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-outs
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. Candies
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.