Those who have consistently high blood pressure suffer from hypertension, and they need to watch their salt and sugar intake. Over three-fourths of our salt consumption comes from sneaky sources.
From the type of cheese you buy to condiments, many foods sneak salt, sugar, and fats into your diet. Once you know about these foods, you can avoid them–and gradually lower your blood pressure. Learn about the foods that people with hypertension should avoid.
Limit Your Cheeses (And Choose The Right Ones)
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It’s a myth that people with high blood pressure have to cut out cheese completely. You can eat cheese, but how much depends on the type of cheese. According to Heart Health, some cheeses contain more sodium than seawater. These include feta, halloumi, Roquefort, and cheese singles.
If you want cheese with less saturated fat and salt, opt for mozzarella and cottage cheeses. And don’t discount reduced-fat cheese. They have the same flavor as regular cheese with 25% less fat. As long as you limit your portion sizes, you can eat these cheeses without worry.
More Soda Equals Higher Blood Pressure
Research suggests that cutting back on your soda intake could save your blood pressure. In 2011, scientists from the Imperial College in London analyzed almost 2,700 soda drinkers. Participants who drank more than one sweetened beverage a day had high blood pressure. Even worse, it kept increasing the more they drank.
The research identified the culprits as glucose, fructose, and salt. These are the most common sweeteners and preservatives used in soda. Fortunately, diet soda doesn’t cause the same effect, and cutting back on one soda per day does wonders for your blood pressure.
Don’t Buy Deli Meat
Pre-sliced deli meats are like sodium bombs. An average two-ounce serving of delicatessen lunch meat offers upwards of 500 grams of sodium. Even a leaner option like turkey quickly adds up to 1000 mg with only three slices. On the worse end, a single serving of Genoa provides 910 mg of salt.
If you put these pre-sliced meats on a sandwich, you’ll only load up on more salt. Mustard, pickles, cheese–even whole wheat bread averages between 200 mg and 400 mg of sodium. Save yourself the hassle by buying fresh meat or cooking it yourself.
The Long Debate Over Coffee, Answered
The studies equating blood pressure and coffee are conflicting, according to Harvard Health Publishing. But after studying all the research, Switz scientists discovered that espresso spikes blood pressure more than plain caffeine. Strangely, noncaffeinated espresso did not cause this spike.
On the flip-side, Harvard researchers have found no link between heart disease and coffee, even in heavy drinkers. What’s the takeaway" /> Stay tuned to learn not just about red meat, but how you should cook it.
Sugar Is Worse Than Salt
When it comes to hypertension, many people focus on sodium. But research from 2014 argues that sugar is worse for blood pressure than salt. Published in Open Heart, the study states that sugar increases insulin, which speeds up the heart and blood pressure.
According to the study, participants who ate high sugar meals for two weeks experienced a noticeable spike in blood pressure. The authors assert that because too little sodium harms peoples’ health, people with hypertension should focus more on cutting out sugar.
Be Wary Of Canned Tomato Products
Most canned and bottled tomato sauces are preserved with sodium. According to the USDA, half a cup of classic marinara sauce has well over 400 mg of salt. A cup of tomato juice raises the sodium to 600 mg. If you don’t measure your sauce, the salt will sneak its way into your diet.
Fortunately, a study in Food Science & Nutrition confirmed that unsalted tomato sauces lower hypertension and cholesterol. The American Heart Association offers recipes to make your own tomato products. If you need to buy some, search for a low-sodium option.
How You Cook Red Meat Matters
Although many studies have pointed fingers at red meat, new research suggests that the cooking method has more to do with high blood pressure. In 2018, researchers presented concluded a 16-year study about cooking red meat and fish. They concluded that high-temperature cooking, such as open flame, raised the risk of hypertension.
Participants who grilled their meat and fish were 17% more likely to develop hypertension than those who broiled or roasted their meat. Researchers believe that over-cooking increases the inflammatory response in the body, raising blood pressure. Also, restrict your red meat consumption to twice a week.
Condiments Are Sneaky Salt Sources
Salt sneaks into almost every condiment. For instance, ketchup supplies 160 mg of salt per tablespoon. Teriyaki sauce marinades have almost 700 mg of sodium. Soy sauce is the worst: 1,500 mg of salt per one tablespoon! And many people glaze more than one tablespoon on their meals.
The American Heart Association recommends finding low-sodium alternatives. You can make your own hot sauce, BBQ sauce, and ketchup at home. For salad dressings, hunt down a fat-free or “light” version. And always remember to measure out your portions.
White Potatoes, In Any Form, Increase Blood Pressure
Potato chips aren’t the only type of potato that is bad for hypertension. In 2016, scientists reported their findings on potatoes from over 20 years of research. According to them, those who ate boiled, baked, or mashed potatoes four times a week were 11% more likely to develop high blood pressure.
When potatoes mix with sodium, the result rises. Participants who ate french fries four or more times a week were 17% more likely to develop high blood pressure. Although potatoes can help in moderation due to their potassium, they have such a high glycemic index that you should eat them sparingly.
Watch Your Peanut Butter Servings
Peanut butter can work in a hypertensive diet. However, you’ll need to monitor the peanut butter closely. Many peanut butters contain added sugars and vegetable oils, both of which can clog arteries. Look out for nut butters with partially hydrogenated oils, palm oils, and soy oils.
The American Heart Association’s hypertension diet allows a small amount of peanut butter that can lower blood pressure. They allot one serving (two tablespoons) four to five times a week. The National Peanut Board also advises choosing butters with fully hydrogenated oil, which has no trans fats.
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Avoid Milk Chocolate And White Chocolate
The lighter the chocolate, the more sugar it has. One cup of milk chocolate chips contains over 86 grams of sugar, whereas the same amount of white chocolate supplies 100 grams of sugar. According to a study in Open Heart, excess sugar is worse for hypertension than salt.
But there is good news. During a 2018 Harvard study, researchers concluded that dark chocolate might lower blood pressure. Because dark chocolate has 50% to 70% cocoa, it provides natural flavonoids that dilate blood vessels. But while dark chocolate has 50 mg of flavonoids, milk chocolate only contains 16 mg.
The Salt In Canned Beans Is Unavoidable
On their own, beans and legumes help lower blood pressure. But canned beans have added ingredients built to preserve them, namely salt. Many canned beans contain well over 1,000 mg of sodium. Although many people recommend rinsing the beans to get rid of salt, that doesn’t help much for hypertension patients.
According to physicians from Pritikin, soaking beans for ten minutes and rinsing them only removes 30% of the salt. In a can with 1,000 mg of sodium, that leaves 700 mg. It’s not a big enough difference to make canned beans healthy.
Don’t Cook With Certain Vegetable Oils
Some vegetable oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids, which harm blood pressure levels. According to a 2019 study in Open Heart, omega-6’s increase blood pressure through their high amounts of linoleic acid. Unfortunately, many of these high omega-6 oils slip into various foods.
During a 2011 study, rats who were fed palm and soy oils experienced a noticeable increase in blood pressure. Other oils with high omega-6s include sunflower, corn, and cottonseed oils. Opt for more healthy cooking oils such as olive, coconut, and avocado. Even canola has less harmful omega-6s than other options.
Substitute High-Fat Whole Milk
High-fat foods make blood pressure worse, and fatty milk is no exception. Whole milk has high saturated fat, with one cup containing eight grams of fat and 4.5 grams of saturated fat. The American Heart Association recommends avoiding these saturated fats since they build up in your artery walls.
On the other hand, drinking low-fat milk alleviates high blood pressure. After analyzing over 60,000 people in 2014, researchers determined that drinking two cups of low-fat milk a day lowers the risk of hypertension. The calcium, potassium, and magnesium help to reduce blood pressure.
Mind The Salt In Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is a high-sodium fermented food. One cup of sauerkraut has well over 900 mg of sodium. The only low-sodium option is raw, naturally fermented sauerkraut, and it’s not the same. Despite the salt, eating sauerkraut in moderation can benefit your blood pressure levels.
According to a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, participants who ate fermented foods daily (such as kimchi) experienced lower weight and blood pressure. Sauerkraut’s high amount of potassium may help your blood pressure levels if you limit your portion sizes.
BPA Is A Big Risk In Canned Soups
It’s no secret that canned soup has high amounts of salt. But 2014 research in Hypertension suggests a more dangerous culprit, bisphenol A (BPA). According to researchers, this chemical can raise blood pressure up to 16 times its normal level. BPA is found in plastics and can linings.
Compared to other canned foods, soup threatens to have most BPA. After measuring participants’ urine, researchers noted that they had 1000% more BPA from eating canned soup for five days, as opposed to homemade soup. Don’t risk this for a can of soup.
Donuts–Just Don’t
Donuts are one of the least healthy pastries you can east, especially if you have high blood pressure. They combine frying with sugar, two of the worst ingredients for hypertension. According to 2014 research from New Zealand, the more sugar we eat, the higher our blood pressure rises. And donuts have between 10 to 20 grams of sugar on average.
If that isn’t enough, an average donut has well over 300 calories. Many are made of 42% fat and 54% carbs. And that’s not even considering the fried component. In short: pick another pastry for your breakfast treat.
Energy Drinks Alter Your Heart Rate
Like other highly-caffeinated drinks, energy drinks affect your blood pressure. But according to 2019 research by the American Heart Association, it also changes your heart rate. During the study, people who drank 32 ounces of energy drinks raised blood pressure and heart rate after 30 minutes.
The researchers emphasize that those with high blood pressure should avoid energy drinks. Otherwise, they’ll have a higher risk of ventricular arrhythmias, a fatal condition that causes abnormal heartbeats. If you have high blood pressure, get your caffeine fix elsewhere.
Don’t Pick Pickles
Although they’re tasty, pickles are the epitome of “salty food.” A medium-sized pickle supplies a max of 800 mg of salt, over half of your daily recommended dose on a low-sodium diet. In 2018, a study by LiveStrong confirmed that eating pickles raises blood pressure.
As with all high-sodium foods, pickles are fine in moderation. But combined with other salty foods–deli meat sandwiches, cheeses, and hot dogs–will heighten your salt intake considerably. Salt places greater pressure on your blood vessels, which increases blood pressure. If you like pickles, restrict your serving sizes.
Why You Shouldn’t Eat White Rice
Like bread, rice can help or harm blood pressure depending on the type you eat. Refined white rice is the most dangerous option. Stripped of bran and germ, white rice has none of the nutrients of whole wheat rice. According to Harvard research, people who ate more than five servings of white rice per week have a 17% greater chance of type 2 diabetes.
There is some good news for white rice, and that’s in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). During a 2015 study, GABA rice was found to improve blood pressure in hypertensive people. But common store-bought white rice doesn’t have this benefit.
Steer Clear Of Fried Meals
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Corn dogs, chicken tenders, and fries are never the healthiest choice, but they’re more dangerous for people with high blood pressure. To the surprise of no one, a 2019 study confirmed that the more you eat, the worse your blood pressure becomes. Participants who ate fried food daily had a 14% greater chance of developing heart disease.
A prior study in 2018 indicated that a Southern American diet (with more fried food) worsens blood pressure by up to 17%. In the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, the American Heart Association advises people with high blood pressure to steer clear of fried foods.
