a high level of sodium content. When the kidneys do not produce proper urine, the water content of blood increases which increases blood pressure. According to nutritionists, the daily intake of sodium for a healthy individual, so that he/she does not suffer from hypertension, should not exceed 1500 milligrams.
2. Canned Soups
Canned soups may look extremely nutritious when you are looking at their advertisements in which they promote the use of healthy veggies that provide nutrition. However, in reality, canned soups are a major aggravator of hypertension. These canned goods are loaded with a sodium content that increases the speed of the flow of blood. Therefore, while selecting a canned soup, a person should make sure he goes for a can with a “low sodium” label on it.
3. Deli Meats
Deli-meats are processed meats. They have been made to last longer and to stay unspoiled. They are used to make quick sandwiches and are considered nutritious. However, these meats contain a large amount of sodium content. Almost a two-ounce serving of the regular deli-meat has about 600 milligrams of sodium content. When this deli meat is paired with other ingredients to make a sandwich, the sodium content reaches alarming levels.
4. Chinese Take-Out
Chinese take-outs are a favorite for people these days. When living in a fast-paced society, places that offer these budget-friendly and quick food items are considered saviors. However, this is not the case. Chinese take-out places use oils that are sodium content rich. That is why sautéed veggies in a Chinese place look so shiny. Also, Chinese take-out contains a large quantity of canned sauces as well as other sodium-rich ingredients that cause hypertension.
5. Frozen Pizzas
Frozen pizzas are considered to be a quick fix when lunch isn’t cooked or when you feel too lazy to get something to eat. Pop them in the oven and wait till the cheese starts the melt and the dough turns crispy and golden. However, to conserve the frozen pizzas, a large amount of salt is used. This high sodium concentration aggravates blood pressure and causes various heart diseases.
6. Tomato Sauce Can
Pre-made sauces are also sodium bombs. Salt is used as a preservative in these sauces, and this salt causes a disturbance in the electrolyte balance of the body. When the electrolyte balance is disturbed, the kidneys get disturbed as well, and the blood pressure increases. Therefore, your favorite pasta dish could be causing your high blood pressure because of the canned tomato sauce used in it.
7. Pickles
To preserve anything, salt is used. And pickles are salted and preserved vegetables that are dipped in oil or vinegar for fermentation and flavor. These pickles are eaten as a side as well as put in various sandwiches and burgers all around the world. The extremely high sodium content in these aggravates blood pressure and can turn even a simple cucumber into a sodium bomb.
8. Alcohol
There is not one health benefit of drinking alcohol. Intake of a large amount of alcohol causes a temporary increase in blood pressure, but prolonged abuse of alcohol results in increased levels of blood pressure and this causes hypertension along with other heart diseases. Intake of a large quantity of alcohol also causes obesity, and obese people are more liable to have high blood pressure. Thus, a person should limit their alcohol consumption as much as possible.
9. Baked Goods
Baked goods may look healthy because of the brilliant smells and the amazing taste of it. Plus, the idea of something being freshly baked sounds very healthy and nutritious. However, baked goods are rich in sugar content, and this sugar also causes a spike in blood pressure. Furthermore, in slices of bread, pastries, and croissants – salt is added. This salt increases blood pressure levels due to an increased level of sodium in the bloodstream.
10. Bacon
Bacon is a calorie bomb. They are sticks of fats that are fried in cholesterol pools. The worst thing is that people eat this for breakfast and breakfast is the most important and vital meal of the day. Therefore, eating something this unhealthy, this early in the morning has even more adverse effects than eating it at another time would. Due to the fat content of bacon, the blood pressure rises, and this results in overexertion of the heart.
11. Coffee
Coffee is an excellent drink in the morning, and it is an amazing substituent of energy drinks. However, unprecedented and uncontrolled use of caffeine-rich drinks can result in a spike in blood pressure, and this causes hypertension of the heart. Coffee also causes a person to lose their libido; thus the use of coffee should be reduced. Furthermore, the spike in blood pressure caused by coffee intake is sudden and therefore can cause more harm.
12. Candy
Candies, toffees, and chocolate bars also cause an increase in the sodium levels of the body. They also spike up the sugar levels violently, and this results in increased blood pressure as well. The intake of a large amount of sugary foods also causes obesity which is directly relative to the overexertion of the heart and the increase of blood pressure.
13. Carbonated Drinks
Carbonated drinks also supply nothing more than an unhealthy stream of sugary content. Carbonated drinks cause a lot of diseases and aggravate the blood pressure as well. Carbonated beverages also ruin the oral health of a person and cause dehydration. This dehydration further causes electrolyte imbalance in the body and results in hypertension and blood pressure increase. The avoidance of carbonated drinks can create a healthier lifestyle.
14. Red Meat
Every doctor’s first advice to a person suffering from high blood pressure is to avoid or altogether boycott red meat. Red meat is a major source of haem iron to the body. This haem iron is directly related to the blood pressure levels of the human body. The red meat also contains more sodium content than white meat and sea-food; therefore, the use of red meat should be lessened to control blood pressure and avoid hypertension.
15. Donuts
Donuts are every age group’s favorite snack. However, these little snacks are incredibly unhealthy. They destroy the oral health of a person by acid deposition inside the mouth. They cause obesity which directly co-relates with hypertension and exertion of the heart. Consumption of donuts also spikes sugar level which causes a further aggravation of the blood pressure levels.