FOODS TO BE AVOIDED BY HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE PATIENTS

“What foods must be avoided by high blood pressure patients ?“ This is one of the most common question asked. Answering this question, is not an easy job. This subject has been a continued focus of research by doctors and physicians. Most of the dietitians and nutritionists consider this diet to be resembling to that of a general healthy diet recommendations. Following foods should be avoided by the people suffering from High blood pressure:

Alcohol
Those taking alcohol of about 80 g/day (four pints of beer), have increased blood pressure in patients of hypertension. The blood pressure falls, when alcohol is stopped or reduced and remains low in patients who continue to abstain. It mainly damages the walls of blood vessels, elevating not only the blood pressure, but causing more complications.

Salt
Reduction in dietary sodium intake lowers the risk of hypertension. Use of salt must be limited to about 100mmol/day (2.4 gm sodium or 6 gm sodium chloride). More salt intake leads to more retention of fluid by kidneys, thus pressurizing the heart, and rising the blood pressure. Try to avoid pizza, canned foods, frozen diners, broths, canned soups, red meat and salad dressings.

Fats
Food such as, Fats and oils; Cream, ice cream, whole milk, 2% milk; Pies, pastries, cakes; Cheeses; Snack foods; Fatty meats; Fried foods; Cookies; Fast foods, etc. must be avoided. These contain saturated fats, that are not good for heart and blood vessels. It causes thickening of blood vessels, straining the blood vessels in patients of high blood pressure.

Caffeine Intake
Those who consume almost 250mg of caffeine, have experienced a rise in systolic blood pressure, that ranges from 6mm of Hg in normal individuals to 10 mm Hg in patients with hypertension and an increase in diastolic blood pressure of 5 mm Hg in normal individuals to 8.5 mm Hg in patients of hypertension.