Diet Plan For Blood Pressure Patients – Follow These Diet Guidelines For Hypertension

High blood pressure affects millions of people. According to the CDC, up to a third of those who have it don’t even know it. Once you find the problem, you may need to make some changes.

weight problems: According to heart.org, dropping is little, as five to ten pounds could lower blood pressure. That’s great, but losing weight isn’t easy without knowledge and changes.

The best method I have found is to use a calorie calculator. Caleriesperhour.com has the best I have seen. It helps to calculate everything you eat (including fast food) and everything you do. At the end of the day, if you’ve burned more than you’ve eaten, you’re on your way to losing weight.

what to avoid: There are things that can make your blood pressure go up no matter how much you weigh. Sodium and caffeine are two of the worst offenders. Reducing your sodium intake to 1,200 mg or less can make a big difference. Getting rid of caffeine completely is also a good idea. If you eat a lot, don’t do it all at once. Withdrawal headaches are not pleasant.

enjoying the food: For the last nine years I have been researching ways to have a good meal that does not threaten blood pressure levels. Increasing the use of herbs and spices is one route. Using unsalted broth (or better yet, making your own) is fine. Even if I have to start from scratch (read the label on canned tomato sauce or canned pasta sauce and you’ll see why), it can be done, tasty and healthy.

nutritionists: Not everyone has the time or inclination to do a lot of cooking from scratch. A nutritionist can help you get through the minefield of pre-packaged foods and easy-to-prepare meals that stay within your dietary budget. Your doctor can refer you and some insurance plans cover it.